MGoDubs

January 5th, 2012 at 3:11 PM ^

Ive had friends on probation....and typically you have to call in each morning especially for drinking offenses and they make to you come in and do an alcohol test and they can schedule that as early as that morning. I don't necessarily know he's probation requirements but if he is one that has to call in each morning then its possible he did know last minuet and come in to do an alcohol test and if any tests are missed you do go to jail because it counts as a failed drug test. So it is very possible it was last minuet and he had no ride and would have been sent to jail if not there. Wait til you get all the facts before judging someone

Zok

January 5th, 2012 at 10:50 AM ^

But I'm sure he knows the probation check up schedule ahead of time and can make the proper arrangements.

He has what, 84+ teammates he can ask for a ride. Probably countless jersey chasers on his nutz that he can ask for a ride. Or he could ride a damn bike or take the bus.

I can see UM and the probayion officers agreeing to sweep this under the rug (if its as simple as not having a ride) but he has got to get it together. At this point I don't think the team can count on him not screwing up prior to the 2012 season.

UM should plan for him not to be on the team IMO.

Hardware Sushi

January 5th, 2012 at 10:57 AM ^

No, that's wrong. Don't drive a goddamned car if you don't have a license. Not planning ahead by finding a ride or leaving enough time to take the bus is messing up.

I'm not saying Stonum is a bad guy, but it's wrong and stupid of him to drive without a license. As Hoke says, he's not being accountable to his teammates and being selfish. There is no other way to slice it.

I had an old roommate with 2 DUIs and he arranged for rides or didn't go places. He went 2.5 years without a license and didn't drive himself once. He fucked up but at least he realized his mistakes. This is not a single incident for Stonum. At this point, he is a habitual offender.

MilkSteak

January 5th, 2012 at 11:21 AM ^

Exactly. I'm sure Stonum is a decent guy, but this decision coupled with his previous offenses illustrate that he holds his own convenience above his team and the law in his list of priorities. Right or wrong, this is not the type of distraction a football team needs.

maizenbluenc

January 5th, 2012 at 11:45 AM ^

I spent four years in Ann Arbor, and had a car for one. I managed to get around Ann Arbor just fine in those first three years. Sure I wasn't a football player with early morning lift schedules, and tight connect times, but I managed not to get 2 DUIs either. (... the brilliance of sending your kid to college without a car for the first three years ...)

I am sure it was hard to find a lift, given the holiday schedule and bowl preps, ect., but he had other options. (If his schedule was too tight, he should have had a discussion with the coaches to work out an arrangement.)

He was in DB's dog house already. Hoke stood up for him. I think he's just broken the last straw.

denardogasm

January 5th, 2012 at 12:03 PM ^

Was his appointment in AA? Because if it was I definitely agree with you.  The courthouse is probably not more than a 20 minute walk from anywhere.  If you can walk to class you can walk there.  Unless he overslept (which is possible) I don't know why he would feel the need to drive anyway.

MGoBrewMom

January 5th, 2012 at 10:56 AM ^

Period.

How does someone get a suspended sentence? Duh. Its not about something simple, its about something simple after really effing up. He was let off easy before, and now he will be held accountable..
Maybe Mr. Rager should follow a program like OSU or Miami...not so many standards there to keep.

93Grad

January 5th, 2012 at 10:36 AM ^

He already had 2 strikes, both legally and with the team and then he breaks the law again and lies to his probation officer about it?  That shows zero judgment and a lack of respect for the legal system and the team.  I would have no problem if Hoke decided to boot Stonum off the team, even though it would be crushing to our offense.

Pdeaner

January 5th, 2012 at 1:19 PM ^

Did he drive once without a license and get caught?  Or did he do this a lot and finally get caught?  Usually when someone gets a speeding ticket its not because the one time they sped they got caught.  Its because they speed when they drive and will get caught eventually.

So this could be another series of bad decisions to drive and not just one.

sheepdog

January 5th, 2012 at 10:57 AM ^

I am sure these comments will get removed if I go any farther with this, so I will refrain out of respect for the rules Brian and the Mods expect us to respect.

This board is full of users that respect Brian's creation and the fact that it is not like other boards.  For the most part, it is full of people that add value and insight, which makes it different than some of the trash you see on Sparty and Buckeye boards.

I suggest you visit the page with some of the guidelines of the baord and then respect them, and other users if you want anyone to respct what you have to say.

 

Hardware Sushi

January 5th, 2012 at 10:32 AM ^

ARRRRGH. Why the hell does he keep driving cars? Also, why is he so bad at driving cars that he keeps getting pulled over while driving them? Can someone else not drive him? GET THIS MAN A GODDAMNED BIKE.

In 5 years in Ann Arbor, I was pulled over 0 times. I don't even like driving, but if I did, I'd still attempt to not get pulled over. What is so tough about driving (or not driving) for this guy?

tjl7386

January 5th, 2012 at 10:43 AM ^

Don't know if Hoke can keep afford to keep him around. I think it might set a bad example of what is and is not acceptable as a Michigan player. He was given two stikes to get his act cleaned up and to stay out of trouble and serve his suspention and get back on the field. Don't know if it is worth taking a chance on the third stike.

Blue in Yarmouth

January 5th, 2012 at 10:53 AM ^

I am seriously asking here because I am trying to decide that myself at the moment. I mean...it's one thing if someone's life is at stake and no one is around to help (and drive) but you, then that seems like a valid reason. As it sounds here, he needed to get to an appointment and decided to drive there.

I agree with what many have already said; in and of itself it isn't a terribly serious offense. But when one takes into account DS's history it paints a somewhat different picture of a young man who cares nothig for the laws that society has laid out. As much as I hate to say it (because I really want him on the team), I don't know how Hoke could keep him on the team. I know if I were coach he wouldn't be.

phork

January 5th, 2012 at 2:29 PM ^

What circumstances would those be?  His only ride to where he needed to be was smashed by an asteroid?  All phone service, including cells, stopped working so he couldn't call a cab?  All the buses in the area stopped working?  He suddenly found himself strapped to a bed with some crazy chick smashing his ankles because she is his biggest fan?

Not really sure what you need here.  2 DUIs and multiple driving will suspended == disregard.

JewofM

January 5th, 2012 at 10:37 AM ^

how people can say this is not a big deal. In and of itself maybe not. The fact is Stonum has been busted twice for drinking and driving. He license was suspended and he got 2 years of probation. He was booted off the team and allowed to potentially earn his way back by doing what Hoke asks of him and playing on the practice squad. i think Michigan went out on a limb to not just cut ties with him already and this is how he repays them. He is a U of M football player. He has to know that anything he does will be visible and in the press. This makes the University look bad, that a player already on probation breaks the law, as driving on a suspended license is against the law. Then he lies to the probation officer when asked how he got to the meeting. This is just plain stupid. He should know better. Therefore to me, in this instance this is a very big deal.

tjl7386

January 5th, 2012 at 10:56 AM ^

Don't know that anyone has said that they were outraged by this, just that it piles on a list of issues that DS has had and he should have known better. Whether he hurt someone or not isn't the point, the law is the law and everyone is suppose to abide by them. He obviously has had a problem doing so and this just continues to prove that.

JewofM

January 5th, 2012 at 10:59 AM ^

of the transgression, he broke the law. He already had two strikes. Let’s remember that he is not just a normal college student. He is a U of M football player on scholarship and he represents the University. Therefore, it will be tough regardless of what the court says for Hoke to sweep this under the rug.

Erik_in_Dayton

January 5th, 2012 at 11:06 AM ^

I don't think this is a small issue, but I don't think he needs to be kicked off of the team for it either.  I'd be much more concerned (as I realize you likely would be too) if he did something that hurt someone that did not lead to a criminal charge than I am with this - a (possible) criminal offense that had no victim or even potential victim.

Zok

January 5th, 2012 at 10:39 AM ^

If he doesn't get the AXE from Hoke who's to say that he won't do something more stupid next month? At this point, the odds of him playing the entire 2012 season are slim.

UM needs a WR upgrade ASAP. Not enough speed or playmakers there with Hemmingway gone. We basically have middle tier Big Ten WRs on the depth chart right now.

Hopefully one of the underclassmen really steps up. Roundtree is pretty nullfied in the new O and Gallon hasn't shown that he can be a #1 type yet.

JMac

January 5th, 2012 at 10:39 AM ^

This is what Coach Hoke means when he preaches being accountable to eachother.  This was a selfish act that hurts the team.  I can't stand liars either.  He's gone....period.  I also hope he eventually learns a lesson before he damages other and himself.

Promote RichRod

January 5th, 2012 at 10:43 AM ^

after the last DUI.  Hoke had a chance to really set the tone and show that he takes these issues seriously.  Instead he gave a third (fourth?  I've lost count) chance and look what happens.  I called Hoke's unwillingness to cut Stonum after his second DUI and third alcohol related offense his first major mistake at UM and I stand by that assessment.  I thought we were better than this.

uniqenam

January 5th, 2012 at 10:51 AM ^

I disagree.  I think it's truly horrible that Stonum was involved in DUI-related offenses, but I don't think it's ridiculous to bench a kid for a year when Hoke hasn't had any involvement before.  Prior to this morning's issue, Stonum was only on his second chance with Hoke, and Hoke had already punished him severely (a 1-year benching isn't exactly lenient); it's not like Stonum had continuously shown Hoke that he was untrustworthy and not trying to make changes, and it's also not like Hoke didn't come down on him pretty hard.

tbeindit

January 5th, 2012 at 11:12 AM ^

I thought suspending Stonum for a season was a pretty significant punishment.  Heck, if he hadn't suspended him, this event would have little to no significance or impact on Stonum or the team as he'd be headed somewhere else.

I've actually thought about this specific decision from Hoke and I truly believe he made the right one last summer.  Should Stonum have been punished by the team?  Of course.  Should he have been kicked off?  He certainly deserved to be removed from the team.  However, I also think you need to consider the best interests of both the school and Stonum. 

If Stonum had been kicked off of the team, what happens then?  He either never plays college football again or is somehow able to convince them to grant a transfer for him to play somewhere else where's he's likely to get in more trouble.

From the date Hoke issued the punishment, it was well over a year before Stonum would receive any gameplay.  To me, if it's your last chance and you do absolutely nothing wrong for well over a year, I think you've not only proven yourself to the team, but worked to improve yourself as well.

I had doubts that Stonum would be able to avoid trouble again (as we see today), but you have to have the best interests in mind of the players as well.  Simply dumping Stonum is no good for anybody.  Makes you look extremely tough, but what he did is already significantly above what most coaches in the scenario choose to do.

Pdeaner

January 5th, 2012 at 1:29 PM ^

I agree.  Dumping helps no one and he never learns his lesson.  Suspending him for a year and making him work the scout team and other internal punishments he received, should have helped him be more accountable, keep structure, finish school, and be in a positive atmosphere.

Feat of Clay

January 5th, 2012 at 10:44 AM ^

JESUS, kid.  

I am sure it is hard as hell to give up driving for 365 days, and I truly sympathize.  It surely sucks.  But that's the medicine you were handed, and it was a lieu of jail time, so it was something to be grateful for.  And to be adhered to.  It's a small violation in the scheme of things, but the obvious edict is DON'T VIOLATE IT AT ALL.

I liked this kid and I've missed his personality (and ability!) all year.  But if Hoke has to cut him loose I will understand.  It is just tragic if he ends up blowing his college football career on stupid-ass decisions like not grabbing a cab to court.  ARGH.

bleednblue

January 5th, 2012 at 10:50 AM ^

And to think, two days ago I was telling my brother that our WR outlook for next year was top notch with Stonum returning and the addition of Arnett (considering he received an override from the NCAA on sitting out a year due to transfer).  What a difference a few days make....damn it.

bleednblue

January 5th, 2012 at 10:54 AM ^

In of itself I would say no, it is not a big deal.  Take it and combine it with his previous transgressions and also take into consideration that he was under scrutiny by Hoke and staff to begin with....I would say that  this will probably be a big deal and the end of his career at Michigan.  Unfortunately.

J. Lichty

January 5th, 2012 at 11:48 AM ^

it could be worse that the punishment for the offense itself, and it ususally worth tacking on some  jail time if offense committed while on probation.

Regardless, its bad.

I'm not sure about Michigan, but in Illinois driving on a revoked license because of DUI is mandatory jail time and depending on number of priors it could actually be charged as a class 4 felony.