The story of Frank Clark
August 19th, 2014 at 3:53 PM ^
August 19th, 2014 at 3:57 PM ^
No, because NCAA.
August 19th, 2014 at 4:03 PM ^
I'm not a fan of the way things look to be headed with the recent rulings/votes/etc., but I'd certainly be in favor of allowing schools to help with travel costs for parents to come see some games, especially for parents that have clearly demonstrated financial difficulties like Clark's.
August 19th, 2014 at 4:06 PM ^
Yeah but they need to protect the student athlete.
August 19th, 2014 at 4:57 PM ^
Exactly. Spirit of the sport.
Just the thought of a woman getting the help she needs to see her son play college football disgusts me.
August 19th, 2014 at 5:13 PM ^
More likely he meant if Clarks mom hasn't gotten her own life together people paying her way out to a game may not be the best thing for either one of them.
August 19th, 2014 at 5:38 PM ^
More likely, sarcasm.
August 19th, 2014 at 6:34 PM ^
Exactly. I mean, allowing bagmen to openly operate couldn't possibly cause anything to go wrong. Their money would only ever be used to transport poor women to see their sons play, and never for buying drugs or anything like that. Right?
August 19th, 2014 at 4:36 PM ^
August 19th, 2014 at 9:02 PM ^
If citizens, with no affiliation to the team or the university, want to pool resources and send a parent to a game, how the hell is that a violation of NCAA rules????
Somebody help me understand that.
August 19th, 2014 at 6:12 PM ^
I would gladly contribute to this cause despite my allegiance.
August 19th, 2014 at 6:38 PM ^
August 19th, 2014 at 7:15 PM ^
The schools that lose money on athletics don't want to lose even more. The new autonomy rules for the Big 5 may make this possible; one of the proposals is for schools to pay the way for parents to bowl games, and the concept will probably spread beyond that.
August 19th, 2014 at 9:50 PM ^
The team kickstarts, goes undefeated, and is in one of the playoff games at the Rose Bowl. Of course with BM being out for the season the meme now is that the B1G has lost total credibility.
August 19th, 2014 at 3:57 PM ^
It's not illegal to reimburse for the trip after his finishes his senior season, right?
August 19th, 2014 at 4:31 PM ^
I'm no lawyer -- and certainly not a lawyer for the NCAA -- but I have to believe just the promise of future payment is a violation. Otherwise, there'd be an ocean of money in accounts held for the day top recruits leave their schools.
August 19th, 2014 at 6:22 PM ^
Who said anything about a promise *wink wink*...
August 19th, 2014 at 4:10 PM ^
August 19th, 2014 at 4:41 PM ^
This story is tremendous. The writing, not so much.
August 19th, 2014 at 4:45 PM ^
I AM NOT GROOT
August 19th, 2014 at 5:09 PM ^
August 19th, 2014 at 5:00 PM ^
Better make sure he gets to Pasadena, then.
August 19th, 2014 at 5:13 PM ^
Linked to the article above, one about Willie having had to make adjustments on the field and off as a freshman and Frank Clark mentoring him, having gone through similar things with similar backgrounds, helping him learn to trust that their coaches, like their high school coach Ted Ginn, have only their best interests at heart.
August 19th, 2014 at 5:19 PM ^
These are good stories and I'd love to read more about them. While I thought York should be gone due to the potential of what he did having horrific effects, a lot of us far more fortunate growing up have no clue the circumstances some of these players grow up in so we can't really relate. I know it is only a tiny % of people in the big picture of things, but you can see how sports can change the path of these guys who escape their toxic environment for 4-5 years. I know some go right back into it after they leave school but at least some have a chance to break the pattern. Just being exposed to hope and safety and stability on a college campus is something that can be life changing, and what most of us who grew up middle class take for granted. Also makes you really respect those who are in the same circumstances and escape via academics.
August 19th, 2014 at 5:23 PM ^
I realize the troubles that Clark and York got into were very different at UM, but it seems they both came from similar backgrounds - the streets. We don't know what either player is like to be around when with the staff and we don't know how many chances York had. Fortunately we were able to get through to Clark, but unfortunately for York he's going to have to find his way in life elsewhere.
August 20th, 2014 at 1:32 AM ^
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August 20th, 2014 at 8:45 AM ^
August 19th, 2014 at 6:15 PM ^
I love this story, and others I've read about Clark. What a challenging environment to come from. Thanks so much for providing the link.
There is something else that is worth mentioning. Clark (and Henry) both played for Ted Ginn. I would bet $1,000 that Ginn and Hoke really get along, and get each other. They care for their players deeply. I can't speak to RR, or Carr, or Urban Meyer, or Dantonio. But I have no doubt about Hoke, and about Mattison, and about the atmosphere at Michigan. Every team talks about being a family. And you know, I think that every team out will function somewhat as a family. Some more, some less. But I do think that Hoke really gets it, and has the respect of Ginn and many other coaches and of the players. More than just being on a winning team, more than being at a great institution academically, more than being close to home, Hoke and crew are putting together a culture that welcomes and helps and encourages players like Frank Clark and Willie Henry. As I think of Mone, Darboh, Chesson, Bushell-Beatty, Tuley-Tillman, Hurst, Gedeon, Ojemudia, Ways, sadly York, I see kids (and coaches and families behind them) who yearn for the kind of environment that is at Michigan. I'm proud of Hoke and the culture he has been building. This, I believe, is a big part of the reason for the tremendous recruiting we've seen at Michigan.
August 19th, 2014 at 7:37 PM ^
August 19th, 2014 at 8:09 PM ^
Ginn and Hoke. Im sure Ginn knows his kids will get treated well when he sends them to play for Brady.
August 19th, 2014 at 6:26 PM ^
walk in the shoes he walked in and tell me you'd do any better?
Funny how snarky the comments get after the article....glad that doesn't happen here......
August 19th, 2014 at 9:10 PM ^
...was incredible:
“He kind of holds onto that -- ‘I am a kid from inner-city Crenshaw and inner-city Cleveland.’” Regina said. “Well, no, he’s not. He’s a young man going to the University of Michigan and playing football. He needs to walk in that greatness now. Other people can only dream of that.”
August 19th, 2014 at 10:20 PM ^
August 19th, 2014 at 10:50 PM ^
August 20th, 2014 at 9:28 AM ^
When I read the story the other day the commenst section was a snark battle between MSU fans and UM fans about whether Clark being on the team at all means that Hoke runs a tight ship or not. When I heard about the laptop theft story I would have been fine if Clark got the boot right then. Since he was given another chance he has done really well and become a good player and leader.
August 20th, 2014 at 10:34 AM ^