Matt Johnson Cited

[gmartin]

Factman?? You don't want me to post anymore? Fine. Think your comment was very inappropriate. My family and I have been funding BG athletics for the past 38 years. Providing money to pay 4 scholarships per year. That is not pocket change. So excuse me if I am a little pissed off that students are gambling. True it may be their own spending money but they have that money because they didn't need to use their own money on food or books because it was covered by the scholarship. I'm done commenting on the matter or any other matter.

[Class of 61]

Guys,

I hate to see us bitching at each other on this. Everyone has the right to his own opinion...I'm most disappointed that MJ did something so stupid, on top of the drug deal episode to boot. We've all made fun of OSU and its problems thru the yrs but We've had our own share too.
I honestly feel we've given athletes a false sense of entitlement and privilege ,perhaps from jr HS yrs., then wonder why this stuff happens. I'm as big a MJ fan as anyone, but minimum " punishment" would be no trip to bowl game...we have to set SOME standards of conduct for these kids or risk more incidents.

[apollo]

If South Alabama is even decent they should beat us easily....this kinda stuff is classic lack of focus nonsense.

GMartin...you should just shift your scholarship dollars to baseball. I think those coaches could put that money to good use. In all seriousness...I'm with you. I think that the football team needs to take a little more pride in how it is representing itself. Everyone makes mistakes, but seeing this type of thing out of a "leader" is pretty frustrating, but also explains a lot.

[Falconfreak90]

Guys,

I hate to see us bitching at each other on this. Everyone has the right to his own opinion...I'm most disappointed that MJ did something so stupid, on top of the drug deal episode to boot. We've all made fun of OSU and its problems thru the yrs but We've had our own share too.
I honestly feel we've given athletes a false sense of entitlement and privilege ,perhaps from jr HS yrs., then wonder why this stuff happens. I'm as big a MJ fan as anyone, but minimum " punishment" would be no trip to bowl game...we have to set SOME standards of conduct for these kids or risk more incidents.

Good post Den. The season ended with a thud and, quite frankly, I'm not all that pumped for the bowl game Sat night. I don't like the issues happening and it reminds me of Brandon's last couple seasons.

[gspointer]

Factman?? You don't want me to post anymore? Fine. Think your comment was very inappropriate. My family and I have been funding BG athletics for the past 38 years. Providing money to pay 4 scholarships per year. That is not pocket change. So excuse me if I am a little pissed off that students are gambling. True it may be their own spending money but they have that money because they didn't need to use their own money on food or books because it was covered by the scholarship. I'm done commenting on the matter or any other matter.

screw factman- keep them coming. This reflects poorly on our program and should be stated as such.

[FortWayneFalcon]

I'm not taking time to read all posts. FWIW.
This Falcon, with hopefully future Falcon alumni, has a problem with students on scholarship visiting casinos or getting mixed up in any activities that are not beneficial to the program/university. I know this is a bit of a grey area for the most of us, but I expect our best athletes to set a better example. I will not support a team or even my school when winning overrides the golden rule. Gambling is a childish adventure that only hurts our economy and labor class. It has no long term service towards our education system. I'm ashamed of my birth state for allowing it in the first place.

[Flipper]

Factman?? You don't want me to post anymore? Fine. Think your comment was very inappropriate. My family and I have been funding BG athletics for the past 38 years. Providing money to pay 4 scholarships per year. That is not pocket change. So excuse me if I am a little pissed off that students are gambling. True it may be their own spending money but they have that money because they didn't need to use their own money on food or books because it was covered by the scholarship. I'm done commenting on the matter or any other matter.

screw factman- keep them coming. This reflects poorly on our program and should be stated as such.

What reflects poorly on our program? I agree that Johnson thinking it would somehow be OK to use the PD as a comedic prop is a pretty big issue....but I'm mystified by the whole casino thing. I don't get why it's an issue...

[mscarn]

....this kinda stuff is classic lack of focus nonsense.

There is more discussion about Ocean's 11 than about the starting 11.

[Beaker]

post deleted

[Beaker]

the same way you enforce all team rules, of which there are many. that's what coaches get paid to do, enforce rules and standards.
unless they're pollyannas who throw their hands up in the air and moan, "gee, team standards are so hard to enforce. guess I'll just give up and let the police sort it all out."

How many times since Babers has been here have we heard of a player suspended or punished for a violation of team rules? No such instances are coming to mind, but maybe I missed them. That was not an uncommon thing under Clawson. I doubt very much that the reason we saw it before and not now isn't because the players are so much more well behaved, but it's a product of Clawson knowing the importance of discipline and responsibility and enforcing it, much more so than the current staff. When Clawson was here, I had a personal friend who's son was a player on the team. He wasn't doing the things that were expected of him as a scholarship player and got himself in the doghouse. This was an underclassmen who didn't see time on the field and after already being on a short leash, he had a run in with law enforcement and his scholarship was terminated and he was no longer part of the program. I would never be happy to see a young man lose the opportunity that he lost, but I understand Clawson's commitment to enforcing the rules he set for his program and why that kind of discipline was necessary to build the type of team that he and most of this fan base wanted to see built. We can't argue with the ultimate results.

I don't want to see guys getting kicked off the team or mass suspensions, but I also know that when the inmates are running the asylum, things are not going to work. Coach could make a rule about no one to be seen in the casino and no, you can't post a guard there 24/7 to monitor it for enforcement. If you're a coach who instills discipline, sets rules and demonstrates to his players that he will dish out the stated punishment when the rules are violated, then you get their attention and don't have to station guards at every place you have set as off limits. The players that want to be part of the program will follow the rules you set out of respect for your authority and the knowledge that if caught, they are going to face certain consequences. The players that choose not to follow your rules can go be an individual in someone else's program.

In the age of everyone having a cell phone with a camera and posting their photos all over social media, your potential "guards" are everywhere. If I was a kid who knew I wasn't allowed to go to a certain place or I would be in big trouble, then I would stay out of that place for fear of pictures of me in there, showing up on the internet for all to see. Coaches can appoint interns, student workers or whatever personnel from the athletic dept. to monitor social media and report to him. All of this sounds kind of like a Nazi state, but if you set the tone early and get everyone on board, you won't have to be looking over shoulders all the time. Discipline will become a part of the program and the leaders on the team will take an active role in keeping guys on the right track. It's a lot tougher to come in soft and then try to be a disciplinarian than the other way around.

[Flipper]

Why limit your nazi squad to casino's?...bars are waaaaay worse places to be. As are off campus parties....and carryouts that sell booze and smokes. Hell, if you restrict players from going to places that could bring shame to the school and program you're going to have to limit them to classes, a hermetically sealed dorm and church.

Jeez...you people need to take a step back and deep inhalation. It's a casino...it isn't the 9th circle of hell

[tiznow]

Agree Flip. Look at the thread when Houston was arrested. Not much outrage or talk of a black eye. That was before the season started and we were looking forward to a MAC championship.

If BG won the MAC instead of losing 3 straight, would there be this reaction?

[jpfalcon09]

Agree Flip. Look at the thread when Houston was arrested. Not much outrage or talk of a black eye. That was before the season started and we were looking forward to a MAC championship.

If BG won the MAC instead of losing 3 straight, would there be this reaction?

But they didn't, so it doesn't matter.

Many of us diehards won't forget what happened to this program after all the issues and losses of scholarships at the end of Brandon's run. We're obviously a little worried that something more can come from players receiving benefits from the casino that could be construed as NCAA violations. Any fan should be if they care about this program. Yes, these guys can get into trouble anywhere, but gambling has a terrible public perception and will only raise suspicion of people close to the program who do provide money to give these guys scholarships.

Its a fundamental issue of common sense. You're given a scholarship to play football, you're afforded a debt-free college experience. You wanna gamble? Fine. Don't wear clothing that says "BGSU Athletics" while doing it. Shower up, change your clothes, represent yourself and the school in the best way possible. I'm a firm believer that the actions of a few can impact many, and I would hope that Dino or Chris would remind every single student-athlete the responsibility they hold when out in public that their decisions affect not only themselves but their teammates, coaches, fans and boosters.

[Flipper]

Guys were hitting the casino under Clawson..they were smoking weed under Clawson..there were run ins with the law under Clawson. None of this is new and none of it has even a little bit to do with Gregg Brandon so why do people keep bringing him up? Dino Babers wil succeed or fail on his own merits or lack thereof....Gregg Brandon will not be a part of that process. Invoking his name like he's some kind of pigskin boogey man serves no purpose other than stirring the pot...

[fredthefalcon]

My issue is not so much with an occasional visit to the Casino but when players go and how many times they go. Is it effecting their athletics and/or schooling? Do they have a gambling problem? If they are going more than twice a week (probably generous) and spending more than an hour or two each time then I personally think there are issues. If they are spending more than $100-$200 as a student ,unless they are somehow independently wealthy, then they have a problem. And if so where can the problem lead? Gambling addiction can impact individuals and families just as much as alcoholic addiction. My neighbor lost his house and his wife and son because of such an addiction. Is placing bets on NFL games with bookies next? Online poker? High stake card games? Loans from sharks? It's a slippery slope and really the extent of Gmartin's observations should be seriously analyzed and addressed if necessary for what is likely a minority of the team's players.