TO Just a small point of clarification ... this kid was not removed from the team for "smoking dope", he was tossed because police found a small amount of MJ to be scattered about his car. No evidence of use. I'm not debating the existence of inequitable treatment of some because of the ignorance and intolerance of others. That's common and obvious, especially in this situation. I'm simply challenging the acceptance of that treatment as being fair ... reasonable ... appropriate ..... particularly in light of how so very many other equally or more serious "crimes" are not met with as harsh a penalty. It seems to me that many are far more tolerant of a kid repeatedly failing tests which indicate he is using (an undetermined amount of) dope ... than they are of a kid who is found to be in possession of a small amount of MJ. Seems we consider the tests to be unrealiable thus ... the penalty is not as harsh as simple possession. Yet, in spite of questions regarding the validity of the test ...... the kid is still given a relatively mild punishment and additional medical treatments for his "drug problem".
Hey Rick I just got online this afternoon and am aware of what Gaterz posted and agree it needed to be deleted. However I do have to comment that the nature of your post with all the names leaves a lot to be desired in my humble opinion also.
Having made my remark above, let me address how I personally feel about the drug situation. While I recognize that the use of mj does not necessarily make the person a drug abuser, I do feel that it can lead to stronger drugs and that it is in fact illegal. If you get caught doing things that are illegal then sometimes you pay the price. And that some places are more tolerant than others. I don't advocate severe punishment in all cases but do think that it is proper to keep the pressure on these young people to not indulge in drugs. I don't believe in just excusing their actions, nor do I believe in to severe of a punishment for first offenses of most drugs. But I do feel that drugs are way to prevalent in our society.
Bill, I just doesn’t matter. If I had defended this youth, the point would have been that I was sweeping the issue under the rug for a potential Tennessee player. Because I chose the CONSISTANT viewpoint that drugs in your possession should be punished, they turn it around that I am too strict and close minded. I will agree with them that I am close minded on this issue. I will never be convinced that drugs of any kind are a good thing. There is no grey area with MJ or any other illegal drug. With alcohol, there is the grey area of age. That is a distinction of law. For me, alcohol is as bad as, or even worse than MJ. As a Fire department first responder, I see the devastation alcohol causes on our streets and in our families. I used to drink like a fish in my earlier years. Does that preclude me from speaking out against it now that I have matured and see the devastation it can cause? MJ does lead to other drugs in people that have addictive personalities or suffer bouts with depression.
I'm pretty much in agreement with you Tom and will not tell anyone that I think it's ok to use drugs.
"I don't believe in just excusing their actions, nor do I believe in to severe of a punishment for first offenses of most drugs." I agree with this approach for the most part except that MJ is in a different category as far as I am concerned although I do not personally advocate it's use and I do not approve of my kids smoking it if they did. I do think levity and understanding is needed more on MJ use rather than just throwing the book at a high school kid for an MJ transgression.
GaterzFan wrote: The article you linked states "Sommer missed the first half of Alcoa's season opener at Spring Hill for an undisclosed violation of team rules". How do you know that this prior violation did not also factor into the decision to remove him from the team?
Rick, I hardly think I need to clarify what I am talking about and think you already understand. By the way I'm not speaking as a moderator but as a Gator fan which means I don't intend to do anything other than to tell you that it's disappointing to see you put all those players names out in such a post and it's obvious you don't know what the story was with all of them anyway. Your choice, but don't play dumb with me.
No, I don't already understand, Bill. That's why I asked . "A lot to be desired" is a vague statement, to say nothing of trite. Thanks for the accusatory "playing dumb" remark, though. Now you tell me you're disappointed, but not surprisingly you don't say why. As far as my "not knowing the story" with the players, I never claimed to. Interestingly, how many of those posting in this thread about Brian Sommer know the whole story with him?
The above is pretty obvious to me Rick even if not to you. I didn't comment about Brian Sommer so cannot comment. And if comments about one player bothers you I sure understand why you felt it necessary to list a whole bunch of Gators. Your choice though but I hope what bothered me is clear and I still have to feel you knew why all along. But as I said, your choice.
Say what? You think I'm "bothered" by comments about one player? No, Bill. I'm "bothered" by a society that is slowly absolving itself of any personal responsibility. A kid gets kicked off his HS team and the response of a few here is "why should a high school kid get kicked off his team if he wouldn't be kicked off a college team?" After a second violation of his high school team's conduct policy, no less. The devolution of the Sports page into "Police Beat" has been occurring for some time now. Have you read about any pro football players having legal trouble lately? How about college players? And yet on The Skybox we've got hand-wringing over a perceived inequity in the treatment of high school kids? Still, you're disappointed that I listed Gator players. In response to remarks made by Gator fans. Do you think listing a rival's players would be more effective? This isn't about Florida. Don't be so myopic.
"Sommer missed the first half of Alcoa's season opener at Spring Hill for an undisclosed violation of team rules, but Rankin said that punishment was not drug related." Not drug related and apparently not bad enough to be booted from the team. Maybe this high school coach should be in charge of NCAA rules enforcement and we would see if any teams out there had any eligible players left. Given the current climate in collegiate sports and in the NFL of strict policy (by most schools anyway) this kid needs a lesson taught but to be permanently booted and denied a chance at a scholarship and college education for such a minor offense is guaranteeing his name on a police blotter down the road for a real crime of some sort. That's just asinine.
"Not drug related and apparently not bad enough to be booted from the team. " What does "not drug related" have to do with it? Perhaps under the school's guidelines a player is only allowed one "not bad enough to be booted from the team" violation, regardless of category. Not knowing what the violation was doesn't mean it should be ignored. The kid apparently has a problem following team rules. "Given the current climate in collegiate sports and in the NFL of strict policy (by most schools anyway) this kid needs a lesson taught but to be permanently booted and denied a chance at a scholarship and college education for such a minor offense is guaranteeing his name on a police blotter down the road for a real crime of some sort. " Please. Now he's a victim of the system and has no self-will? In addition to absolving the kid of personal responsibility, I would think that attitude also insults his character. Blindly, I might add. And how does this deny Sommer a chance at a scholarship? As far as a college education, are there no DII schools or even JCs in TN that play football? The kid wouldn't be unable to rehabilitate his image? Again, it's not one "such a minor offense". It's apparently two. And the kid is still allowed to attend school and get an education, which is the primary goal of a public high school anyway.
Give you a break Rick? Let me see, you get bothered by two Gator fans here so you list 14 Gator players to the world to make your point? Then you don't understand what bothers me? And I shouldn't be myopic? And you didn't play dumb to my first post? And you let the reaction of two posters here help you reach a conclusion about society. Two posters who, yes they are Gators, have a history of taking stands that seem pretty obvious to provoke others. And you judge society and Gators by their posts? Maybe I need to judge society and your team harshly because I personally find it offensive to post 14 names on a public bulletin board. Give me a break! Do as you will, at least until one of the other moderators get fed up with this topic, but don't give me the pious nonsense but then have you take a shot at my team like you did and tell me I'm myopic. Three more things, first I am pretty much of the same opinion as you about how situations like this kid should be handled. Second, I am very satisfied that my coach handles these situations as well as anyone and better than most. Third, I think you are a good guy but I disagree with the way you handled this, so I am saying so. I hope that I can discipline myself to make this the last post I make here on this topic.
IMO, there's a legitimate discussion of how young men playing HS and college football are disciplined for a variety of different crimes .... and rules violations .... and the discrepencies between penalties for different crimes and violations. All have differing opinions and there really is no correct answer. However, there is no place in the discussion (or this thread) for that which BDRick posted. He should remove his post. BTW .... for how many years have Americans been arrested, charged, deemed criminals, and "sent to jail" for simple possession of marijuana? And what has been the resulting impact on both the use and simple possession of marijuana in America, especially in HS, college, and pro sports?
Let me see, you get bothered by two Gator fans here so you list 14 Gator players to the world to make your point? Not bothered, and "the world" certainly knew of them beforehand. I do, however, believe that a much smaller group than "the world" reads The Skybox. Then you don't understand what bothers me? Not without you telling me. I didn't want to jump to the wrong conclusion as it appears to me you did. And I shouldn't be myopic? Well, no. You shouldn't. And you didn't play dumb to my first post? No. I really wanted to know what "left a lot to be desired". And you let the reaction of two posters here help you reach a conclusion about society. LOL! No. It's a belief I've long held, but the posts do reinforce it. Two posters who, yes they are Gators, have a history of taking stands that seem pretty obvious to provoke others. And you judge society and Gators by their posts? No! LOL! It's the misguided "It's just weed argument"! IT'S NOT ABOUT WEED! IT'S ABOUT KNOWINGLY VIOLATING TEAM RULES THAT HAVE BEEN SPELLED OUT IN ADVANCE, AND THEN EXPECTING ANOTHER CHANCE! Maybe I need to judge society and your team harshly because I personally find it offensive to post 14 names on a public bulletin board. Feel free to to as you wish. I personally enjoy that freedom as an American. Incidentally, those names have been released to the public in print already. And Bill, this is not about schools. Give me a break! Believe me, I have. Do as you will, at least until one of the other moderators get fed up with this topic, but don't give me the pious nonsense but then have you take a shot at my team like you did and tell me I'm myopic. This is not being pious. This is not a "shot at the Gators", nor is it even about the Gators. In my opinion you are being myopic if you still think it is. Three more things, first I am pretty much of the same opinion as you about how situations like this kid should be handled. Second, I am very satisfied that my coach handles these situations as well as anyone and better than most. I raised no issue with that. Third, I think you are a good guy but I disagree with the way you handled this, so I am saying so. As is your right, but I still think you misunderstand. I hope that I can discipline myself to make this the last post I make here on this topic.
Rocky.. <t>Times in Austin, Texas as well..............<br/> <br/> Texas backup safety arrested on drug charges<br/> <br/> <br/> By JOSEPH DUARTE<br/> Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle <br/> <br/> Texas backup safety Tyrell Gatewood was arrested early this morning and is being held on three misdemeanor charges, including two for possession of a dangerous drug. <br/> <br/> Gatewood, a senior from Tyler, was arrested at 12:36 a.m., according to Travis County Jail records. He is currently being held on two separate $2,500 bonds for possession of a dangerous drug and another $500 bond for outside of the county. <br/> <br/> UT officials were not immediately available for comment.In a turbulent offseason filled with off-field problems, four UT football players were arrested: sophomore safety Robert Joseph, who has been dismissed from the team, was arrested in two separate incidents, and freshman defensive tackle Andre Jones was suspended indefinitely after being charged with aggravated robbery. <br/> <br/> Linebacker Sergio Kindle and defensive end Henry Melton were arrested for driving while intoxicated and suspended for the first three games.</t>
Idiot! If you remember back to the Ohio State game last year he and current SF 49'r Tarrell Brown were stopped with former player Aaron Harris and they found MJ and a loaded gun in Gatewoods lap and he was sleeping. The car was Gatewoods but he wasn't driving. He and Brown were suspended for the Ohio State game and later reinstated when the results of their drug test came back negative. Matching their story that they weren't smoking dope, Harris copted owning the dope. You'd think maybe he would have learned. :evil: :evil: He's a Sr. who doesn't play much except on special teams. But he's going to get kicked off the team and lose his scholarship. Now he won't play in the NFL, he won't have degree, he'll be lucky to stay out of jail, and later lucky to get any meaningfull employment. Screwup.
Now, this is interesting .... http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/big12/2007-09-13-texas-arrest_N.htm "Gatewood, 22, was charged with two counts of possession of a dangerous drug. It was his second drug-related arrest in a year, although misdemeanor possession charges were dropped after his arrest last September. He was suspended for a game." His prior arrest for possession resulted in a 1-game suspension, not dismissal from the team. Maybe he didn't really "possess the pot" for which he was arrested? "Bond was set for Gatewood at $2,500 for each count. Gatewood also was being held on an arrest warrant from Dallas County on a reckless driving charge from March. Bond for that charge was set at $500. Linebacker Sergio Kindle and defensive end Henry Melton, both arrested on drunken driving charges during the summer, are serving three-game suspensions that will end after Saturday's game at Central Florida." Hmmm, "reckless driving" and "drunk driving" are far more serious crimes than simple possession of pot. If simple possession gets ya tossed from the team (and it didn't for Gatewood in 2006) then "reckless" and "drunk" driving should result in dismissal as both of those crimes can result in the injury and/or death of others not engaging in the dangerous behavior. "Freshman defensive back Ben Wells, 18, who was riding with Gatewood when he was pulled over late Wednesday, was given a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia and released." If possession of weed gets ya tossed from a team, should possession of drug paraphenalia get ya tossed? " ....the deputy searched the vehicle and found pot, Xanax and a baby bottle full of codeine cough syrup." Wonder which two of the three are considered "dangerous" drugs?