J.T. Floyd issues public apology
You can find the full statement at the link below ($). Here's an excerpt from the seemingly very sincere apology. Best of luck to him in the future.
Although I looked forward to finishing my college football career playing against South Carolina in the Outback Bowl, I fully understand the decision Coach Hoke had to make by suspending me from the bowl game. I have called Ann Arbor my home for the last five years, and I can honestly say that everyone here will remain an integral part of my family.
http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/colleges/michigan/post/_/id/9046/statem…
EDIT: Turns out it's not paywalled after all, thanks dnak438.
December 17th, 2012 at 4:05 PM ^
Hagerup's first suspension was for things getting a little leafy so I wouldn't be surprised if thats what this was for as well. Not sure that they were all suspended because of something they did together though. As this is Hag's third suspension I wonder if it will trickle over into games for next year too. Too bad for him, he's a good punter but needs to work on keeping his head down apparently.
December 17th, 2012 at 5:58 PM ^
I have a feeling Hag himself probably won't be trickling over into next year.
December 17th, 2012 at 8:48 PM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 5:02 PM ^
I personally have no issue with weed, and it really is no big deal in Ann Arbor. That said, part of Hoke's job is to prepare kids for the NFL. It's better if everyone with NFL hopes learns to avoid weed in college instead of running afoul of the NFL (Ricky Williams being the most extreme example). I hope soon the NFL will drop their weed policy and when that day comes I expect Michigan to relax its as well, until then though I can't fault Hoke for bringing NFL conduct policies to college.
i'm sorry Floyd has to miss the game and I wish him the best.
December 17th, 2012 at 5:25 PM ^
It's not just about preparing kids for the NFL. It's instilling a good life lesson. When you represent an organization like Michigan football or anything else with a good public image, "but but but the law is stupid" isn't an excuse regardless of how we all feel about it.
December 17th, 2012 at 6:09 PM ^
No matter how stupid the law is...and I don't even smoke weed.
December 17th, 2012 at 7:44 PM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 3:55 PM ^
I am with all those who want to laud JT Floyd for this mature and appropriate response to the situation. It is refreshing when individuals take responsibility for their own actions, and accept the following consequences. We all have made bad choices, which have often had negative repercussions. For JT to accept his suspension, and to thank Hoke, is the way things should be done. Thanks for putting this post and link up on the board.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:56 PM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 4:03 PM ^
Class move by a class act. I feel better about JT now and wish him the best in his future career NFL or otherwise.
Hagerup - This kid is a real disappointment. He has all the talent in the world but can't seem to follow the rules. I'd be surprised if he plays for Michigan again. The old saying is 3 strikes and you are out.
December 17th, 2012 at 4:07 PM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 4:08 PM ^
This is different from the letters and statements suspended players at Washington St., Minnesota, etc. have made.
Tells me more about Coach Hoke and the University of Michigan Football team than it does anything else.
Interesting, Stonum made a similar statement.
December 17th, 2012 at 4:13 PM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 4:19 PM ^
I love how nobody wants to speculate about what JT Floyd and the other players did to get suspended, yet goes ahead and speculates about it anyway.
Just forget about it. What they did doesn't matter. If you want to read about dumb things people do behind closed doors, go check out US Weekly.
December 17th, 2012 at 4:31 PM ^
Sucks that he'll miss his final game as a Wolverine, but the staff and J.T, both have done the right thing in this case. I applaud the staff for not taking the cheap way out and J.T. for not blaming anyone but himself. Does anyone know if the three of them will travel with the team to the bowl game?
December 17th, 2012 at 4:31 PM ^
Learn from your mistake,and move on young man!!
GO BLUE
December 17th, 2012 at 5:52 PM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 5:55 PM ^
excuses the coach for suspending him, why all the concern over what got him suspended? I just feel bad he is missing this game in peticular.
December 17th, 2012 at 5:56 PM ^
the letter is so well written that if Mr. Floyd composed it, I have no doubt he will be successful in life.
i was so moved, i would reinstate him.
the lesson has been learned. i'm not hold ing out much hope though.
December 17th, 2012 at 6:11 PM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 8:30 PM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 6:49 PM ^
covered up and the NCAA ignores and the coach is carried on the field.
Notre Domers are in the ACC forgodsakes. Stop being obsessed.
December 17th, 2012 at 7:35 PM ^
I should probably change my username to "naivelyoptimistic", but I can't shake the notion that this public apology is the first step in a multi-step process that ends with JT getting reinstated for the bowl game.
December 17th, 2012 at 7:52 PM ^
Maybe he can get a red shirt?
December 18th, 2012 at 3:17 PM ^
not missing any games due to substance abuse problems.
December 17th, 2012 at 8:31 PM ^
I like your optimism. I'm going with your notion!
December 17th, 2012 at 8:32 PM ^
OK; so just for SPECULATION's sake.... let's say he got caught smoking weed. I understand that it's illegal and Hoke can't let it slide if JT was caught with it. But to me; it a complete shame that a young man that has worked so hard has his college athletics career ended by some WEED?
I really can't understand anyone in the modern world thinking marijuana is an ugly evil thing anymore. Illegal? Yes. A sign of questionalbe character? NO. I smoke pot often, am 33 years old, extremely succesful, doing my dream job, and am probably ten times more physically active than the average Mgoblogger (no offense; just trying to dispell the stereotype). I just hope that Michigan fans remember how much JT progressed as a player (and quite possibly a man) throughout his UM career.
December 17th, 2012 at 8:37 PM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 8:41 PM ^
Use/possession of an illegal substance by team rules, school rules and the laws of the state and country mean you are breaking the rules/law. Breaking the law knowingly means you are of questionable character.
December 17th, 2012 at 8:46 PM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 8:50 PM ^
I'm trying to avoid flaming here and if mods think this crosses a line, I won't be offended if it gets deleted. That being said...
There are a lot of different takes on pot use. Take Ann Arbor for example: pretty much nobody objects to pot in the city, plenty of people (such as yourself, regardless of where you actually live) do some pot for fun and it doesn't really affect their lives too badly. As you've said yourself, you can't dream of a reason why anyone should consider it such a big deal. That's one take.
Now let's move to the other side of the state, say to Grand Rapids or one of its more rural outlying areas. There, not very many people do pot, and those who do do everything they can to hide it. To a lot of west-siders, doing pot is a morally questionable thing: not only is it illegal, but it creates separation in the community (but not in the weight room).
My point here isn't to say who I think is right or wrong, but merely to state that it's simply untrue to state that Floyd allegedly got busted for a draconian, archaic historic social oddity. There's more resistance to marijuana in society at large than there are in certain communities. Floyd got busted because there are a good number of people who are really opposed to pot use. If there were consensus one way or another, then nobody would have debates about it.
By the way... dream job at 33? Congrats!
December 17th, 2012 at 9:46 PM ^
I do realize the huge stigma that exists with marijuana; as well as the fact that it is against the law and a player probably has to be held accountable if he fails a test. Not debatable.
All I'm saying is that in this day and age (in a supposedly free society); NO ONE should be ashamed to smoke a little pot. And it's a complete joke that a hard-working college kid's career is ended by it (hypothetically).
December 17th, 2012 at 9:11 PM ^
The NCAA agrees that marijuana can be harmful. The penalty for failing an NCAA drug screen is a one year suspension and loss of eligibility. Every year the NCAA comes to test a sample of players at every BCS conference school. They also test a random sample of players on every bowl team. I'm sure Coach Hoke doesn't want his players testing positive for marijuana. In addition to the penalty just looks bad.
I don't foresee Floyd being reinstated. Coaches tend to be hardest on the older players who they look to for leadership.
The bottom line is that the players broke the rules and will be punished. If Coach Hoke assigned a 10PM curfew and the players broke the curfew, they would be punished even though there is nothing inherently wrong with college students being out past ten. These suspensions are about maintaining order now and in years to come.
December 17th, 2012 at 9:55 PM ^
Ok for discussion's sake... Do you believe that putting people in jail for smoking pot is reasonable?
And as far as saying that it's "potentially harmful"... Isn't driving a car or cutting vegetables with a kitchen knife potentially harmful as well?
Sorry to go on this tangent, totally for discussion purposes only and possibly has nothing to do with JT.
December 18th, 2012 at 8:04 AM ^
I am against putting people in prison for drug use, period. I spend a lot of my time going into jails and probation offices and advocating for treatment instead of jail. I voluntarily serve on a felony drug court team to help keep people out of prison.
I mentioned the people I have know who have choosen weed over freedom to illustrate how powerful and addictive it can be. I didn't believe that when I began working in this field. Weed also impairs athletic performance. I think it is reasonable for Coach Hoke to tell his players not to use weed.
Driving cars and weilding kitchen knives can also lead to problems. If the coaches deem these off limits, I am on board.
December 17th, 2012 at 9:12 PM ^
really quite beside the point.
If the team rules specify that the players have to eat clam chowder, it is a rule regardless of your take on it. The program stated he broke team rules - there is nothing to be gained by speculation, and it does him a tremendous disservice. I, for one, will have no problem remembering what JT Floyd did during his career at Michigan, because I am not going to paint him with a speculative brush.
December 17th, 2012 at 9:51 PM ^
Agreed. This could be something completely different and have nothing to do with pot.
Just bringing up the point to create a disscusion and share my opinion. I'm pretty sure that's what we do here.
December 17th, 2012 at 10:59 PM ^
December 18th, 2012 at 3:08 AM ^
December 18th, 2012 at 3:14 AM ^
December 18th, 2012 at 3:08 AM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 8:53 PM ^
This really saddens me. I like JT Floyd. I was always impressed with his interviews. He seemed to be more than just another football player. He deserves a better ending to his Michigan career than this.
Someone go lock Denard in a room until Jan 1st. I can't take another one of these.
December 17th, 2012 at 11:04 PM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 9:45 PM ^
Happy he made the statement, but it reminds you how these guys are treated both others, both positively and negatively. Sure, they are treated as superstars on Saturday, but they are also held to a higher public standard that virtually every other student on campus in a similar situation. Chances are there are others who were "caught" this weekend doing whatever Floyd did, and none of them have posted an apology on ESPN.com because this transgression was made public to the world.
Wish him luck.
December 17th, 2012 at 10:52 PM ^
Is it the case that the players should be held to a lower standard, or that the rest of us should be held to a higher standard? I dare say we'd be a lot better off if we all behaved like we were subject scrutiny
/philosophynerd
December 17th, 2012 at 11:18 PM ^
Is it the case that the players should be held to a lower standard, or that the rest of us should be held to a higher standard? I dare say we'd be a lot better off if we all behaved like we were subject scrutiny
/philosophynerd
December 17th, 2012 at 9:56 PM ^
I don't know what the players did to earn this suspension ... nor do I think it's really relevant. Hoke has made his decision, and as the head coach it stands.
What strikes me is the consistent drumbeat Hoke is sending ... "There are expectations and if you fail to live up to them there will be consequences." Bravo to Coach Hoke and his staff.
He and his staff have said time and again that their primary objective is to shape the players to be "better men, better husbands and better fathers."
In a culture riddled with the idea that actions should be free of consequences, I think Hoke's life lesson here is absolutely spot on. It is a lesson that, if embraced, will serve the players well the rest of their lives.
This is the kind of thing that resonates with players and recruits, though they don't always know what about it appeals to them or why. Coach Hoke is laying the deep foundational cornerstones to a very good future for Michigan football.
Good for Floyd for his public admission of responsibility ... good for Hoke for creating an atmosphere where such things are expected, and such things naturally flow.
December 17th, 2012 at 11:16 PM ^
December 18th, 2012 at 2:36 AM ^
December 18th, 2012 at 7:33 AM ^