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 3:22 PM ^
I can see it and I'm not an ESPN subscriber.
Here's the first paragraph
I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to the University of Michigan, my fans, my friends, my coaches, my teammates, but most importantly, my parents, my daughter, and my family for a poor decision I made this past weekend in celebration of successfully completing my undergraduate degree.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:24 PM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 3:26 PM ^
Thanks for the heads up!
December 17th, 2012 at 7:30 PM ^
As others have said, it was the right thing to do. I did not know about the daughter. So many of these guys have many more responsibilties and obligations than I did as a college student.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:25 PM ^
I feel bad for him..its tough to really pass judgement on him considering he celebrated in the same way that probably a couple thousand other recent graduates did. Congrats on graduating, good luck J.T. Hope courtney is ready.....
December 17th, 2012 at 3:27 PM ^
Do we know what he did to get in trouble?
December 17th, 2012 at 3:29 PM ^
I would guess going out drinking until the morning comes is not the indiscretion he is in trouble for.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:40 PM ^
My gut says it's probably weed. But there's really no sense in speculating as to the exact thing that got him into trouble. The important thing here is to recognize that he's handling it in a mature way, and that he fully understands coach Hoke's decision (which reflects very well on both of them in my opinion).
December 17th, 2012 at 3:51 PM ^
if it was just smoking a little weed it is ridiculous to be this apologetic about it.
December 17th, 2012 at 4:05 PM ^
It probably wouldn't be ridiculous considering he let his entire team of, what, 85 players (not to mention all those linked to the program) down and set them back by doing something stupid he knows he should not be doing. All the other players were able to refrain from it. But not him. So he definitely should be apologetic and kudos to the kid for stepping up and taking it like a man.
December 17th, 2012 at 4:22 PM ^
I don't think he's apologizing for the act (whatever it may be) that got him suspended. I think he's apologizing because he feels awful about letting his teammates, coaches, the fans, and most of all himself down. This was going to be his last game in a winged helmet against his hometown school.
I have a lot of respect for JT for taking the time to write this and take responsbility. Showed remorse and plenty of emotion and I'll remember him fondly as a Michigan man, despite his unfortunate last act. Hate to see someone end and an otherwise proud career on this note.
December 17th, 2012 at 9:46 PM ^
"just a little weed" is an ok thing. Especially when you are one of very few blessed with the God-given talent to do something most of us can only dream about doing. Selfish stuff.
December 17th, 2012 at 5:16 PM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 7:24 PM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 8:05 PM ^
before Griese.
December 18th, 2012 at 7:47 AM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 5:22 PM ^
you speculate that it is bc of weed, and then act high and mighty by saying people shouldn't speculate like you did in your preceding statement.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:25 PM ^
Unbelievably repentant and responsible statement; it's refreshing to not see him blame whatever he did on his friends, bad influences in his life, teammates, or any other scapegoat that sometimes happens when athletes (or people in general) get in trouble.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:26 PM ^
I'm curious if we will ever find out what the three of them did to be suspended.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:40 PM ^
I can't lie and say I'm not curious to find out what happened. But at the same time, maybe it's for the best that we don't. Coach Hoke made his decision, and I'm sure it wasn't easy to suspend Floyd for his last game. At the same time, it shows that our coaching staff really is sticking to their guns and making sure they run a program that everyone will respect; a program run the right way.
Floyd will have to re-hash this incident to any NFL team that inquires his way, there's no need for us to dwell on it. He's 23 years old, and probably did something that easily warranted the suspension. However, his apology (at least in print) seems as sincere as any I've ever read in a simlar circumstance, and by not releasing the actual indiscretion, and simply stating a violation of team rules, it will better the unviersity and the players move on.
Here's to wishing Floyd a prosperous career in whatever he does. He's a pretty good athlete, and has a Michigan degree to boot. Not too shabby.
December 17th, 2012 at 4:16 PM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 3:50 PM ^
If what they did is getting them suspended for the bowl game two weeks ahead of time, I'm pretty sure we'll eventually find out. This can't be a case of a missed curfew, for example. This is something bigger than that.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:26 PM ^
Wow, he really does sound sincerly sorry for his poor decision, but what I really want to know is what did he do?
December 17th, 2012 at 3:31 PM ^
on the night/weekend i graduated i wouldve gotten suspended too. Best of luck JT.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:33 PM ^
Great statement. Glad to see someone take responsibility as opposed to issuing a non-apology. Hope he learns from this experience and moves forward from it.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:34 PM ^
Gotta respect Floyd for using a public forum to apologize.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:34 PM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 5:37 PM ^
I don't think anybody expects a "Michigan man" (or woman, for that matter) to be perfect, but I think we absolutely expect them to be responsible for their actions and decisions. I was never a huge fan of JT on the field, but this makes me a fan of him off the field.
Congrats to him for graduating and best of luck in the future. Definitely proud that he's now a fellow alum!
December 17th, 2012 at 3:36 PM ^
I have no inside info, but I think we can all put the pieces together and make an educated guess as to what he got in trouble for. He claimed he made a poor choice while out celebrating. Probably not alcohol related since he is of legal age and we haven't seen any police reports. So that leaves...
December 17th, 2012 at 3:37 PM ^
It could be alcohol-related, if it involved him getting behind the wheel.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:39 PM ^
It could be, but we probably would have seen or heard of a police report or arrest record by now, like we did with Toussaint.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:42 PM ^
This is pretty much what I assume too. I find it hard to believe it would be for missing team meetings, practice or anything acutally sinister as we would have heard a police report by now.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:35 PM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 3:37 PM ^
Great response...
December 17th, 2012 at 3:38 PM ^
...public apology I've ever read from an athlete. Well done, J.T. and best of luck.
December 17th, 2012 at 5:57 PM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 3:44 PM ^
If you want to succeed in the sports world going forward, you have got to get this apology thing down. The key is to not really apologize for anything nor even acknowledge that your conduct played a role in anything. Try this.
I would like to issue an apology (not even really apologizing, you are just issuing something) to anybody that was upset or offended by what transpired (nothing you did, it was just an occurence, like in a fate kind of way) over the weekend. This was an unfortunate event (once again, nothing you did, it was like HAARP or something dude) that took place and I hope that all of those involved (not you man, everybody that was involved) can do their best to get on with their lives (in this last line you are actually mocking people that care about sports enough to consider your conduct as your business-a nice little touch) as soon as possible.
Practice man, practice.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:44 PM ^
swing and a miss here
December 17th, 2012 at 4:41 PM ^
it was sarcasm, man.
December 17th, 2012 at 5:51 PM ^
I got that far. Just because it's sarcasm doesn't mean it's funny...
December 17th, 2012 at 3:40 PM ^
That has to be tough being suspended for your last collegiate game, especially a bowl game. He clearly has handled it with class and humility and I wish him the best of luck. I'm assuming he doesn't have much chance of being drafted or playing on sundays?
December 17th, 2012 at 4:12 PM ^
JT is from South Carolina so I'm sure that he REALLY hates missing a game against his home state team.
December 17th, 2012 at 5:32 PM ^
Too bad he didn't think about that beforehand.
#hindsight
December 17th, 2012 at 9:19 PM ^
If, and that's a big if, we're talking about weed here; Do you honestly think they're the only three on the team to do it? Quit acting all high and mighty, I'll guarantee you there are many (relative term here) others on the team who did the same but just didn't get caught.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:41 PM ^
Thank you J.T. Floyd for taking responsibility for your actions...best of luck in the future..
December 17th, 2012 at 3:45 PM ^
I feel bad for him and I'm glad he's taking full responsibility. I don't think he can totally blame it on one night of partying though because I'm pretty sure Michigan, like most teams has a policy where you can fail at least one drug test before it even becomes public. So this would more than likely be at least the 2nd or 3rd failed test.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:46 PM ^
He screwed up, took responsibility...that is what growing up is all about.
Wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:46 PM ^
December 17th, 2012 at 3:58 PM ^
And that day is coming in the next decade in my opinion. If all JT did was blaze it up with Hagerup and Hawthorne..it sucks they got caught. The only thing I will add is if they had any NFL aspirations then it really is stupid to be smoking weed.