Matt Johnson Cited

[Falcon137]

College kids winning thousands of dollars at a casino? I had a guy in the room next to me in Offenhauer that played the ponies at Raceway Park but this seems different.


"Burbrink and Johnson, among others, had reportedly won money – $1,500 and $3,000 respectively – at an area casino, and the information had become common knowledge among teammates."

http://www.sent-trib.com/news/front_pag ... fadb8.html

What an embarrassing story for the program. Your star QB lets it be known he is hanging out at a casino, apparently robs his roommate as a joke, files a false police report, and only admits he was lying to officers after they told him he was full of sh!t. Can't wait to see what the rest of the offseason has in store for us!

[Schadenfreude]

I wonder if Dino even knows yet?

He'll have to study the film.

[Schadenfreude]

On the positive side, I suppose this puts to rest any doubt about whether coaches know if Falcon football players are spending some of their spare time at the casino.

[gmartin]

Ding Ding Ding!!!! And I mentioned last week about EIGHT players whom frequent the casino. And by frequent I mean AT LEAST 4 times per week. And one of those occasions was less than 2 hours after our loss to Ball State. Most of you said gambling wasn't an issue. Unfortunately Matt Johnson's issue doesn't compare to other issues I have been told about. I'm not going to say anything else, I already have brought it to peoples attention. I will just wait to see what else develops. And my family and I will be suspending our donations to the University for football scholarships. It's not right that a dozen individuals have made up our decision to donate for student athletes but it has. These athletes should be fortunate for these scholarships and for the donors who help pay their way. Not to use the money received and gamble. Shame on you!!! Yes it very well may be their own money but they only have their own money because they are receiving scholarships, so I still look at it as money I donated.

THIS WILL NOT BE THE END OF THE STORY. AS STATED, MATT J ISSUES ARE MINOR TO WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

[kdog27]

Judging by this team's preparation, execution and week to week adjustments I'd say the coaches spend most of their time at the casino too.

[jpfalcon09]

The more information that comes out about this the less and less I feel good about supporting this program right now. This nonsense needs to end and I hope Dino recognizes it as well or he'll be seeing his tenure as an FBS coach come a quick end.

[guest44]

I think we have seen our last Dino Babers promo involving a campus police officer.

[thewebboy]

Wow just disappointing all around.

Stay out of the casino (especially during the season). Don't call the cops unless there is a crime.

Pretty simple guys.

[Flipper]

I don't care about the casino deal...it's not against the law to go there. So far as the scholarship bit goes, what's next...no beer or wine if you're on scholarship, no cigarettes ? Pizza is bad for you...no pizza if you're on scholarship.

Calling the cops to play a prank? Matt Johnson...how stupid are you?

[Falcon137]

I don't care about the casino deal...it's not against the law to go there. So far as the scholarship bit goes, what's next...no beer or wine if you're on scholarship, no cigarettes ? Pizza is bad for you...no pizza if you're on scholarship.

Calling the cops to play a prank? Matt Johnson...how stupid are you?

I will say, if certain players are in there as much as some people are saying, the coaches and or university should be involved. Not because it looks bad, but, because they may have a gambling problem.

College kids will be college kids. But, bragging about the $1,500 or $3,000 grand you made at the casino before finals and while prepping for your bowl game isn't exactly a good look.

[jpfalcon09]

I don't care about the casino deal...it's not against the law to go there. So far as the scholarship bit goes, what's next...no beer or wine if you're on scholarship, no cigarettes ? Pizza is bad for you...no pizza if you're on scholarship.

Calling the cops to play a prank? Matt Johnson...how stupid are you?

Immaturity. I don't care if the players go to the casino but it's obvious this has manifested itself within the program and needs to be dealt with. Gambling addictions are no joke and if the reports of players going there 3 or 4 times per week are true then there is a serious problem here.

[Falcon137]

All of this from your star player, 4th year junior, former MAC title game MVP, and supposed leader.

Honestly, if Matt Johnson is this dumb, what is going on in that locker room? BG Football has accumulated quite the rap sheet since late July.

[MarkL]

2 takeaways for now ...

1. Not a smart move by Johnson. Pranks are fun. Pranks that involve police are either a) really fun or b) stupid. Pretty clear this prank falls into the latter category. Not a smart move by a leader. But, he'll learn. The team looks up to him and I don't think that will change.

2. I really don't care if players are gambling but I understand if some people do care. (I'm a Falcon club member too but I have no intention of stopping donations, not by any means.) However, if gambling or any other high-profile activity becomes a distraction from academics and athletics, then we've got a problem and I fully expect Babers and the athletic department to take care of it.

I do have a concern here though. The press now has reported on gambling related activity. I fear an upcoming "investigative journalism" piece into "an out of control program" or "a coach who let gambling go unnoticed" or some other headline making story in order to bring street creds to an up-and-coming journalist. When the athletic department says they are handling a situation internally, they really are handling it internally. When external forces like the media or prying fans get involved, things generally do not end well.

Folks, let the department take care of this and trust that they will handle it properly. The athletic department will handle the situation properly. If you have concerns, please voice them, but do it privately, not publicly on this forum. The more us fans pry, the more distractions we create, which is why I intend to sit this one out as much as I can.

And finally ...

And one of those occasions was less than 2 hours after our loss to Ball State.

... well gmartin, the real question is, what were you doing at a casino 2 hours after the loss to Ball State? You know as well as I know and everyone else here knows that the proper protocol for fans after a rough loss is to spend the entire rest of the day on AZZ b!tching and moaning about the team and the coaches. What were you thinking??

[jpfalcon09]

2 takeaways for now ...

1. Not a smart move by Johnson. Pranks are fun. Pranks that involve police are either a) really fun or b) stupid. Pretty clear this prank falls into the latter category. Not a smart move by a leader. But, he'll learn. The team looks up to him and I don't think that will change.

2. I really don't care if players are gambling but I understand if some people do care. (I'm a Falcon club member too but I have no intention of stopping donations, not by any means.) However, if gambling or any other high-profile activity becomes a distraction from academics and athletics, then we've got a problem and I fully expect Babers and the athletic department to take care of it.

I do have a concern here though. The press now has reported on gambling related activity. I fear an upcoming "investigative journalism" piece into "an out of control program" or "a coach who let gambling go unnoticed" or some other headline making story in order to bring street creds to an up-and-coming journalist. When the athletic department says they are handling a situation internally, they really are handling it internally. When external forces like the media or prying fans get involved, things generally do not end well.

Folks, let the department take care of this and trust that they will handle it properly. The athletic department will handle the situation properly. If you have concerns, please voice them, but do it privately, not publicly on this forum. The more us fans pry, the more distractions we create, which is why I intend to sit this one out as much as I can.

And finally ...

And one of those occasions was less than 2 hours after our loss to Ball State.

... well gmartin, the real question is, what were you doing at a casino 2 hours after the loss to Ball State? You know as well as I know and everyone else here knows that the proper protocol for fans after a rough loss is to spend the entire rest of the day on AZZ b!tching and moaning about the team and the coaches. What were you thinking??

The issue I have period is that things like this get out publicly and reflect terribly on the student, program, AD and university. We all know the issues that UT had with point shaving and being paid to throw games, obviously this is nowhere close to that, but all big issues start somewhere. I think we can all agree that BG getting a reputation for having players hitting the casino on a regular basis is going to damage recruiting and upset some donors and the program doesn't need that after the facelift it received once GB was ousted.

[gmartin]

I wasn't at the casino. But my cousin is a dealer and I have friends that work there. Other members of this site have also seen our players there a few days before the MAC Championship game. I don't have a problem if a player wants to gamble if they are of age but the timing of their gambling, the frequency and the amount they are gambling is alarming. I have numerous sources that confirm this and this will be problematic. I have seen issues like this while working for the Colts. It can get out of hand. We already have one institution right up the road with point shaving. Do we really want our program investigated? Plus what if our athletes receive 'a free lunch' or some sort of free perks. Slot machines and table games are not illegal if your of age. However athletes receiving perks and meals are NCAA violations. There are other issues at hand that haven't been brought up and if the university is handling them internally then they will never be brought up but there is more to this issue than Johnson and Burbrink. I just hope those issues are handled and we don't hear anymore news about this. I'm not going to comment on this anymore. I mentioned it last week after being concerned for 4 months. I reported my concerns and I just hope the matter is being looked into if not we could have serious problems down the road.