Hagerup apologizes, admits it was weed.

Submitted by yoyo on

He delivers a sincere apology for his mistake and it really sounds like he hopes to be back next year.  I really like the part where he describes the coaches as nice people who aren't yelling at him but rather concerened with his well being.  That's one of many signs of how great a coach Hoke is. 

 

"Without offering details, Hagerup said he lapsed into "old habits" and blames no one but himself. He was suspended the first four games of 2011 for violating team rules, and missed the 2010 Ohio State game for the same reason."

 

"Hagerup has been meeting with the staff and said he hopes to meet again with Hoke today. Hagerup added there has been no "screaming or yelling" from the coaches, and they have had good discussions."

 

Link: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121218/SPORTS0201/212180333/1131/s…

Buck Killer

December 18th, 2012 at 8:27 AM ^

I have never met a smart dope smoker. I have met a ton that think they are smart. I have friends that smoke and are doing ok in life, but most are painters or some type of robotic tasks. All of my friends that are extremely successful don't burn down. It definitely shouldn't be illegal in my opinion, but it does cause cancer and burns out your mind. The kids needs to follow team rules period.

In reply to by Buck Killer

Dustinlo

December 18th, 2012 at 8:48 AM ^

Been in corporate law with a large firm for years. I smoke a few times a week and have done very well. This stuff doesn't "dry all your brain cells." At the end of the day, I'm much more productive the next day than going out and drinking 12 drinks. Hangovers suck.

Buck Killer

December 18th, 2012 at 9:21 AM ^

Again, same with beer it does make you perform worse. You are much less sharp than you could be after smoking. You are burning out and don't even know it. You will also most likely get cancer if you don't stop. You may do well and are the exception. Party on with your pot.

profitgoblue

December 18th, 2012 at 11:09 AM ^

I guess so.  Its a dumb discussion anyway.  Hagerup broke a team rule (however stupid) and he got suspended.  Plain and simple.  Having a discussion about the merits of pot is pointless - both sides think they are right and won't budge in their opinion.  FTR, I'm fine with people smoking pot.  As long as it doesn't affect me, I couldn't care less.

 

 

In reply to by Buck Killer

Shaqsquatch

December 18th, 2012 at 10:25 AM ^

Being intentionally vague here for the sake of privacy, but out of my group of friends that I smoke with, I got my Master's at 23 and got hired at the first job I applied to with great pay and benefits before even graduating. 3 of my friends are in prestigious grad programs and doing well in them, another is quickly moving up in a very competitive profession, another got hired to the first position he applied out of undergrad in a great spot and plans to return to grad work, finally another is running his own business very successfully. The last 3 presidents have all admitted to smoking, another of the candidates and former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson is actively pro-legalization and an open smoker. People who are "addicted" to it are the result of an addictive personality, the chemical dependency caused by weed is less than alcohol, caffeine, or tobacco. Weed is also less harmful to you than alcohol or tobacco, and in ways can be beneficial through stress reduction and helping deal with nausea. The only real argument I can understand for keeping it illegal is that there's no easy, accurate test yet like a breathalyzer to test drivers for driving while stoned. However, this shouldn't be to difficult to develop, people just need to get over the stigma behind the drug in general. Disclaimer: I'm not defending Hagerup, it's still illegal and against team rules and he knew that. I just think it still being illegal in the first place is due to an antiquated style of thinking.

Blue in Yarmouth

December 18th, 2012 at 8:44 AM ^

I'm not one who bashes weed smokers, I know and associate with many. I have to ask you though...have you ever worked on a detox unit? I can tell you with absolute certainty that weed can negatively effect people lives in many more ways than just the legal ramifications. I'm not saying it is any better or worse than lots of other things out there, but to insinuate that the only way it ruins lives is through the legal issues that coincide with it is absurd. Again, I'm not judging anyone here, but that is just too far off base to let fly.

Everyone Murders

December 18th, 2012 at 9:03 AM ^

First of all, where does it say it was weed?  All the article says is "Without offering details, Hagerup said he lapsed into 'old habits' and blames no one but himself. "  We may suspect it was weed, and that may even be a good guess, but I don't see how we know that.

Re: the effects of weed, I think The Kings of Leon's bass player Jared Followil put it best:

                 "Marijuana is a gateway drug. It leads to sweatpants and Cheetos."

For the record, I don't smoke.  But man people like to speak in sweeping generalizations about weed on a board that regularly publishes an "it's ___day, whatcha drinkin'?" post wherein tons of folks brag about their C2H50H fix for the night.  And they do so w/o approbation from this board's members, even though we're all aware of the damage alcohol does in our society.  (And for the record, I do drink socially.) 

Re: Will H., I hope he gets his head on straight and puts this silliness behind him.   If he was smoking weed, I hope he stops at least so long as he's on the team - that's selfish behavior, and self-destructive when you're a full scholarship athlete.  I thought his apology was sincere and hopefully this shakes some sense into him.  He's just 21, and has his whole life ahead of him. 

State Street

December 18th, 2012 at 7:34 AM ^

The rule he broke is irrelevant.  It could be team policy to forbid jaywalking.  If you break that policy three times, with notice that there will be indeniable proof if you break the policy, you don't deserve to be part of the team.

dennisblundon

December 18th, 2012 at 8:07 AM ^

Being part of a football team is very different from being a student. You do not live in a democracy, your coach is the first and last word on all things policy. Rules are strict but they are clear and breaking those rules results in punishment or worse yet loss of scholarship. Every player knows this and coaches view it as a sign of disrespect for those that still roll the dice. Bottom line, Will should be gone.

Zok

December 18th, 2012 at 8:17 AM ^

Seriously, if weed is more important to you then the Michigan football team then Hoke and Co should just boot him off the field already. Give him plenty of free time to smoke up with mommy and daddy paying for his school.

3 strikes is plenty. Obviously missing games is not punishment enough for this kid.

 

 

Wolverine Devotee

December 18th, 2012 at 8:27 AM ^

Michigan Football > weed

Get your head together Will. I realize in the city of A2 they think it's acceptable but it's still an illegal drug and doing any kind of illegal substance should be a dismissal. Bo kicked players off his team when he found about their pot smoking (per his book).

 

JTrain

December 18th, 2012 at 8:37 AM ^

Rules are rules are rules. We all did stupid sh*t when we were young. The issue I'd be worried about is what are my parents going to do to me!??!? If I pissed away my full-ride athletic scholly to a premier football U....wouldn't be purdy. $50,000 a year I'm guessing. An opportunity to make millions to kick the ball a few times. Is anyone going to want to draft that kid?
If you are a freshmen living in south quad and want to toke on a jibber....I say go for it. If you are a full ride scholar athlete with the opportunity of lifetime....you may want to hold off on that for at least 4 years.

IncrediblySTIFF

December 18th, 2012 at 8:43 AM ^

Of my former teammates were busted for pot. When I say several, I mean 9 people in one instance. Coach Hoke had a discussion with the team about it, and to this day he is still the reason why I will not smoke anymore. Coach told us that he really did not care whether or not marijuana is harmful or helpful, he really did not care what our opinions on it either. But at the end to the day, "it is still against the law." That makes the legal consequences of it far worse than any possible physical damage it may or may not cause to one's body/mind. That really resounded with me, and although I certainly have dabbled here and there since then, or "relapsed into old habbits," that discussion has always been what I think about the next morning.

michfan6060

December 18th, 2012 at 8:52 AM ^

People that say weed only ruins your life because of the legal issues it causes  are fucking nuts. I know plenty of people that can't stop fucking smoking weed and basically do nothing now besides that. Sure it should be legal, but like alcohol some people fucking abuse that shit man.

Wendyk5

December 18th, 2012 at 10:00 AM ^

Regarding the team rules, they're the TEAM RULES. Everyone has to follow them, so no argument from me there. But regarding smoking pot, some people handle it well and some people don't. Some people can do it recreationally, and some people can't function without it. It isn't always harmless. 

User -not THAT user

December 18th, 2012 at 12:36 PM ^

That's the first thing I thought of, too.

Team rules are team rules.  Coach Hoke may have many reasons for setting them; it's not for us as fans to question his reasoning for them since we are not players who are bound by them.

The players, on the other hand, know the rules and presumably the consequences for not following them.  Hagerup would actually know them better than most.

Mr. Yost

December 18th, 2012 at 9:00 AM ^

I find it very interesting that the comments between Floyd and Hagerup are vastly different.

A couple other thoughts:
---People are holding Hagerup to "3 strikes" and they're pissed. Yet many of them wanted Demar Dorsey on this team (a kid past 3 strikes and was bound to make more mistakes in college --- which he did, just not at Michigan)

---I didn't read anywhere where Hagerup pleaded to remain on the team or asked for sympathy. He just apologized. Why is everyone jumping down his throat for apologizing? I see all this "blah blah blah" stuff. I'm not sure just because you have a problem and mess up doesn't mean you can't apologize. Not saying you should get a break over the apology, but what's wrong with simply apologizing? What is he supposed to do? Say "fuck it, I'm a lost cause..." take is bong and walk into the sunset?

readyourguard

December 18th, 2012 at 9:02 AM ^

When it comes to sitiations like this, I like to look at it from a parent point of view.  What would I do if it was MY son who was the one in trouble?  (NOTE:  I'm the dad of a 19year old freshman at Michigan and a 17 year old daughter and I've coached kids for many years.)

Personally, in this case, if it were my son who just got suspended from the team for the third time, I'd be doing a lot more yelling than apparently the coaches did.   I'd be furious that my son was so selfish (AGAIN) that he refused to think of his teammates before himself.   I'd be disappointed in him and myself, but as Coach Hoke says, this is a learning moment.  If he lost his spot on the team, I'd be sick to my stomach for him, but I'd also agree with the punishment.

artds

December 18th, 2012 at 9:16 AM ^

What crap. Can we get around to leagalizing this stuff already and stop pretending its a big deal? There's no reason something as harmless and widely used as marijuana has to cause these sorts of problems for people. Save the punishments for truly immoral behavior. 

artds

December 18th, 2012 at 10:27 AM ^

While we're at it, lets put up arbitrary rules against all kinds of harmless activities like riding bicycles, drinking grape juice, flying kites, etc. That way we can point to the rule and say,"well, there's a rule against it, so i guess you did something wrong", since whether or not there's a rule is apparently what determines whether behavior is immoral in your book.

profitgoblue

December 18th, 2012 at 10:14 AM ^

Heck, staying out late isn't against the law.  Why are there team curfew rules????  Get rid of those too!

P.S.  Marijuana is not "widely" used.  I'd venture a guess that the number of users is less than 25% of the population, if even close to that percentage.  In no corner of the world is that "wide use."

Jon06

December 18th, 2012 at 10:37 AM ^

Marijuana (used by less than 25% of the population)

iPhones (ditto)

Makeup (used by less than half of the world's women and some men)

Oral contraceptives (used by less than half of the world's women)

Dermatologists (no way these are used by more than 25% of the population)

nytimes.com (ditto)

"Less than 25% of the population" is the dumbest metric for "widely used" I've ever heard of.

UMterry

December 18th, 2012 at 9:17 AM ^

while 3 positive tests for weed get you temporarily suspended because:

A. The coaches are concerned he may be an addict and it's not his fault.

B. When he apologizes, he's sincere.

C. There isn't another all league punter on the roster for next year.

D. All of the above

M-Wolverine

December 18th, 2012 at 1:31 PM ^

Because if you're talking about what I think you're talking about, we all know there was more than that.

And I feel a lot better about our punter depth than our receiver depth, so I doubt C has anything to do with it. Whatever "it" is, because we're not finished yet.