Toussaint Hit With DUI
The Saline Police Department arrested University of Michigan starting running back Fitzgerald Toussaint in Ann Arbor Saturday night on charges of operating a vehicle while impaired, according to Detective Don Lupi.
Details are still forthcoming. DUI is usually a suspension-level offense even for a first-timer, so Michigan may have just lost its starting tailback for a slightly important game. A reminder: Stonum's enforced redshirt was after two DUIs and repeated failure to do what the court told him to. Toussaint's not in the same boat.
Fraaaaaaaaaaaaacccccccccccck.
The silver linings here are 1) First and foremost, no one was hurt, 2) Rawls is going to be motivated to up his game, and 3) ... at least Fitz is fast so that'll help him spend less time running up and down the Big House bleachers.
Still.... fraaaaaaaaaaaaccccccccccccck
This also is a huge blow, because it will most likely make Jesse Palmer correct on his statement a while back about Michigan already being 0-1.
My bet is he won't sit out one game. 1st offense, do some hard labour, back in the 2nd quarter with 'Bama.
I'd take that bet. Hoke is the real deal. Unless there is something that we as yet do not know, I very much doubt that Fitz sees the field against Bama, and probably until after ND.
how about a 2 week suspension effective week 2? haha
Yes, Fitz screwed up big time here and hurt the team with the big Alabama opener coming up. I guess we get to see what Rawls is made of on Sept 1. We also have Vincent Smith who will do just fine.
Hoke should just sit him out the entire year, I think that will help send the message.
He's a college kid. He made a mistake. Yes, it's a big mistake, but a full year suspension for his first offense is not a good idea.
I know lots of people that have gotten DUIs, and none of them had to take a year off of work.
I think he should get a 2-3 game suspension; second offense he's kicked off the team.
Well, way to ruin my birthday! Give him his 2-3 games and then see if he can get back in good graces
You'd think that being a teammate of Elliott Mealer's would be enough to keep you from drinking and driving.
Well said.
I didn't have hopes of beating Bama before, but it's almost definitely not happening now. no Fitz = no ball control, no chewing up clock. Which means Alabama's crazy nasty OL will be on the field more. Against our paper thin D Line.
Great.
I am confident Hoke will handle this correctly like he did with Stonum. If I were in Hoke's shoes, I would probably suspend him for 4 games, with some sort of hard-work incentive (voluntary workouts/stadium stairs) to possibly reduce it to 3 or 2.
This may have been posted in another comment but does this affect practice time? Can Fitz still practice but not play in games?
What is it with football players who play for teams in Michigan getting arrested for driving under the influence of some various chemical?! Call a cab or a friend or a magic carpet or a unicorn or something!!! Just don't get in the car!!! This is a classic example of young kids doing dumb things and forgetting that they represent something much larger than themselves.
If you really want this to hit home...sit Fitz down and talk about his daughter. Talk about how if he hurts someone and is in jail, or hurts himself...how that affects his daughter.
Then talk about how he's got a shot to go to the NFL...not next year, THIS YEAR. How he needs every single game AND he needs to stay out of trouble to increase his draft stock. If he wants to support his daughter, he needs to make sure he's not being selfish and immature.
The possibility of hurting yourself or others should be enough, but if it's not --- he needs to be able to look his daughter in her eye and have her best interests at heart. Being in jail or in the hospital or not around at all because you were drinking and driving in no way helps support her.
Fitz has got a true opportunity. He can get away from his background, support his family and earn a living playing a sport. I hope he doesn't blow it.
He must be suspended for the 'Bama game. He and his teammates need to feel this pain. I really hope he gets 2-3 games, and is back for ND. But more than that, I hope he learns a lesson about personal responsibility to team, school, fans, and life. Drinking and Driving is a horrible crime, and I hope he understands he could have killed someone.
With everything that's going on in college football right now, a multiple-game suspension is the only acceptable punishment. I like the idea of a 4-game suspension that can be reduced by stairs/sprints and community service down to a minimum of 2 games.
Couldn't they AT LEAST call Taylor Lewan for a ride on the twosie????
Seriously, we could have gone into the Bama game with NFL-ready prospects at WR and RB if ARRRRRRRGH GET A RIDE DARRYL Stonum and AAAAAAARRRRGH WHAT DID I JUST SAY Toussaint would just AAAAAAARGH GET A RIDE and stop risking your own life and those of innocent people.
Can't we get a "tutor" to follow these asses around and be the DD or hood-slide-acrosser guy? JEEEEZ.
Rawls, let's see what you're made of. You said you want to shatter Mike Hart's records. Well, here is your chance to get started.
I don't think first offense DUI is bad enough to suspend a player from a game. However, I would consider making him sit out of a couple of practices.
Mark Dantonio
If your going to drive drunk you have to focus and not screw around.
I'm going to go ahead and assume you're making a joke.
The three million people who think he "let them down" need to take a step back and realize there's more to life than beating Alabama.
The people who should be angry are the 80 guys sweating and bleeding for Michigan. Those are the guys he let down.
"Bad news, bad news, came to me where I sleep. Time, time, time again."
I just watched the Nebraska game again and man, we're gonna miss Fitz.
I wasn't really thinking we were going to run the ball that well against Bama anyway. Actually, Rawls is a physical downhill guy that might give us a better shot to sustain drives then with Fitzgerald who runs a lot more east west then Rawls.
Hopefully he mans up and proves to his teammates that he's really in this for them and the staff and not himself.
How does he justify risking his carreer playing football for michigan?
WHAT WOULD BO DO?
If your the starting tailback at UofM and can't get a sober ride (let alone a bangin female DD) then you really have no game.
It may be harsh but a DUI just stupid.
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