October 26th, 2010 at 3:18 PM ^
Well, as long as the cannonization of Dantonio involves a 155mm howitzer, I'm all for it.
October 26th, 2010 at 3:24 PM ^
My question to you, friendly neighborhood Sparty, is how do you feel about the coach of a team you support, a team that is one of the most public faces of Michigan State University, thinking that 20% of his team participating in premeditated assault is okie-dokie?
October 26th, 2010 at 3:45 PM ^
And this is the flip side of the coin. As long as MSU is beating Michigan, their fans could care less if Charles Manson was throwing fade routes to Ted Bundy.
October 26th, 2010 at 11:34 PM ^
I'm pretty sure that play is called "Little Rascals".
October 26th, 2010 at 5:43 PM ^
If I were the coach, he would be off my team. Bottom line, I also believe in 2nd chances, but not a big fan of 3rd and 4th chances. Personally, I think Rucker is done. I know MD didn't comment, but I personally thinks he wants to speak to Rucker and his family first before dismissing him at a press conference.
October 26th, 2010 at 7:19 PM ^
This isn't about speaking to the family first. You can bet that prior to Rucker accepting the plea and going to jail, he spoke with Dantonio...which is what makes Dantonio's "awaiting the process" all the more unsavory.
October 26th, 2010 at 3:29 PM ^
Well for one Haloscan had like 6-pt. font so any 2005 muli-page thread would have been long indeed.
Of course, the answer is no. When MSU has a coach who's losing, our response to good disciplinary action would be to patronizingly congratulate you on living up to our standards of good behavior, and our response to bad disciplinary action would be "lolSparty keep trying."
What's hard to do is differentiate between our responses to a successful clean coach and a successful dirty coach. I believe Dantonio is the latter, but I'm willing to bet if he wasn't people around here would find other reasons to hate him.
For my part, I'm talking MSU a lot right now because I am surrounded by MSU fans who don't know the difference between MSU being 8-0 and Michigan being 0-8. The common theme is "Sparty is in the top 5; doesn't that suck for you?" We've got a million Spartans around us trying to rub our faces in their season, because the only win a Spartan understands is one that leaves a Michigan fan crying.
So, yeah, right now I admit I'm kind of in the mood for an easy chance to remind those guys that they're rooting for the Big Ten's bad guys. If it's a symptom of anything, it's probably 60 percent my team is still rebuilding after 3-9 and 5-7 seasons while yours is 8-0 and beat mine 3 times in a row, 30 percent God I hate Spartan fans,* and 10 percent this is important stuff that we should care about.
Is that good enough reason?
* Notable exceptions: you, my wife, current/former Red Wings
October 26th, 2010 at 3:37 PM ^
I want to get in touch with you.
Do you feel ok swapping emails in the forum?
October 26th, 2010 at 5:44 PM ^
I see exactly what you're saying. Glad I made your notable exceptions list.
October 26th, 2010 at 5:19 PM ^
My question to you, and the rest of the GoBlogWorld.
Is there a reason why you always drop the "M" in the name of the blog? Are you pulling a Woody Hayes?
October 26th, 2010 at 5:46 PM ^
I had no idea you were following my posts in such great stalkerrific detail, Blue....err JMBlue.
Now, if you excuse me, I'm going to de-list myself from Whitepages
October 26th, 2010 at 7:31 PM ^
That was a starting QB not a CB and it was smoking crack or whatever , it's just kind of fun to pile on.
October 26th, 2010 at 2:44 PM ^
October 26th, 2010 at 2:57 PM ^
He wasn't convicted of Driving While Impaired. He pleaded it down to Misdemeanor Reckless Driving. There's a HUGE difference.
That said, I wonder what our collective tone would be if one of our own was in his position?
(Disregarding, of course, the Rather Hall soiree).
October 26th, 2010 at 2:58 PM ^
"(Disregarding, of course, the Rather Hall soiree)."
Yeah, but the Rather Hall soiree is the point, isn't it?
October 26th, 2010 at 3:05 PM ^
Other than that Mrs. Lincoln . . .
October 26th, 2010 at 3:37 PM ^
I didn't know that. I used to do criminal defense in another state. That is a total gift plea reserved for the very well-connected drunk drivers. Prosecutors, for a variety of reasons, don't regularly plead Drunk Driving cases to anything less then the lowest alcohol related driving offense. They are normally adament that the conviction be noted as alcohol related.
Don't have the case jacket to review the facts, but such a deal leads to a reasonable conclusion of favoritism.
October 26th, 2010 at 9:44 PM ^
Talked to a friend who does the same type of defense work, he is also a Sparty, and
he was very surprised at the ability to plead down. He mentioned that most county prosecutors would never allow a DUI to be reduced .
October 26th, 2010 at 3:41 PM ^
Also, the kid should be judged by his conduct, not by the skill of his lawyer.
October 26th, 2010 at 3:26 PM ^
Is the OWI (not DUI as routinely claimed) worse because of a previous violent offense? I am not sure that the rather hall incident speaks to a .10 driving. I am not saying drinking and driving is okay (it is absolutely not and should be punished with 10 days in prison... as it was) and certainly this kid should have toed the line. But let's remember something here. He had just beaten his chief rival, it was his birthday and he went out and had a few drinks. He had a .10 (.02 above the legal limit which we all know is about a half a beer).
Had this been his second alcohol related offense, throw the book at him. But he made two independent mistakes. One was peer pressure (once again, he was 21 at the time) and the other was irresponsibility (on his 22nd birthday... totally unheard of). He should not play this weekend, or even against minnesota. But I don't think this needs to ruin his life. Being away from the team for 4 games (1/3 of his senior season) is painful and 10 days in prison is not easy either.
October 26th, 2010 at 3:35 PM ^
One one hand, I want them reinstate Rucker and do it loud and proud. Why? I guess Valenti has been saying all day that doing so would wreck the goodness of the best MSU team in his lifetime. If that's so, come on Mark. Reinstate him and bless him 7 times, fer gawds sake.
But, you know what? Sparty is deeper. Deeper than most here want to give them credit for. They dont need this guy. He's been a weakness in the secondary. The Darqueze Dannard kid played well in his absence and they're also getting Isiah Lewis on the field more. Just cut bait Dantonio.
Otherwise, i find obssessive threads like this to be, sadly, definitive proof of where we are in the pecking order right now.
October 26th, 2010 at 3:51 PM ^
Agreed to an extent, especially with the pecking order comment. I guess I have always taken pride in being a fan and alum of a school that has higher standards though. Have we had troublemakers in the past? Of course we have, but nothing even close to this before and I'd rather go 7-5 every year with high character players than win National Championships on the backs of convicted felons. I mean that from the bottom of my maize and blue heart too.
October 26th, 2010 at 3:36 PM ^
The whole point is that zero tolerance should be zero tolerance. If he is going to get credit in the media for being a disciplinarian because he declared a "zero tolerance policy" for Rather Hall participants, then he should be taken to task when he deviates from that stated policy. Does the zero tolerance policy only refer to future beatings of women on campus, while turning a blind eye to everything else?
October 26th, 2010 at 3:55 PM ^
It is hard to get too riled up about kid gloved double standard treatment for a Michigan State coach by MSM. A. It involves coverage by MSM. B. Of a team or university that none of us care much if anything about.
Unreadable media coverage about an unreadable topic.
Dantonio and Michigan State gets treated differently and better by MSM than Rich and Michigan. It won't ever change because the roles have already been cast in the media's production.
October 26th, 2010 at 4:02 PM ^
Here is the precise quote from the "King of Discipline" (of course, prior to this latest incident):
Given a second opportunity, there's zero tolerance.
So it should have been easy for Dantonio to answer the questions without being a prick and adding the "How's that?" jab at the end. That ending jab isn't reported in the print outlets I've seen and really shows how unaccountable Dantonio feels he and his football team are.
October 26th, 2010 at 6:13 PM ^
for future reference
October 26th, 2010 at 6:47 PM ^
Dantonio was quoted as saying, “Zero tolerance played into (their dismissal). Given a second opportunity, there’s zero tolerance.”
We find this statement more than a little ironic considering zero tolerance, in our minds, means just that — zero tolerance. There should be no second chances for players who engage in violent behavior, and Winston never should have been let back on the team after his first jail sentence. If there is no policy to prevent something like this from happening in the future, the university needs to create one. Immediately.
After being given a second opportunity, there is a zero tolerance policy; meaning that if there are any issues whatsoever, it's a done deal.
October 26th, 2010 at 5:14 PM ^
but i want state to lose so bad. ill never be able to speak to another state fan again if they go to the BCS championship game. pleeeeease iowa. pleeeeeeease
October 26th, 2010 at 5:18 PM ^
my guess is rucker plays this weekend, skimask and all.
October 26th, 2010 at 5:56 PM ^
If he really said all of those things about second chances and zero tolerance, he should be crushed in the local media for not kicking him off the team.
I didn't realize that this kid was part of the "Geek Attack"....
The Woman reporter should be given credit for asking the question. His response is ridiculous.
October 26th, 2010 at 6:56 PM ^
It has become comical,the talk of Dantonios dicipline. After last years work release failure (Winston) the gang of 14 beating their way onto the Misdemeanor State wall of fame. Leaving us only to wonder which receiver will follow quicker the path taken by those who have come before. Who do you place your money on. Will it be Dell or Cunningham who are next. The path is before you, Rison, Inghram, Rogers, or Burriss, hurry along while you can still bunk with one of your heros. Sadly that school has never seen a starter they can't work with or seen a backup that can't be made an example of. Keep your head up, be proud of your peeps sparty, winning is everything. 2046
October 26th, 2010 at 7:12 PM ^
I have exclusive video of Dantonio's first comments to Rucker after he got re-arrested:
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lbOtyWTRZ_g?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lbOtyWTRZ_g?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
October 26th, 2010 at 7:46 PM ^
A few years back we had a DL who was on his way to good things with Michigan. He had some incidences of exposing himself (assault). If I am not mistaken he was removed from the team, offered counseling and retained his financial assistence from the university. He chose not to accept either and left the school to a North Carolina school, I believe. This is the way to help the student . If I am wrong about the facts of this I am sorry as it is a sensitive issue but I think Michigan put all students welfare before the teams welfare in this case.
October 26th, 2010 at 7:53 PM ^
Obviously, these are rumors, but if it does play out like this, what would you think?
There are rumblings that Rucker will not suit up for the Spartans again, but will be allowed to remain with the team.
The idea is that if you screw up, there are consequences, but we won't completely abandon you. He'll get to keep his scholarship and still not severely damage his NFL chances, but he won't be able to help the team on the field.
Fire away if you will, but I'm just interested in your reaction to this possible scenario.
October 26th, 2010 at 8:31 PM ^
MLive writer Philip Zaroo suggested this very scenario in an article from earlier today. I wonder if that article is the source of the rumors you're talking about.
October 26th, 2010 at 10:31 PM ^
Would be a pretty good way to handle it. But without going into details, he could have said he won't play Saturday, and his future is to be determined. And left out the taunt at the end. What purpose did that serve? It wasn't even an attacking question. It was just a douche response. That if Rich had said it would have cause 3 columns wondering about his state of mind in tomorrows papers.
October 27th, 2010 at 6:38 AM ^
they only be doing that because he is a senior and he only has a litte over half a year left of school??? would they be doing this if he was freshman,soph, or JR??? i doubt it... but i guess we'll find out when the dion sims case plays out...
October 27th, 2010 at 10:13 AM ^
to be more forgiving because his transgressions appear to have occurred during high school, possibly while at MSU (given the fact he was charged in Oakland County, though that might be bc the original thefts occurred there, idk) and thus before, not during like this instance
October 27th, 2010 at 10:11 AM ^
really this is about Dantonio screwing MSU over by talking with forceful abandon about the integrity his team would maintain by not allowing third chances. if he had just said they'd be disciplined based upon their behavior and dedication to team values and rules, no biggy. but he had to say the second chances... and it is going to bite him in the ass.
October 26th, 2010 at 8:51 PM ^
didn't coach Dantonio institute a "zero tolerance" policy post Rather Hall? wasn't that clear particularly to those already given a get out of jail free card? how difficult a decision can this be? let the kid keep his scholarship and participate with the scout team but he no longer sees the field. seems fair to me.
October 26th, 2010 at 9:00 PM ^
All I can think of was the outrage over Demar Dorsey when he said he was coming to Michigan. Before admissions became an issue the media jumped all over this kid who was still under 18 years old. Yet now, MSU gets a free pass on this one. Just not fair. I hope he comes back for Iowa and they still get their asses kicked.