Stonum Dismissed from Team

Submitted by Frank Drebin on

Tom Dienhart @BTNTomDienhart 2m 

Michigan announced on Tuesday (Jan. 17) that wide receiver Darryl Stonum has been dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules.

 

This will really hurt for next season. Hopefully Payton sees this as a chance at some early PT and switches to the good guys.

[Ed-H:

 

For IMMEDIATE Release

Wide Receiver Darryl Stonum Dismissed from U-M Football Team

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan head football coach Brady Hoke announced on Tuesday (Jan. 17) that wide receiver Darryl Stonum has been dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules.

"I love Darryl and wish him nothing but the absolute best," Hoke said.  "However, there is a responsibility and a higher standard you must be accountable to as a University of Michigan football student-athlete.  That does not and will not change.  It's unfortunate because I believe he has grown a great deal as a person since the beginning of the season.  My hope is that maturing process continues."

Stonum started 25 of 36 career games at U-M, catching 76 passes for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns.  He also returned 62 kickoffs for 1,538 yards and holds the single-season kickoff return mark with 39 returns for 1,001 yards in 2009.  Stonum redshirted in 2011.

"I appreciate everything the University of Michigan, Dave Brandon and Coach Hoke have done for me," said Stonum.  "I look forward to continuing my football career down the road, but more importantly, right now I'm focused on graduating from Michigan this Spring.  I understand only I am responsible for my actions. I'm sad about how all of this turned out, but I completely understand.  I love this school and my team and will miss them all greatly.  But I'll always be a Wolverine.  I know I have grown and matured as a person over the last nine months, and I will continue to learn and grow every day.  I want to thank everyone for all of their support, and I hope they will support me in the future."]

Mr.Mario86

January 17th, 2012 at 4:06 PM ^

This is a big mistake. Stonum would've been our only legitimate deep threat. Big loss, wish the best for him

justingoblue

January 17th, 2012 at 4:09 PM ^

The mistakes were all Stonum. Sad to see a good talent go, but it's not like we're trying to run a Dantonio program here. This is after, what, three probation violations and an additional arrest for the same thing he was originally in the doghouse for? At some point you need to cut ties, and this situation clearly wasn't working for either party.

ChuckieWoodson

January 17th, 2012 at 5:21 PM ^

While it may hurt us next year, I'm very happy with this decision.  Why?  Cause it shows that Hoke is better than all the SEC dogs (and Dantonio/Tressel/Meyer) - in that he has character and he expects his team to uphold a value system. You break that and you're gone, especially when you've already been given a second chance.

Honestly, I'm surprised by this, but pleasantly so. He showed that football is not above all else, and I'm proud of that decision. I think that even though this will hurt us in the short run, it upholds the values of Michigan and I'm even more proud to be a Wovlerine today.  And strangely, I think it may help us in recruiting - not only for Payton - but for future recruits who see the value in this.

osubucguy

January 17th, 2012 at 10:35 PM ^

Glad to see Hoke man up and cut a starter like Meyer did earlier this week. Thought it interesting that a week or two ago he was staying but after Meyer cuts two 4* CB's he has a change of heart.

In all seriousness I hope that both keep this up and reestablish the rivalry to what it once was. With the same results as the last ten years..

nyc_wolverines

January 17th, 2012 at 5:45 PM ^

Lets be real: He was ticketed for trying to get to his most recent judicial meeting while driving on a suspended license. No DUI, just driving suspended license. For this to be the straw that breaks the camels back,  driving suspended to get to a judicial meeting, is a bit odd when an arrest for a DUI or breaking probation carries more weight.

Neg me all you want, i don't agree. He had been observant of his rules and was trying to get to his meeting.

jmblue

January 17th, 2012 at 6:05 PM ^

I'm not so sure he had been observant of his rules, given that the judge said that he hadn't paid any of his fines from one of his previous arrests.  

In any event, we are talking about a guy who 1) got a DUI; 2) briefly went to jail for not fulfilling his probation requirements; 3) got another DUI and 4) briefly went to jaii again for driving on a suspended license.  He was very fortunate to even be on the team after #3.  Some thought Hoke was being too lenient to begin with.  It's clear now that Hoke meant for him to absolutely keep his nose clean after strike 3.  He didn't do it.

 

TNWolverine

January 17th, 2012 at 6:52 PM ^

There is a reason they suspend your license. It does not permit you to drive to court or a judicial meeting. I am sure there were plenty of people that would have been glad to take him to his meeting. He should've known that it was a bad idea to drive to a probation hearing with no drivers license. Sorry, but this was a dumb decision on his part if you ask me. 

MSHOT92

January 17th, 2012 at 7:49 PM ^

and here's an even simpler solution...don't get DUI number one...and in particular number two...and this is a non-issue...when you screw up, you need to make adjustments to your habbits...that includes perhaps an inconvenience of your freedom/personal liberties...which means NO DRIVING...thus a suspended license...that and the fact he could have EASILY made arrangements to have ANYONE else take him...had he not put himself in this position to begin with. From what I can tell in his response he manned up and took full responsibility. From what I can also tell, Hoke seems like the type of coach who sat him down like a dissapointed father who spelled out everything the coaches have tried to do, and in failing to meet those standards Stonum has essentially and sadly shown himself the door...I wish the kid the best, he's a great talent and I sincerely hope he can dust himself off and learn from what he's basically lost in this...

jmblue

January 17th, 2012 at 4:20 PM ^

That may be but again, we've got eight months for Denard to establish chemistry with other guys.  This is a lot better than losing him in August.  Roundtree, Gallon and Dileo are back after getting significant time.  Jerald Robinson is supposedly turning heads in practice.  Jeremy Jackson has great size.  That's five guys, none of whom will be a freshman, for Denard to get accustomed to throwing to over spring ball, the summer, and the fall.

snarling wolverine

January 17th, 2012 at 4:49 PM ^

People talk about Stonum like he was this Braylon Edwards clone.  I don't remember him catching that many deep balls.  In his career here he averaged 13 yards per reception, which is not that great for a supposed deep threat.  Yeah, it hurts to lose a guy with his experience, but it's not the end of the world.  

As for Woolfolk and the 2010 defense . . . you really think it'd have been much better with him in there?  I doubt it.

 

Huntington Wolverine

January 17th, 2012 at 5:14 PM ^

And who were the QBs throwing those deep balls to Edwards?  Now consider the QBs that were throwing to Stonum in RR's offense (which doesn't throw down field as often as Borges does).  This hurts the offense next year but it enhances the program and will help Stonum.  The maturity he's learned is exhibited in his statement where he thanks everyone at Michigan and takes full responsibility for his actions.

snarling wolverine

January 17th, 2012 at 5:31 PM ^

Braylon Edwards had three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.  It wasn't all the QB.  Heck he was playing with a true freshman QB his senior year.  I'd argue that Braylon made Henne look good that year a lot more than vice versa.

I look at Stonum as basically a standard-issue Big Ten WR.  Perfectly capable of making plays, but not a rare difference-maker.  His junior-year stats (49 rec., 633 yards, 4 TD) were good but not indicative of a rare talent.

93Grad

January 17th, 2012 at 5:15 PM ^

to all kinds of strange personnel experiments like Gordon to FS so I think that losing Woolfolk lead to more problems than just the loss of one guys skill and experience.  Of course we will never know, but I think his loss impacted a bunch of positions as a result.

Losing Stonum on offense and as a kick returner takes away the 1 guy we knew that had the ability to take it to the house on any given play.  Defenses have to account for such a player at all times so even if Stonum is not catching the ball he had the ability to stretch the defense. 

 

Our only hope at replacing him is if Robinson or one of the freshman emerges into that kind of player which is totally unknown.

snarling wolverine

January 17th, 2012 at 5:21 PM ^

Our 2010 D would have stunk regardless.  Woolfolk was not a difference-maker.  The guy had zero career interceptions.  He's a good kid and it's a nice story that he's the son of an all-time great, but even when healthy he wasn't all that good.  

As for Stonum, I don't mean this to be sour grapes, but I don't think the guy was nearly as good as people are making him out to be - and I felt that before he got dismissed.  I mean really, we're talking about a guy who had one career 100-yard game and it was against UMass.  Maybe he would have had a breakout senior season, but his career trajectory suggests that he was more good than great.

 

M-Wolverine

January 17th, 2012 at 5:17 PM ^

We won the Sugar Bowl without Stonum anyway, right? If you want to talk about replacing Hemingway, all well and good, but lets not act like we haven't already lost Stonum. We just didn't gain him back.  Time for Roundtree to return to sophomore form.

MichiganMan2424

January 17th, 2012 at 5:59 PM ^

Honestly, this could be a blessing in disguise. Maybe it forces Borges to go and implement an offense closer to Michigan 2010 using the slot guys more and less I formation, and maybe Roundtree has a rebound year. We'll see.

Heiko

January 17th, 2012 at 4:08 PM ^

 

For IMMEDIATE Release

Wide Receiver Darryl Stonum Dismissed from U-M Football Team

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan head football coach Brady Hoke announced on Tuesday (Jan. 17) that wide receiver Darryl Stonum has been dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules.

"I love Darryl and wish him nothing but the absolute best," Hoke said.  "However, there is a responsibility and a higher standard you must be accountable to as a University of Michigan football student-athlete.  That does not and will not change.  It's unfortunate because I believe he has grown a great deal as a person since the beginning of the season.  My hope is that maturing process continues."

Stonum started 25 of 36 career games at U-M, catching 76 passes for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns.  He also returned 62 kickoffs for 1,538 yards and holds the single-season kickoff return mark with 39 returns for 1,001 yards in 2009.  Stonum redshirted in 2011.

"I appreciate everything the University of Michigan, Dave Brandon and Coach Hoke have done for me," said Stonum.  "I look forward to continuing my football career down the road, but more importantly, right now I'm focused on graduating from Michigan this Spring.  I understand only I am responsible for my actions. I'm sad about how all of this turned out, but I completely understand.  I love this school and my team and will miss them all greatly.  But I'll always be a Wolverine.  I know I have grown and matured as a person over the last nine months, and I will continue to learn and grow every day.  I want to thank everyone for all of their support, and I hope they will support me in the future."

JT4104

January 17th, 2012 at 4:08 PM ^

Well, nothing more to say except I hope he can turn it around and be successful. Good luck to him and I'm 100% positive we will be fine at WR next year.

NorthSideBlueFan

January 17th, 2012 at 5:04 PM ^

As I stated below, I'm just kidding around a bit since the Stonum cut is 100% lauded in this thread. While many of the same commenters have been flaming Meyer so hard for his recent cuts, which included a domestic abuser among other troubling things.

The poster above's words were so over the top, high and mighty and all that I just thought I would poke a little fun.

dothepose

January 17th, 2012 at 4:08 PM ^

Can't really argue with this, he had more chances than he probably should have. I guess he can try the NFL but that will be tough. Shame he couldn't pan out like we hoped. Hello Jordan Payton?