Tyrann Mathieu wants to stay at LSU

32 posts / 0 new
Login or register to post comments
Last post
August 13th, 2012 at 2:14 PM
#1
StephenRKass
StephenRKass's picture
Joined: 07/15/2008
MGoPoints: 4207
Tyrann Mathieu wants to stay at LSU

There is a brief article at the WWL stating that Tyrann Mathieu is interested in returning to LSU. He wants to attend classes this year on his own dime, and be readmitted to the team for the two years following. The article indicates that he hasn't been dismissed from LSU, but from the team, making this a possibility if the academic and athletic administrations can work it out.

LINK:  http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8264350/tyrann-mathieu-interest-staying-lsu-sources-say

Reading the article, you can't help but think of Fitz Toussaint. ESPN reports:

Mathieu has been described as "heartbroken" and "grieving" since his dismissal from the team.  Mathieu has told people close to him that he is interested in working on his maturity and character and also in seeking out any way to continue his education at LSU.

I hope that things work out for him. Sometimes, correction and punishment can help turn someone's life around. This also, to at least a modest degree, speaks well of Miles.
 
As for Fitz, being suspended for Alabama, or the pre-season, could potentially be painful enough that he would think carefully about the consequences of his own actions.
 

"It does not matter how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get up." Vince Lombardi

 

Top
Tags:

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
August 13th, 2012 at 2:17 PM | But (Score:5 Normal)
Gwhizz
Gwhizz's picture
Joined: 03/22/2011
MGoPoints: 137

I thought the the honey badger don't care.

I thought what I'd do was, I'd pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes.

August 13th, 2012 at 3:12 PM | He don't care (Score:2 Normal)
MichiganAggie
MichiganAggie's picture
Joined: 11/10/2008
MGoPoints: 640

It's just that weed is the Honey Badger's Kryptonite

August 13th, 2012 at 9:24 PM | heard he was looking to (Score:2 Informative)
OverDey
Joined: 08/06/2012
MGoPoints: 154

heard he was looking to transfer to joe dumars' alma mater, mcneese state in lake charles. anymore on that?

August 14th, 2012 at 7:52 AM | The Harvard of the bayou (Score:1)
Dominick's_Lunch
Dominick's_Lunch's picture
Joined: 02/10/2012
MGoPoints: 363

With a degree from LSU he would get a great job in the hospitality or food service industries.

August 13th, 2012 at 2:33 PM | thought (Score:5 Normal)
Ziff72
Joined: 07/07/2008
MGoPoints: 5147

As I've gotten older I've done a little more thinking about punishments for  players who misstep.   Let's consider 2 black and white scenarios. 

1.  Fitz is suspended for the Alabama game, but is brought back afterward.   

2.   Fitz is allowed to play in the alabma game but has to complete requirements on the side.

Scenario 1 who is punished?     Coaches, Fans,  Fitz, Teammates.   Who benefits?   Alabama.  What does this really accomplish and really what is harder on Toussiant missing 1 game or having to get up early and subject yourself to a punishment each morning?  

Scenario 2 who is punished?   Fitz 

It sounds tougher to suspend them for a game, but I think it is more beneficial to put restrictions on them and allow them to earn their  way back.   Then strike 2 or 3 you boot them.    If Mathieu really wants to do this I think it is great and think LSU should allow it.   If this kid can stay on the straight and narrow for a full year I think it benefits everyone.

August 13th, 2012 at 3:02 PM | I see your line of reasoning, (Score:5 Normal)
willywill9
willywill9's picture
Joined: 09/22/2008
MGoPoints: 11256

I see your line of reasoning, however what would Fitz prefer?  The "tougher" road, and not missing a game, or the primary punishment being a one game suspension?  My money is on playing in the game against Alabama.  If the thing he wants the most is still given to him, would he have truly understood the consequences of his actions?  What about deterring future mishaps?

Touchdown Michigan!

August 13th, 2012 at 3:04 PM | I see your line of reasoning, (Score:-1 Redundant)
August 13th, 2012 at 3:07 PM | An interesting way of looking (Score:1 Normal)
SoFlaWolverine
SoFlaWolverine's picture
Joined: 07/08/2011
MGoPoints: 366

An interesting way of looking at things, but this probably would only work with offseason incidents. Had Fitz gotten his DUI on the bye weekend there's really no other option but for him to miss gametime.

Denard is my homeboy.

University of Michigan Class of 2014

August 13th, 2012 at 3:11 PM | I see your reasoning, but I (Score:5 Normal)
Moleskyn
Moleskyn's picture
Joined: 06/28/2010
MGoPoints: 3193

I see your reasoning, but I think you overlook an important aspect of this: the accountability of those other influences. Yes, in scenario 1, Fitz isn't the only one who suffers the consequences of his actions; but isn't that life? The older you get, the more you realize (hopfully) that your actions don't just affect you. There's a ripple effect that becomes more pronounced the older you get and the more responsibilities you take on.

So, did Fitz fully understand the implications of his actions when he got behind the wheel of his car? Did he consider the disappointment the fans would feel if he got caught? Did he think about the teammates and coaches he would be letting down? Maybe he did, but he didn't let that deter him. Maybe he didn't even consider those things. But from now on, you can bet that he'll at least think more thoroughly through getting behind the wheel of a car the next time he's had a few drinks. And I think that's the principle you want to get through to the kids: the older you get, the more responsibilities you take on, the more publicity you have, the bigger the ripple effect of your choices.

August 13th, 2012 at 3:12 PM | I agree for the most part, (Score:2 Normal)
MichiganExile
Joined: 01/12/2009
MGoPoints: 1109

I agree for the most part, but one thing that scenario 1 teaches Fitz that scenario 2 does not is accountability. Fitz needs to be accountable to all those people that he let down. If he goes out and does whatever he wants and is punished on his own he never learns that as a part of a team his actions have weight and meaning for the rest of his teammates and not just himself.

Also I would guess that missing the season opener in one of the highest profile games of his collegiate career is probably harder to a young athlete and competitor than getting up early and running some extra stairs.

In Mathieu's case by sitting a year he gets to see how his actions have affected the team and his fans.

August 13th, 2012 at 3:13 PM | Agreed. The best punishment (Score:3 Normal)
nikj
Joined: 01/04/2009
MGoPoints: 1099

Agreed.

The best punishment is for Fitz to apologize to the team, work his ass off to beat Bama, beat Bama and then continue to work his ass off and to stay away from drinking and driving.  People make mistakes, but you can learn from them and they can make you better person if you do.

August 13th, 2012 at 3:03 PM | I feel bad for the kid. He's (Score:3 Normal)
Blue since birth
Joined: 12/24/2009
MGoPoints: 1077

I feel bad for the kid. He's a victim of hypocrisy, ignorance and fat solubility.

Edit- I'm not saying he shouldn't have been dismissed. He knew the rules, broke them and now he's suffering the consequences. Doesn't change the fact that he harmed no one and the way marijuana is treated is ridiculous.

August 13th, 2012 at 7:15 PM | I got about halfway through (Score:2 Normal)
Blue since birth
Joined: 12/24/2009
MGoPoints: 1077

I got about halfway through that and the voice in my head turned into a robot.

I'm not about to get into a debate about marijuana laws here...

But why are they even testing students bodily fluids for non-performance enhancing substances? I haven't heard anything about arrests or disciplinary issues (although, I haven't followed closely). He's getting screwed because his drug of choice stays in your system for much longer than most others. If they come up with a test that shows if you've had a beer in the past several weeks you can say goodbye half of the team (the underage half).

August 13th, 2012 at 7:52 PM | Uh, the hospital I work at is (Score:2)
ryebreadboy
ryebreadboy's picture
Joined: 12/02/2010
MGoPoints: 1792

Uh, the hospital I work at is supposedly going to start testing for Nicotine and you get fired if you test positive twice. The rationale is that they pay for your health care and therefore you shouldn't be doing things that are harmful to your health.

Denard has spent the offseason working really hard and smiling at people.

August 13th, 2012 at 9:20 PM | this can only turn out bad (Score:4 Normal)
OverDey
Joined: 08/06/2012
MGoPoints: 154

this can only turn out bad for the employees. after that furor dies down, next they decide that there is significant risk to skydiving, so they forbid that and so on down the line. will you lose your job in the future because of too many speeding tickets? riding a motorcycle? Or any other activity they show a statistical significance as being more dangerous?

August 13th, 2012 at 2:43 PM | I wish I could feel bad, but (Score:3 Normal)
Craze for Maize
Craze for Maize's picture
Joined: 11/11/2011
MGoPoints: 763

I wish I could feel bad, but I can't. It wasn't his first or even second time. It was his 3rd! If he wants to be on LSU, he shouldn't of screw up 3 times.

August 13th, 2012 at 3:01 PM | Since he has a little free time now (Score:0 Overrated)
August 13th, 2012 at 3:01 PM | He (Score:2 Normal)
yoyo
yoyo's picture
Joined: 02/11/2011
MGoPoints: 408

He should have known better but to ruin a kid's multi-million dollar career for getting caught with marijuana 3 times is pretty dumb.  He should be suspended for a significant time but dismissal is harsh.

August 13th, 2012 at 3:19 PM | Problem is that Consequences were spelled out (Score:2 Normal)
StephenRKass
StephenRKass's picture
Joined: 07/15/2008
MGoPoints: 4207

With a modified "3 strikes and your out" policy, what choice did Les Miles have? I can agree that smoking marijuana isn't the worst thing in the world. But if it is illegal, and against team policy, and you've already tested positive twice, what do you think should happen? I believe in second chances. But they're called second chances. He got a second chance, after the first positive test. He got a third chance, after the second positive test. Do you think he deserves a fourth chance? In a sense, if he is allowed to stay in school, and rejoin the team next year, he has gotten a fourth chance. I'm glad to see him get it, but it sure isn't earned or deserved.

"It does not matter how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get up." Vince Lombardi

 

August 13th, 2012 at 3:22 PM | I fail to see how failing (Score:3 Normal)
thisisme08
thisisme08's picture
Joined: 12/02/2008
MGoPoints: 1464

I fail to see how failing something not once, not twice, but 3 times and then finally being dismissed is harsh. 

once--suspended/work your butt off

twice--multiple games/work your butt off

three--dismissal

It follows the logical progression of the 3 strikes rule, its Tyrann's fault and only his fault that he couldnt stop smoking weed long enough to stay on the team. 

Many players who wish to get to the next level and dont quite have his physical skills find the time to swear off drugs/alcohol/women and make it so his failure to follow the rules is soley on his shoulders.

I tend to take a less harsh stance on 1st time offenders in that I give lots of leeway for screw ups to college kids because well that is what college is for, however when it happens over and over the kid has turned his back on those who needed him most and shouldnt be allowed to stay on the team.   

Blue is Faster

August 13th, 2012 at 8:45 PM | The Thing About This Is... (Score:3 Normal)
LSAClassOf2000
LSAClassOf2000's picture
Joined: 01/07/2011
MGoPoints: 8755

The thing is that even that isn't necessarily true - unless it is one of a few things, even we won't can people on the first offense. Discipline? Sure. Coach (i.e. "positive discipline")? Definitely. As a supervisor, I've had to do this, and it blows, to be sure. Now, if you have a repeated pattern of behavior, then eventually, you are dismissed. At a fair number of firms, this is how it actually works. 

It seems like this is what happened to Mathieu - a repeated pattern of behavior led to his dismissal, but it doesn't have to be the end, even with your "former" school, and if he wants to prove that he is indeed still worthy of a shot and can learn the lesson he needs to learn, then that's actually a fairly mature move on his part, a trait he sorely needs to demonstrate. I don't necessarily have sympathy for him blowing this opportunity in the first place, but if he can earn redemption at LSU as he seems to want (although going elsewhere seems way more likely really if he wants to play, but still, a second shot in general), then in theory, he did much growing in a short span of time, and that's a good sign. 

"Funny isn't it, how naughty dentists always make that one fatal mistake."

Follow the random tweets of a Michigan alum - http://twitter.com/#!/LorneEC3

August 13th, 2012 at 3:10 PM | I feel no sympathy for (Score:1 Overrated)
russale2012
russale2012's picture
Joined: 11/30/2011
MGoPoints: 2668

I feel no sympathy for Matthieu. He's a selfish, arrogant punk who needed to have his ego knocked down a few pegs. Being caught with marijuana three times just shows a blatant disregard for the rules and a feeling that you are above them.

Hopefully this will help him get his act together. Wouldn't be surprised if he gets caught again, either.

It's been a lot. Its been a roller coaster that for some reason seemed like it would never get good. But you know what? We kept fighting. It's like that old saying goes, "Those Who Stay Will Be Champions." -David Molk

August 13th, 2012 at 6:48 PM | No shit? (Score:1 Flamebait)
turtleboy
turtleboy's picture
Joined: 04/22/2011
MGoPoints: 3216

No shit?

How many times have you been on the freeway and had someone fly by you at 100 mph then end up 2 cars ahead of you at the off ramp? What's the point? -Mark Harmon

August 13th, 2012 at 7:00 PM | if Mathieu is really serious about wanting to... (Score:1)
True Blue Grit
True Blue Grit's picture
Joined: 01/21/2011
MGoPoints: 1219

Come back, he first needs to grow up and take responsibility for his actions by apologizing formally to his teamates and LSU fans. Up until now he's paid back their loyalty with selfish, shortsighted decisions.

"You owe it to every man, woman, and child in the State of Michigan to beat the Buckeyes and silence their fans!  Now go out there and make it happen!"

- Bo Schembechler (Result: U-M 22  OSU 0)

August 13th, 2012 at 7:37 PM | I may be in the minority but (Score:3 Normal)
cheesheadwolverine
cheesheadwolverine's picture
Joined: 10/25/2008
MGoPoints: 2137

I may be in the minority but I am damn impressed with this move. Good for him.  I mean he would have had to sit out a year if he transfered, but still, this seems the hard road.

"I just hope Tressel doesn't fire me"

-Gordon Gee

August 13th, 2012 at 8:40 PM | Honey Badger is out for good (Score:4 Normal)
Old_Guys_Rule
Joined: 09/19/2011
MGoPoints: 23

LSU says dismissal is final.  He cannot return to the team under any circumstances.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/sec/story/2012-08-13/lsu...

August 13th, 2012 at 9:27 PM | They've also blocked other (Score:2)
Lionsfan
Lionsfan's picture
Joined: 06/03/2011
MGoPoints: 3909

They've also blocked other schools attempts to contact him, so who knows what the situation is

If you're doing nothing, how do you know when you're finished?

StraightDave owes me a steak dinner

August 13th, 2012 at 9:28 PM | They've also blocked other (Score:2)
Lionsfan
Lionsfan's picture
Joined: 06/03/2011
MGoPoints: 3909

They've also blocked other schools attempts to contact him, so who knows what the situation is

If you're doing nothing, how do you know when you're finished?

StraightDave owes me a steak dinner

Theme provided by Roopletheme; sidebars adapted from Chris Murphy.