October 26th, 2010 at 11:35 PM ^
on Dantonio's decline to comment.
October 26th, 2010 at 12:58 PM ^
I love that "completion of the legal process" in E. Lansing means when you get out of the clink. I would think the proper timing would be when the jail door shuts on a sentence.
October 26th, 2010 at 1:33 PM ^
who defines the process. If it's the NFL, then nobody will be able to explain how to complete the process.
October 26th, 2010 at 8:25 PM ^
As long as he doesn't hurt his ankle like Winston, he should have a spot waiting for him on the team when the orange jumper comes off.
October 27th, 2010 at 2:00 PM ^
So one guy gets a second chance who was in jail and it's the norm? What about the half a dozen other players that are off the MSU team from the Rather Hall incident? Oh, you probably don't want to acknowledge them because it doesn't support your ignorance.
P.S. - Stonum, enough said.
October 27th, 2010 at 2:12 PM ^
Wow, I didn't realize that Stonum nearly killed a fellow student athlete and spent time in prison for that violent crime. (enough said)
October 27th, 2010 at 2:16 PM ^
Do I need to run down UM's list of players commiting crimes? Do I really need to go there?
October 27th, 2010 at 2:56 PM ^
No, just tell us about the ones where a UM player committed a violent felony against a fellow student, went to jail for that violent crime, and was welcomed back on the team as soon as he was released from prison.
You can list those in a reply to this post if you like. I'll await the reply eagerly....
EDIT: I guess it is a vanishingly short list, huh?
October 27th, 2010 at 3:50 PM ^
Let's see for UM, we have:
Stonum, Grady, Cissoko, feagin, and....... ????
Compared to:
Winston (twice)
Jenrette (twice)
Chris L Rucker (twice)
Mark Dell
BJ Cunningham
Ashton Legett
Oren WIlson
Myles White
Mitchell White (twice)
Fred Smith
Brendan Trawick
Ishmyl Johnson
Jamir Williams
Sirdarean Adams
TJ Williams
Jeremy Ware
Dion Simms...
Am I missing anyone?
October 27th, 2010 at 4:21 PM ^
I think you're forgetting Jenrette's other crimes. If you recall, he kicked it like Demar Dorsey with some B&E's in Florida. Then he became a Spartan and repeated his same crimes, resulting in a Dorsey-esque diversion program in Florida. Or, as Dantonio said at the time, "He is in Florida attending to personal matters". Was any of this mentioned with the multi-page investigative Dorsey article? Nope.
Only upon Jenrette's return to the Mean Machine did he get into all the other trouble.
October 27th, 2010 at 7:14 PM ^
Jenrette was arrested twice in Florida, and once in MI, including one arrest before he even stepped on MSU's campus. Very impressive
October 27th, 2010 at 7:14 PM ^
Jenrette was arrested twice in Florida, and once in MI, including one arrest before he even stepped on MSU's campus. Very impressive
October 26th, 2010 at 12:58 PM ^
...the media won't jump on him for this. Makes no sense, but it's true.
October 26th, 2010 at 1:55 PM ^
Jump on him for what exactly?
October 26th, 2010 at 12:58 PM ^
I decline to comment on Rich's declined statement
October 26th, 2010 at 1:07 PM ^
big suprise there
October 26th, 2010 at 1:11 PM ^
Dantonio learned from the best, Tressell.
October 26th, 2010 at 1:12 PM ^
Don't tell me the Freep has turned their heads on this one have they?
October 26th, 2010 at 3:12 PM ^
the bottom of this. They will probably even put their number one man (and newest MSU fan) Drew Sharp on the case.
October 26th, 2010 at 1:21 PM ^
I say he will be out for this weekend's game.
October 26th, 2010 at 1:33 PM ^
me thinks, he will be out for the first series
October 26th, 2010 at 1:24 PM ^
Where is the media outrage? The sense of shock? The articles about the bunch of thugs that Dantonio is bringing in to MSU? If Michigan's players had the same number of legal incidents as MSU's players have had these past few years, the Freep would have to include a whole new pullout section just to hold all of the articles.
October 26th, 2010 at 1:31 PM ^
Everyone tries to beat you down and throw you under the bus. The underdogs are always given the benefit of the doubt, no matter how unfathomable their actions. Given all of the criminal activity in which MSU athletes have been involved in the last couple of years, you would think this would get more national attention. But, alas, everyone wants to see them topple Michigan, no matter the consequences
October 26th, 2010 at 5:21 PM ^
No outrage. No sense of shock. that is because sparty is simply living up to expectations. It's all about expectations. the media, fans, everyone EXPECTS that kind of behavior in East Lansing so it isn't news. There is nothing in this story that is going to have any shock value so anything in the media about it would simply die on a vine.
I suggest we let it. Otherwise we are the ones that look like the whiney little brother with the inferiority complex continually crying "It's not fair..."
We all know our relative standing in this relationship. Be happy in that knowledge.
October 26th, 2010 at 1:30 PM ^
I'm not surprised Dantonio didn't speak about it. Why get into that whole can of worms? Especially when he knows he'll welcome him back eventually to some local (ie. Drew Sharp) criticism.
I just don't understand why RIttenberg @ ESPN says that he deserves to see the playing field again this year. He broke his probation. Plus, bowl games are rewards for kids. Does he really deserve that reward? Me thinks he won't learn his lesson by missing the Purdue and Minnesota games. He'll definitely be back if they're 11-0 going to Happy Valley.
October 26th, 2010 at 2:01 PM ^
...through a Maize and Blue prism.
When people are put through the legal process and serve their time/punishment, are they not allowed to merge back into their lives? Did anyone ever think it might be the healthier thing to do for a person in the long term?
Dantonio hasn't brought everyone back... and he isn't perfect, no coach is. But in my opinion, Rittenberg, like most impartial observers, see a permanent suspension as not fitting the "crime".
I'd bet you're right that he sees the field again.
October 26th, 2010 at 1:32 PM ^
The kid is suspended from the team and was within hours of being arrested. He's missed time in significant games. Are there additional details I've missed as to why this is so egregious of Dantonio?
I agree Dantonio has been shady in terms of discipline the past few years, but I'm missing how this is an example of that shadiness. Letting the legal process play out before assessing additional punishment seems fair.
October 26th, 2010 at 1:42 PM ^
not much more to play out. He was on probation already for his involvement in the Rather Hall beat down. He got charged with DUI a few weeks ago and pled out to a lesser charge. He is doing jail time for the probation violation. Al that is left to play out is for Rucker to tell Dantonio he is really sorry and won't get into any more trouble.
October 26th, 2010 at 2:34 PM ^
Didn't realize he was part of the Potluck Massacre. Book 'em Danno... wow. that actually fits.
October 26th, 2010 at 3:00 PM ^
the book 'em part.
October 26th, 2010 at 5:30 PM ^
He was also involved in the hockey house incident.
October 26th, 2010 at 1:43 PM ^
Once a criminal is behind bars, the "legal process" has pretty much played out.
The guy has had two serious run-ins with the law in a span of 10 months. What else does Dantonio need to glean from the situation?
October 26th, 2010 at 1:58 PM ^
because Rucker was already on probation. I don't know all of the details, but it's likely that drinking or simply getting arrested could have been a violation of Rucker's probation and that his recent jail stay is a sanction for violating probation, not for drunk driving. I do remember reading that the probation department recommended jail time for him as a sanction for violating probation. I think it's likely he was in jail pursuant to this recommendation, which the court can execute pretty quickly, because the legal process for probation violations is more informal and tends to be rather brief.
I expect that the legal process for the DUI offense is still pending and will not be completed for quite a while yet. I'd be very surprised if he had already been convicted on the DUI charge or if he'd even had the opportunity to make a plea agreement yet.
Consequently, "the completion of the legal process" could refer to the process arising from his violation of probation conditions, or it could be the process arising from his DUI arrest. I don't know which one Dantonio is referring to, and it's possible he's being deliberately vague about which one because he wants to keep his options open.
October 26th, 2010 at 2:14 PM ^
At least I was half-right about the probation.
Can I assert my general apathy about all things MSU as a defense to my ignorance?
October 26th, 2010 at 8:28 PM ^
Amazing how quickly justice is reached for MSU athletes:
MSU's Lucious pleads guilty to reckless driving
Matt Charboneau / The Detroit News
East Lansing -- Korie Lucious, a junior guard on Michigan State's basketball team, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless driving on Thursday in 54-B District Court.
Lucious was arrested early Monday morning on suspicion of drunken driving in East Lansing. He will be sentenced at 8:15 a.m. on Dec. 20. The lesser charge of reckless driving will stand as long as Lucious stays out of trouble prior to sentencing.
Not sure how many jurisdictions routinely allow "alledged" drunken drivers to plead to a traffic ticket within a couple weeks of an arrest.
October 26th, 2010 at 10:16 PM ^
I sorta remember this, but this football season has killed my memory.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:07 AM ^
DUI happened in August I believe
October 26th, 2010 at 1:44 PM ^
Also, presumably, he doesn't have the time, nor the desire, to visit Rucker in jail. Maybe he wants to personally discuss his punishment with Rucker before he announces it to the public?
Why don't we wait until after he reinstates him on Thursday to condemn the prick?
October 26th, 2010 at 1:49 PM ^
people are upset bc nobody knew where Rucker was, Dantonio claimed he was letting the 'process complete' before commenting. some would argue the truth ended up being the process was over, Rucker was already in jail, and Dantonio was throwing a red herring.
with all said, the questionable item is that Dantonio said everyone involved in the Rather Hall incident was on a short leash, no errors, reportedly no second chances. Rucker violated probation by drinking and violated the law by driving intoxicated. people on the board presume he will be returning to the field after the Iowa game. this would appear to be 'hypocritical' of Dantonio bc of his claim of no chances and of the press as nobody has taken him to task for really any of the recent legal items that popped up. all while RR was blasted for giving a kid a chance who had made mistakes in the past and wanted to be out of state to continue his efforts of fixing his life
October 26th, 2010 at 2:38 PM ^
I don't recall RR getting blasted for Stonum's and Grady's mishaps, those incidents seem more in line with Rucker's situation.
October 26th, 2010 at 2:45 PM ^
I'm pretty sure Stonum and Grady hadn't previously participated in a premeditated assault against a bunch of innocent students.
October 26th, 2010 at 3:06 PM ^
I'm pretty sure the hadn't either. Every time there is a negative situation in EL, a thread is started about the hypocrisy of the MSM. Okay, I get it, any negative press for M is unwarranted and we need to cry like little kids about the unfairness of it all. Anytime anything negative happens in EL, Dantonio needs to be portrayed as the devil by the MSM or the sky is going to fall. It gets old.
October 26th, 2010 at 6:30 PM ^
Mark Dantonio is a saint!
October 26th, 2010 at 7:11 PM ^
Have you ever heard the story about the blog that cried "wolf"?
October 26th, 2010 at 3:00 PM ^
If any of those players is ever involved in another beat-down at Rather Hall, he is definitely off the team.