Csont'e York Video Released, Very Bad Comment Count

Brian

Police have released a video of the Csont'e York incident, and it is bad:

That is a straight-up sucker punch that broke a guy's jaw in three places. I don't see how he doesn't get dismissed for that. That is some Glenn Winston stuff right there, except it's on tape so there is no debate about whether this was a scuffle or not.

York's version:

“A group of dudes walked by and bumped me,” he told police. “He was (so) close to me that he elbowed me as he walked by.”

During the altercation, York said one of the men “walked up on” his teammate,, according to the report.

“He pressed up on him face to face exchanging words for no reason,” York told police. “I got (nervous) and scared about the situation so I hit the guy. I punched him.”

FWIW, York thought they were hockey players, thus the source of that rumor. There's nothing indicating either guy is.

Comments

jblaze

August 12th, 2014 at 3:27 PM ^

I think what happens to him depends on what a judge decides based on a trial or at least what police uncover.

I don't know the law or even degrees of assault, but if whatever he's convicted of/ pleads to should dictate his punishment, which should range from 1 year off the team to expulsion from the school.

The video is pretty bad, but as I've said before - not that anybody remembers me :( when the law is involved, the University and Sports teams should go by what the kid is convicted of/ pleads to.

Also, not that many disagree, but if Ray Rice only received a 2 game suspension and very minimal (if at all) criminal punishment, what does that say about York?

ChiBlueBoy

August 12th, 2014 at 3:54 PM ^

This is a criminal case, which has its own standards. There are many reasons for the legal process to be separate from the decisions of a civil insitution like UofM and the football team, e.g., evidentiary standards, standards of proof, due process and sentencing/plea bargaining considerations. Those should not impact the decision of an educational institution deciding whether an individual should continue to attend class or a football team deciding who should stay on the team.

As an example, if York goes to trial, and the case is thrown out because of a chain-of-custody issue regarding evidence, or police misconduct, should that preclude the University from taking action in the face of clear evidence of behavior unacceptable for a student?

bronxblue

August 12th, 2014 at 3:55 PM ^

He shouldn't be allowed to play on the football team again, but whether or not be continues on at UM in an academic capacity is completely different and (I suspect) will be handled pending legal proceedings.

Playing football is a benefit of going to UM and should be subject to following whatever rules are in place.  York obviously broke those rules, and should be punished.  I'd be fine if he remained at school and learned to deal with what appears to be some real anger issues, but I don't ever want to see him playing football for UM again.

bluebyyou

August 12th, 2014 at 4:13 PM ^

The vast majority of us who attended Michigan did so as students.  If  York's conduct was sufficiently egregious that he should be kicked off the team, why should the standard of conduct be different for the academic component of the university  where most of us spend our months and years?

I can understand your reasons to give the guy a second chance, and I share that for many violations that might get someone suspended, but there are about 44,000 students at U of M, most of whom don't sucker punch people and break their jaws. Where would you draw the line?

bronxblue

August 12th, 2014 at 9:18 PM ^

I'm not disagreeing with the sentiment that York won't be kicked out of the school as well as the team, but I think that is a determination that need not be made in tandem with Hoke's.  I'm not saying it is common, but I heard of enough fights at bars and frat parties that ended with various levels of injury that a blanket dismissal of students who fight isn't necessary.  I suspect York with be gone because he violently attacked another student, but there may be circumstances involved that we don't know about that could alter that calculus and lead to him remaining at the school to continue to pursue his academic career.  Honestly, though, I figure he'll transfer to a school where he can actually play football.

SWPro

August 12th, 2014 at 8:39 PM ^

The schools (and the NFL in your example) should go above and beyond what the legal system does. Abiding by the law should be the absolute minimum expectation of a University member not the de facto standard.

 

Someone who represents the school as visibly as a football player should have an even higher expectation.

 

Outside of that this is just a terrible cowardly act. I hope he is punished for it legally and by the school/team.

bluebyyou

August 12th, 2014 at 3:27 PM ^

Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities 

http://oscr.umich.edu/statement

 

IV. Violations

Students are expected to comply with published University policies. The following behaviors, for example, contradict the values of the University community and are subject to action under this Statement.

  1. Physically harming another person including acts such as killing, assaulting, or battering

L.     Expulsion:

Permanent separation from the University.

oriental andrew

August 13th, 2014 at 8:56 AM ^

It doesn't necessarily follow that expulsion is the only possible outcome for physical violence, as the poster above suggests.  It is ONE potential outcome, based on internal University policy.  Both internal University and external police investigations will take place and, I'm sure, the appropriate punishment meted out, whether that's expulsion, separation of contact from the University or certain areas/activities, or suspension.  Honestly can't see anything less for what appears pretty blatant.  You can even see him start to wind up a few moments before hitting the guy.

gwrock

August 12th, 2014 at 5:55 PM ^

If the punch doesn't kill you, hitting your head when you fall to the sidewalk might.  Assuming they've positively identified the guy who threw the punch as York, I can't imagine a much clearer case for dismissal.  

I have zero sympathy for someone who would do something like that, and I hope the legal system falls on him like a ton of bricks.

BostonWolverine

August 12th, 2014 at 3:00 PM ^

There is absolutely no way in hell that was the first time they crossed paths. Nobody just throws a punch that quickly. That said, this shit is inexcusable.

Sorry, Csont'e, yer done.

MGoManDown

August 12th, 2014 at 3:26 PM ^

I know about the knockout game very well. This isn't nearly as random as the "knockout" game. Most people that were knocked out in the knockout game were oblivous people walking down the street or something similar. This was preceded by a conversation and more. I totally agree though. There are people that go out looking for trouble everyday, and I'm not saying Csont'e and company weren't. This just doesn't seem like it here.

CLord

August 12th, 2014 at 3:24 PM ^

Wrong.   You're projecting your own reasonable sensibility as to how violence is supposed to properly escalate onto others and I can tell you, what seems reasonable to you and me isn't reasonable to others.  You and I expect the escalation to usually involve a backstory, history, or at minimum a square off, words, some pushing,  some insults, before fists happen.  Not always like that out there.

Couple years ago I was at a bar in NO for the Sugar Bowl when some random guy started pushing his backside up on me to move me away from my location at the front of a bar, so he could basically take over my "bar space."  When I dared to push my backside up against his backside, not drastically, but just to show I  didn't plan to just give up my precious bar space easily, BOOM I feel a fist hit me in the face out of the blue.  He caught me in the eye and split my eye brow in two and thankfully bouncers came and broke it up as I was in bad shape.  My eye was sealed shut for a week.

After the bar as I sat in my hotel room, aside from being grateful that his sucker punch didn't knock me out cold and have  me hit the floor like in the York video, or break my nose in two places,  I  sat there pondering exactly this  concept:  How in the world some people live in, what is  considered a reasonable tit for tat escalation of violence doesn't exist, and the way this minor "backside" confrontation escalated into a massive sucker punch left me thankful  that it could have just as easily escalated into a knife or a gun for all I knew.  It was just that irrational.

York is done, but don't assume there is more backstory here between the two.  Some peoples' concept of instigated violence is just morbidly insane and more likely, York is in this category.

MGoManDown

August 12th, 2014 at 3:35 PM ^

I wasn't assuming this is exactly how it went down. Thats just how it looked. If you look at the video, there is a whole left side for those guys to go around York and whoever he was with. Instead they walk directly up to York & co. and there's conversation. That doesn't look like "random act of voilence to random innocent bystanders' to me. I definetely understand your perspective though.

umchicago

August 12th, 2014 at 6:06 PM ^

he had his hands in his pockets.  if i'm looking for a fight, i certainly don't keep my fists in my pockets.  york looks pre-determined to sucker punch that guy.  he directs guy#1 to pass by.  then york's buddy starts talking to guy#2 (the punchee).  york's buddy gives him a signal/look then steps away for york to sucker punch.

i hope he does some time for that, even if only 30 days.

maize-blue

August 12th, 2014 at 3:00 PM ^

Hoke maybe, mabye could have gotten away with sitting him for an extended period of time without the video. Now, with the vid released, it is almost certain York will/should be dismissed.

bronxblue

August 12th, 2014 at 4:01 PM ^

I don't think Hoke would have let him play ever.  And this is going to probably come across badly and maybe I'm too cynical, but in the calculus of coaching would it really be worth "protecting" a guy who did this who also is pretty low on the depth chart?  Even sleazy head coaches aren't going to go to bat for every player they have.

gwrock

August 12th, 2014 at 6:10 PM ^

Frankly, I can't imagine that Brandon or Schlissel let the kid stay on the team, or in school, regardless of whether Hoke wanted to "protect" him.  This doesn't look like a boys will be boys scuffle.  It's looks like felony assault and battery, and luckily didn't end up as a manslaughter situation.