Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba.com

http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2007/07/18/72104
July 18, 2007 3:14pm

Four dismissed from Gophers football team
Dominic Jones, Keith Massey, Alex Daniels and E.J. Jones are gone from the Minnesota program.
By Mark Remme

four members of the Minnesota football team were officially dismissed Wednesday by coach Tim Brewster.

Junior defensive back Dominic Jones, sophomore defensive back Keith Massey, junior defensive end Alex Daniels and sophomore running back E.J. Jones were released by the Gophers football team. The four are linked to the investigation of a sexual assault case.

Dominic Jones was charged with third-degree sexual assault Monday, while Massey, Daniels and E.J. Jones were arrested and released in April. The three are still considered suspects, according to authorities near to the case.

"It is an honor and a privilege to wear the uniform of the University of Minnesota, and we have exceedingly high expectations for each of our student-athletes," Brewster said. "We are establishing a culture of integrity and we will demand that our players are held accountable for their actions."

Brewster said the team spends a considerable amount of time addressing the players about personal conduct, and the team will not compromise its values.

According to the team news release, the dismissal of the four players does not affect their scholarship status. However, that status is subject for review by University and NCAA policies.

Athletic director Joel Maturi fully supported the decision by his first-year coach.

"I am in full support of the decision of coach Brewster," Maturi said. "While this issue is deeply disappointing, the Athletics Department is sending a clear and unmistakable message that it will never compromise its code of conduct."

Maturi said the athletic department has a level of expectation both on and off the field that it communicates to its student-athletes.

"In the end, individuals decide right and wrong for themselves and then live with the consequences," Maturi said. "Unfortunately, these consequences also touch the lives of many other people."



Too bad here ol BGSU there are no consequences...play ball boys.

hahaha, never gets old to ya huh?

http://www.ay-ziggy-zoomba.com/phpBB2/v ... 8&start=15

Already posted yesterday.

If something as horrible as this happened here, you bet your tail there would be consequences.

Since you seem to have all the answers, MACMAN, why not get your coaching resume ready?

What, exactly, is your agenda against Coach Brandon?

43 days....

Yeah Coach Bielma at Wisconsin could learn a thing or two, huh?

Well, to be honest, I see the point he's trying to put forward, he's just not doing it in a very tactful manner. Therefore, I'm going to try to express this a little bit better, even though I'm sure everybody knows what he's trying to say and is just irritated by how he is saying it (i.e. don't call the kid a pothead over and over again).

We have all seen these same things happen in high schools, colleges, and professional sports. If the player isn't a big name player and does something wrong, they are punished, but the key players are often slapped on the wrist and told they were bad and not to do it again. If our 3rd or 4th string QB had screwed up instead of our 1st string, do you feel he would still be on the team, or would have received a larger penalty than 1 game? Minnesota is basically booting 4 players because they feel it gives their team a bad image. Now, I don't know if these 4 actually played let alone started for the Gophers, but if they were key players I applaude the team even more for making this move. They are basically saying, "We don't care who you are, you don't get special treatment." Those players are similar to the same players that get into legal trouble in the NFL and feel their star stature should excuse their behavior. Look at the T.O. / Dennis Rodman / Barry Bonds / Randy Moss / Pac Man Jones types.

In a non-favorable manor, MACMAN is just saying that he hopes we aren't breeding these types of players by not punishing them at BGSU. No, I don't mean pro-caliber players, I mean unfavorable citizens. Honestly, I'd much rather support a team that puts a class act on the field than a team that is embarassing in the image they portray.

With that aside, I'm proud to be a falcon and proud of the team we have. Everybody makes mistakes and should be punished for them, but the punishment should also fit the crime. MACMAN would have any player with a speeding ticket booted from the team, and that's just not reasonable.

I think everyone's essentially got the right idea. As far as discipline, I look at this differently from Troy Smith or Rhett Bomar, since I'm obviously a lot more disturbed by sexual assault then people taking money they didn't earn.

Since I am very interested in seeing how star power/importance to a team affects discipline, I posted a Gopher message board in hopes that someone can describe those four players' role on the team. I just did that, so I'll post any response I get.

On an interesting personal note, I had no idea the guy played football for Minnesota, but I actually went to elementary school with E.J. Jones, the running back who was dismissed. Though the website says he graduated from elsewhere, I believe he spent some time on the Springfield North High teams that current Falcon DB Vince Corner (EJ, Vince and I all being the same age), and former Falcon OL Kevin Mahoney (one year older) played on. However, I could be wrong about that, since I spent grades 7-12 at Perrysburg and didn't really keep in touch.

Anyhow...I'll post more when I get responses

http://tinyurl.com/3d4tqf

There is the message I posted.

The basic summary of the replies that I got are the 4 dismissed players were

1)Their best CB/KR/PR, who was arguably their best defensive player, the team MVP in one poster's eyes

2)The nickel CB who was expected to play significantly

3)A highly recruited player, who has yet to find his niche - but was on the two-deeps on the DL

4)Third string running back - logged about 15 snaps last year, due to increase somewhat this year.

Hard to say what to make of that collection. Dominic Jones was the "star" of the group, and he was charged with the sexual assault, so obviously he had to go. At that point, was it then easy for the team to dismiss the 3 other players who were less important? Would they act the same if no one had been charged?

I think they did what was best by cutting ties with all involved, but its hard to shed light on the star player treatment type stuff that footballguy discussed, since the only star amongst the group clearly had to go

I do not feel that AT only got a game suspension because he was a key player. It can be argued that AT deserved to be suspended another game or two, but I personally dont see the problem with what he got. AT was charged with a minor misdemeanor which is less than underage drinking, which I tend to have a problem with. AT had to sit out the first game against Wisconsin at Cleveland Brown Stadium. That game could of been the biggest game AT could of played in at BG. You dont think he thought long and hard about what he did? If it were to happen again, I would be open to the discussion of penalties as severe as being dismissed, but until then I think its a little overboard.

If im not mistaken T. White was charged with a DUI last year, correct? He served his one game suspension, but why did this not have as much hype as the AT incident? T. White was arguably more of a "Key" player then AT was. Is it because it was alcohol related and not marajuana?

I dont think MACMAN has any point at all, except for the obvious fact that he has beef with AT.

I thought AT's punishment was appropriate. In general, I think Brandon's done a nice job here disciplining the kids who have gotten in trouble with the law.

Rape and smoking up in your car are obviously a long way's apart. These dismissals at Minny were nice to see.

Gregg Brandon has dismissed players from the team...the kid who was with Turner (I think it was his car) was booted off the team (IIRC, because he was not truthful with the coaches when they asked him about the incident). Jenkins Reese got kicked off...Matt Leininger got booted, Greg Hutcherson got booted. Reese and Leininger were guys who were looked at as key contributeors on defense. Looking at the way our defense performed, do you really think Brandon was looking at the depth chart when they got canned?

AT made a mistake...he owned up to it and paid a price for that mistake. Apparently, the DA wasn't all that concerned about it because he plead the case down to disorederly conduct. Part of that deal was Turner's agreement to submit to urinalysis.

What hasn't been discussed much here has been Turner's conduct since he screwed up. He's kept his nose clean...he hasn't gotten in trouble again. He's apparently learned form his mistake Isn' that what getting an education is supposed to be about?

This notion that you should run off anyone who commits any violation more serious than a traffic offense is just plain dumb. Does that mean a kid can tear down Wooster doing 75 miles an hour and stay but a kid getting cuaght drinking underage has to go? Why be so arbitrary? Why stop at traffic tickets? Why stop at violations of the revised code? If you're a God fearing Christian you should value the word of God above the word of man. Shouldn't we then dismiss any kid who breaks one of the ten commandments?

The legal system in this country is pretty smart...we recognize the value in considering the totality of the individual and the degree of the offense. In some instances, the offense is so great that it outweighs any possible consideration of the individual. I think that basic construct is the model we should apply. ( although I would agree that the status of the player on the depth chart shouldn't be a factor) The Minnesota case appears to be one of those instances where the offense is so heinous that you have to remove the kid(s). AT getting caught with a small amount of weed does not meet that standard.

Personally I don't see smoking up in a car to be that great of an offense. I hate to see my starting QB (and supposed leader of the team) get caught, but this is not exactly an offense punishable by execution. I said at the time that I thought he deserved to be suspended for a game, and he was. He served his time, as far as I'm concerned.

I'm not enamored with his play, and it's fun to make jokes like telling him not to smoke the new grass, but want him kicked off the team? I'm sorry, but if you're going to kick all the players who smoke weed & drink underage off the team you'll have a real tough time fielding a squad.

Especially the underage drinking part.

Honestly, I agree with everything being said here, and I'm glad that he's being held under a testing probation. If he tests positive at any time, then I hope they suspend him for longer than 1 game for the second offense (if there ever is one).

If he would have been cut from the team for that, the opposite arguments would be presented that he was made into an example for the team. I would not want to have seen that, and I would hope that a player's ranking on the depth chart does not dictate that players severity of punishment.

footballguy51 wrote:Well, to be honest, I see the point he's trying to put forward, he's just not doing it in a very tactful manner. Therefore, I'm going to try to express this a little bit better, even though I'm sure everybody knows what he's trying to say and is just irritated by how he is saying it (i.e. don't call the kid a pothead over and over again).

We have all seen these same things happen in high schools, colleges, and professional sports. If the player isn't a big name player and does something wrong, they are punished, but the key players are often slapped on the wrist and told they were bad and not to do it again. If our 3rd or 4th string QB had screwed up instead of our 1st string, do you feel he would still be on the team, or would have received a larger penalty than 1 game? Minnesota is basically booting 4 players because they feel it gives their team a bad image. Now, I don't know if these 4 actually played let alone started for the Gophers, but if they were key players I applaude the team even more for making this move. They are basically saying, "We don't care who you are, you don't get special treatment." Those players are similar to the same players that get into legal trouble in the NFL and feel their star stature should excuse their behavior. Look at the T.O. / Dennis Rodman / Barry Bonds / Randy Moss / Pac Man Jones types.

In a non-favorable manor, MACMAN is just saying that he hopes we aren't breeding these types of players by not punishing them at BGSU. No, I don't mean pro-caliber players, I mean unfavorable citizens. Honestly, I'd much rather support a team that puts a class act on the field than a team that is embarassing in the image they portray.

With that aside, I'm proud to be a falcon and proud of the team we have. Everybody makes mistakes and should be punished for them, but the punishment should also fit the crime. MACMAN would have any player with a speeding ticket booted from the team, and that's just not reasonable.

very well written...but in the end what Im saying is that we are breeding these types, we are covering for these pin head losers. When is enough enough...rape? cause drugs and senseless beatings dont seem to be over the line.
KICK UM TO the CURB before its to late...dam I did not check the time...were awefull late. We suck at consequences, and punt formations.

AT in the huddle play calling...
" alright dude heres the play alright....
you big giant like guys will keep the other giant guys from totally killing me, and Ill like stumble around like im trying find my roach and just before they totaly slay me Ill like put up this narley pass to fast dude over here...k Bitchen"

great qb...we should put him on tripple secret probation...and make him donate blood once a week two...thats plenty strict...it will sure learn him....
p;ease...we should have let the door hit him and thug boy in the ass.

IMO smoking some reefer is okay. Sure it's foolish if your in a position like AT, so flame away. A one game suspension was appropriate. There is no need to "kick em to the curb" thats just ridiculous.


There is a time and place for everything (my time has passed) , but its just pot AT got in trouble for.. not some psychadelic or coke or anything really stupid... Unfortunately, I've seen all of it in BG.

Violence is a whole 'nother story.. not a fan of beating people up over stupid drama really.

So really, loosen up dude.

truth wrote:
So really, loosen up dude.

Not gonna happen. MACMAN is puckered up tighter than a whore at a Merchant Marine convention. Shove a lump of coal up there...well, you know the drill.