Poll: Should the arrested UT players be kicked off team?
| Response | Percent | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 64% | 7203 | |
| Not enough info yet | 28% | 3213 | |
| No | 6% | 690 | |
| total votes: 11106 | |||
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Comments » 56
abraden5 writes:
Yes, of course! NO question. Zero tolerance for stupidity!
vol88 writes:
I'll reply to this b/f it gets deleted.. I do not care if we never win another game if we have to win with players who run around carrying guns. This is an outrage and an embarrassment to all UT students and alumni -- a helluva lot more embarrassing than losing a ballgame. And you, dude, are the king of all idiots for your post, BTW.
jmr68ut writes:
A gun with an altered serial no. - - sure hope they are gone!!!
DooleyNoted writes:
The BB players will suffer stiffer punishment because of previous incidents by the football team. May not be fair but the university/Hamilton has to take a firm stand on these types of incidents. UT doesn't have a good national image at this time. I'm afraid this will also carry over to football recruiting.
golfballs03 writes:
Don't kick them off until you know the facts. It wasn't their car, they may have been unaware of what was in the car. Especially since the police said it couldn't be "determined whether they were under the influence of marijuana", which is a crock. They can test them. And they definitely weren't drinking otherwise there would be a DUI charge.
al2476 writes:
It is time for a stand against this type of behavior. There is no excuse for anyone riding around with an altered gun, marijuana and alcohol in a car. Kick them off the team and let the ones play who behave themselves.
mtnsvol44 writes:
Really makes you suspect the ethical background of those who voted no,correct? Are they the ones who have a "win at any cost" mentality or thugs/thug wannabees themselves?
Fall_Creek_Vols writes:
I say again...not until all the facts are in. According to many of you, Janzen Jackson should be gone...just for being in a car where a couple of intellectual morons decided to do something really stupid...WITHOUT his knowledge or consent.
Perhaps some of that exists here. I'd like to believe that. Regardless, we should do NOTHING FURTHER until ALL the facts are in...
...and not until then.
boogimn3 writes:
test
newportvol writes:
What if they borrowed the car from a buddy who smoked pot..what if the pot found was the car owners along with the guns.. what if the beer was already there.. they just didnt wanna litter and throw it out.. what if they didnt know what pot smelled like so they wasnt aware of what the odor was inside the car.. what if they really wasnt running 80 in a 40..the cop just tagged the wrong car.. And if u buy that Ive got some ocean front property in Tennessee I will sell You.. All jokes aside Ive never smoked pot or done any illegal drugs But i know what Pot smells like.. And I know 95 percent of you guys reading this post know also.. God Bless and Go Vols
Volborn writes:
If these guys have prior failed drug tests, then I would be a little more harsh. If not, I would be a little more lenient. If we find out the guns belong to any of them, the owners should be gone. I must say, that I have never checked under the seats of a car before I got in it, but I also don't think that their would be 2 guns in a car without any of them knowing. There is no telling what was in some of the cars that I have ridden in when I was in college. As a matter of fact, I was riding shotgun with an old high school friend and he was pulled over. Come to find out the car had a "dealer tag" on it. Later, I found out the car could have been stolen! Little did I know how much the guy had changed in the 3 years since I had seen him.
ArmyDad writes:
You might want to re-read the story. There was an open container of alcohol in the car.
I'm a UT fan, like you appear to be, but you might want to take off your orange colored glasses and get a glimpse of reality on this one.
leedsvol2007 writes:
What we see here is an erosion in values that have made our country great. The actions of these individuals is a reflection of what is going on in society as a whole.
In the past those from deprived backgrounds who participated in sports viewed the athletic scholarship as the vehicle with the goal a degree and a better future as a result of having one.
They were looking to escape their backgrounds to a better life for themselves and their families.
Today many of the players are looking for better status within their former communities and to strike it rich in pro sports. But instead of running from the problems of drugs and alcohol and violence they embrace them.
We have far too many homes in the US without 2 parents, too many who value partying over living, too few without a faith based life perspective, and too many that think they are the law and try to take revenge with knives and guns rather turning to the police to diffuse potentially violent situations.
Add that to the fact that college sports are so commercialized and we as fans want to win so badly that we look past criminal behavior for the sake of winning.
One can say this with total certainty, if Pearl dismisses the players involved he will be universally praised and if we then finish out of the NCAA tournament his coaching ability will be called into question.
Athletic budgets and coaching salaries being what they are, and facing the loss of revenue that will result if we lose TV and NCAA appearance money, if the players involved can be gotten off the hook they will play again this season.
So long as athletes embrace the values of gangs and the "hood" over the opportunity to live a decent and productive life we will continue to see these type of incidents.
out_of_town_vol_fan writes:
viper62
PLEASE never write another post. PLEASE.
vols6591 writes:
Pleas write more PLEASE!! I totally agree.!!!
Mrsknowitall writes:
I am amazed at your ostrich approach. They weren't tested because the police didn't want to have to charge them, same with the liquor. I would bet a thousand dollars that both were done--booze and pot. They thought they were tought, and they got caught. Kick them off.
SCIENCETCHR writes:
Let's face it! These young men are of legal age, and therefore the responsibility for their stupidity falls squarely into their laps. There are thousands of U.T. students, black,white and other races who would gladly appreciate the university paying for their education.
Therefore....dismiss all four players and distribute the funds to students who deserve a helping hand. Sadly enough, we all know that will never happen!
CadmiumOchre (Inactive) writes:
First, let me make it clear I don't want hoodlums on any of our UT teams. Second, I don't care what color they are, we don't need hoodlums.
Viper, your screen name is well deserved. Snakes like you are mono optic opportunistic racist whose mindset shows itself immediately when anything gives it the slightest excuse. I could go on a tirade of how how mainstream society creates hoodlum behavior among, to quote you, specially black. It's done overtly and covertly, like Coca Cola putting soon to expire bottles and cans of pop into Black community stores. And other things that foster a sense of arrogance which begets arrogance. http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-tra...
But rather than stoop so low, I say again that whoever we are, we do have an innate awareness of right and wrong. The choice we make is our own, excuses be darn. Stupidity as I stated before is color blind so when snakes like you, whatever color you are throw in race on this, it only indicates you're as bad or worse than those you accuse. You just haven't been caught yet. Huh? that's right, the loudest mouths on issues like this are the very ones who engage in the same things or worse. Bigots tend to be that way.
Now, to the real issue, these guys, my inclination is to get rid of them NOW. But as some wise poster pointed out, we don't have all the facts. it is possible they were unaware of the stuff in the car like guns and such. while I have a very hefty dose of doubt about that, it may be true all the same. So we, especially bigots like you Viper, should just shut up as judge, jury, and executors until the facts are out. If they are guilty, I would be at the head of the line for saying grab them by the rear of their pants, haul them to the street and drop kick their butts off the campus. Until then that should be done with bigots like you Viper. your word choice shows clearly what you are.
gatorhator4eva writes:
stupid it is, but everyone makes mistakes. if you are robbing people that is different. otherwise, i say charged them with misdemeanors and warn them once. all the facts will come togeathe, but everyone knows compared to what other drugs kids do in college this is jellybeans. guns are serious though, buts its not like there going around waving them or shooting at people.
sgtvols writes:
get rid of them.. quit recruiting outlaws with jailhouse tatoos all over them. i was embarred with our program, now i am humilated. walk in the coffee shoop with a ut logo and get laughed at
dhwright64 writes:
Glad some of you aren't judges, willing to decide a case before all the facts are in. First, one or more of the persons riding in the car could have been totally unaware there were even guns in the car. Everyone within reach of the handgun was charged. If a gun is under the front seat the person driving and the person in back are automatically charged (likewise in the passenger seat, front and back). Secondly, one or more of the persons riding in the car may have not or never have used illegal drugs. Third, all charges are misdemeanors and occurred off campus. Let's not assume they are all drug dealing gansta's before all the facts are in. Have some of you that are willing to throw them under the bus ever smoked a joint before? That being said if they were smoking pot or in illegal possession of a firearm, serious consequences should and I believe will be handed down by Pearl and the UT administration. The punishment shouldn't be the same for someone involved as such versus someone who was unaware of the guns in the car or who didn't do drugs. They should be smarter than to put themselves in such a situation but we are talking about kids just a few years removed from high school. Let the process work.
CadmiumOchre (Inactive) writes:
Hate admitting how right you are on that. I've proudly sported my Vols caps and T-shirts in Ky but lately, yes, I get snickers. Very embarrassing.
ut_fan16 writes:
They dont know anything for sure, so you really cant make your decision based on what they are saying.. It wasnt their car, so maybe they didnt realize that there was guns inside... There was the drugs, but Smith was charged with the drugs, so maybe he didnt really know.. I know this is just wishful thinking, but it could be true.
Mr_Bandman writes:
This is the worst post I've ever read on this site. You are a pathetic bigot, and, from your attitude and your pitiful grammar, I'd say you must be a promising athlete, because, by your description "they" all "have a knack for being stupid".
I work with teenagers---hundreds of them---and they all, athletic or not, have it in them to make exasperatingly stupid choices and need to be guided by people who care more about them as individuals than as commodities. The problem DOES NOT lie in anyone's gene pool, or in their region of origin---it lies in their upbringing, entirely. Star athletes are coddled from the moment they show the ability to make an adult look good (parents, coaches, and school administrators are equally to blame---people whose egos are often the entire driving force behind the development of young athletes). Last year at the school where I teach a fellow teacher was forced to change a grade by administrators because the student in question had to meet a GPA minimum in order to qualify for an athletic scholarship. Instead of the student having to do what he had to do to meet the standard, the administrators gave in to the insistence of the student's parents and rigged it. It was not an isolated incident, and mine is not by any stretch the only school in which things like this go on. It goes on everywhere and it happens all the time. Student-athletes are too often handled with preferential treatment on all fronts by those who are charged with developing their character---their parents, their teachers, their coaches, and their administrators. Then when a student-athlete fails to respect the rules &/or the law, we all rise up in indignant anger and blame their genes or their family origins. Where does the stupidity really lie? Yes---college athletes are adults, and all adults are responsible for their own actions and should be held accountable. There is, however, astonishingly little accountability placed on the people who, in reinforcing their own egos, allowed the students to get to a place where they feel they are above the rules &/or the law.
smoky50 writes:
What if you wake and smell the coffee. They smelled the weed when they got in the car. Even IF they didnt know what weed smells like, they know what kind of person they are with when they borrowed the car. As for the gun, it could have been under a seat and the average person who borrows a car doesn't "inventory" the vehicle before they take off in it. HOWEVER, they have more responsibility than your average teen. The school, coaches, staff, and parents have invested a lot of time and expect them to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner. I would hope they would not hang with people that keep weed or dope or gun with an altered serial number in a car. They wallered with dogs now they got fleas. Good riddence, and they should have held their status in a higher manner.
SunshineVol writes:
I’m just happy that it wasn’t a 15-passenger van.
byrd4vols writes:
One would have to think that Tennessee is not drug screening its basketball players like it should. And if they are,I would bet they are being altered by the players. There are lots of ways to do it. There is only one solution to this problem, cutt all ties and wish them well. There is no excuse for what has happened here. This is not an isolated incident, our athletic depart.has serious problems right now and hard decisions must be made at all cost.
RoadTrip writes:
My thoughts:
No tolerance for drugs and guns. Speeding with an open booze bottle is suspension. They all knew what the repercussions were - not only to themselves but to UT, their teammates, their families, the fans, etc. - and they did it anyway.
So I say, "Buh - bye!"
Recruit and play the kids that keep it clean, go to school, make their grades and take positive roles in the community.
randyarnold writes:
Glad no one who post on this site sits on a jury. Most sound like my ex-wife, who had the opinion if you get arrested you must be guilty. A first year law student could get the charges dropped since all the evidence is circumstantial, unless it is a crime to be stupid. So let those without sin throw the stones. If it upsets you, then you withhold your monetary contributions to the university.
byrd4vols writes:
Why are UT basketball players packing heat anyway? Are they scared a UT football player is going to hold them up at gunpoint?
roloyo writes:
The question that keeps comin' to my mind is, WTF do you need 2 guns for if you're just out ridin' around and gettin' high????.......unless (and here's a novel idea) you're on the way to the Pilot.....or planning to steal more drugs. Makes no sense.
And a note to sgtvols: I too have retired my UT apparel, until the fall. Emmmmbarassing.
grumpatiger writes:
in the court of law, you must have proof.in the court of life, there's this thing called common sense.be real.there may be one person in that car that didn't know about the guns,but i have to question that even.i'm not trying to dog y'all out,but this could be detrimental to your university.i hope common sense prevails!
hogan writes:
LMAO!!!!!!! Great post, can you imagine the smoke that would have been coming out of the windows of that van with these players.
1xvolfan writes:
Let me think? whats more important, winning a basketball game , (and with Tylers gameplay lately thats not a give me) OR teaching our youth this is NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!
SoddyVol writes:
I don't go along with zero tolerance. However, If they knew ahead of time that guns would be present, just flat out tell them goodby. It could be that at least one or two of them didn't really know what was going to take place. In that case, take prior conduct into consideration.
kd45music writes:
Hey Pal, the facts are in - guns and drugs == bus ticket home. There are no hidden facts here.
1xvolfan writes:
I agree, the facts are in ... they where all in a car where illegal drugs were being smoked! REGARDLESS or any other facts, thats why the car was searched, because of the smell of POT!!! POT is illegal! I'm sure Camron was speeding back to let all the ones objecting to the pot smoking back out of the car...
renegade37918 writes:
not enough info ok in a car with drugs and weapons. off the team sorry bout your luck
williamt1948#1378584 writes:
Kick them out!Why does a Basketball player need a gun with a altered serial number and doesn't the athletes get drug tested at random anymore?
JACK8254 writes:
I will tell you how strongly I feel about this. If these thugs are not dismissed from the team, I will never attend another BB game as long as Pearl is the coach. These punks have sullied the honor of every student and athlete now at UT and even those in the past. I don't want my grandchildren to attend a school where winning at all costs is the mission. I went there as well as my son- but they will not if have any say.
AFTiger writes:
Phi Jamma Thug!
KINGKONG writes:
Man I never seen so many judgemental fans.Lets wait on coach pearl decison,He knows whats best for the team,also he knows their their famlies and what kind of people they are.BP cares about his players.Unlike these so called christians who never killed a fly.Wait untill all the facts come in, then you can judge.These basketball player have done alot of positive things in this community.Oh I forgot I live in the bible belt I surrounded by hypocrites.Some of you people need to be out looking for job loosers.
smkymtn writes:
Allow Pat Summitt to act as UT's athletic director & compensate here with a big raise for her additional duties.
Pat Summitt wouldn't put up with ANY of this behavior. She'd clean house.
Ever seen Pat Summitt coaching during a close game. You think any of her players ask themselves, "Gee....I wonder if she's serious?".
Pat Summitt doesn't mess around. She can be the best friend of the UT athletes....but break the rules & she'll be their worst enemy.
As for "waiting for the facts", what else do we need? How many of us have rented or borrowed cars that just HAPPENED to have a gun under the seat....much less multiple guns?
What could they have been up to BESIDES trouble?.....I mean, Alcoa Highway.....at night....with guns....and drugs?? C'mon....what more analysis is required for this one??
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Nailed it.
This is 2010, like it or not.
Many would do well to look at the glass walls of their house and lay the rocks down in their mitts.
This, like all else, will play out to a conclusion.
And get no ink or remembrance in 60 days.
Right or wrong, the assigned judge to this matter has not weighed in.
Yet.
kthoma14 writes:
I am glad many of you good Americans are not on my jury. Whatever happened to "innocent until proven guilty"?
BeRealistic writes:
Come on man. What's wrong with viper62's post? Due to the fact it' true, I'd rather be a smart idiot than none at all.
tomkats3242 writes:
They knew the rules, they knew what would happen if they did what was done. They don't need another chance to do more damage to the University. How long does it take to obtain facts. It has been days and the AD is still deciding. Bet he is waiting to see how the public is going with this before he takes actions. Maybe He needs to leave if he take no actions that shows UT is trying to clean up its act. There are many good ball players who would die to play for UT and would obey the rules. Kick them or the AD.
TommyJack writes:
Contratulations to GVX for giving voices to so many stupid s.o.b.'s out there in poster land.
Amazing.
brentrod writes:
no they shouldn't be kicked off. what the he** am i going to do all winter long!! will i have to follow duke like i did in the 90's???
SummerfieldVol writes:
I do not know the rules for athletes on a scholarship, if they broke the rules then yes they should be gone. I don't know how many knew about the guns in the car but we do know they knew about the marijuana and the open liquor. That alone should be enough to kick the players of off the team and out of UT. Like Ron White said YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID. The gun charge is the biggie that is a felony and from what I know it is not a city, county or state charge it is a FEDERAL charge. So somebody, or all of them are in big trouble.
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