RB Jaamal Berry (official thread)

[BB73]

Originally Posted by UpNorthBuckeye

I still say cut him loose. One reason I haven't mentioned yet is this: you have to get (or keep) control of your program.

The best thing that could come out of cutting him loose would be the message it sends to the other 150 (or however many) associated with the team.

Now I don't think Alabama is the world's worst place, but sportswriters are jumping all over them now, because of kids getting free BOOKS.

If Tressel lets Berry skate, then it's someone else, someone else, and they bring up the stuff that happened last year, and before you know it we are being called a "program out of control". that's what pains me.

Jaamal could make it somewhere else. If we are concerned about the kid, then this is a good lesson. This is good for him. Not throwing the baby out with the bath water, we are just teaching him rules are rules, not suggestions.

What about the 100+ kids who are keeping their noses clean?

So sure, I made HUNDREDS of mistakes when I was young, and the times I learned lessons were when I caugh sh1+ for what I did, not when I was allowed to skate by.

Some of those athletes in Alabama made 3 or 4 grand selling those 'free books', so it wasn't exactly innocent.

[osugrad21]

Originally Posted by UpNorthBuckeye

So sure, I made HUNDREDS of mistakes when I was young, and the times I learned lessons were when I caught trouble for what I did, not when I was allowed to skate by.

You just cursed in the recruiting forum. I edited it out.

Should I permanently ban you from the recruiting forums or realize this was a stupid mistake that is not characteristic of you?

[buxfan4life]

Originally Posted by goblue15

Kids make mistakes all the time hopefully he learns from it. I also don't consider an ounce of weed alot, if we were talking about pounds then you might have a serious problem.

I agree with you here.

Still, he should know better. I hope this is a big wake up call for this young man as he has a hell of a lot of potential to be a great football player.

[goblue15]

Originally Posted by buxfan4life

I agree with you here.

Still, he should know better. I hope this is a big wake up call for this young man as he has a hell of a lot of potential to be a great football player.

Fact is these kids just graduated high school and I can almost guarantee you if you drug tested every incoming freshman class half of the kids would test positive for maryjane.

[kippy1040]

In February i was very surprised to learn that Berry had signed to play at Ohio State. My immediate thought was " how in the world did he slip thru
the grasp of Florida and thier effort to recruit this young man" I could have bet my life that we would go to Florida.

But then again maybe the Gators knew something of this kids background and decided that he was a bad egg to begin with. This could be seen as pure speculation on my part but ya just have to wonder about it anyway.

I have always had my eye on Brandon Siene as a potential starter and running back for Ohio State. Could it be that Jamal Berry would be groomed to take his place? I don't know, i am not up on the facts behind this. But if Jim Tressel decides to let this young man play for Ohio State i would be very surprised.

Like so many of you in here stated that Troy Smith went thru some simalar situations as Jamal, then there could be argument for that in it self. But i just have a bad feeling about this situation. I hope i am wrong. But if he turns out to be a bad egg then that will not look good in the eyes of the coaching staff and thier decision.

[scarletngray]

Originally Posted by kippy1040

In February i was very surprised to learn that Berry had signed to play at Ohio State. My immediate thought was " how in the world did he slip thru
the grasp of Florida and thier effort to recruit this young man" I could have bet my life that we would go to Florida.

But then again maybe the Gators knew something of this kids background and decided that he was a bad egg to begin with. This could be seen as pure speculation on my part but ya just have to wonder about it anyway.

I have always had my eye on Brandon Siene as a potential starter and running back for Ohio State. Could it be that Jamal Berry would be groomed to take his place? I don't know, i am not up on the facts behind this. But if Jim Tressel decides to let this young man play for Ohio State i would be very surprised.

Like so many of you in here stated that Troy Smith went thru some simalar situations as Jamal, then there could be argument for that in it self. But i just have a bad feeling about this situation. I hope i am wrong. But if he turns out to be a bad egg then that will not look good in the eyes of the coaching staff and thier decision.

To imply that Florida has higher standards or does better background research into student/athletes, than tOSU does, is a
laughingstock.

[Pimpinnati]

It was my understanding that he had an offer from Florida but chose us over them. So this isn't a case of Florida knowing something OSU did not. In fact I would wager if OSU released him from his scholarship that Florida would find one for him real quick. (Although I could be way off on that)

[Psalty]

Originally Posted by pnuts34

I don't know if I agree with that sentiment. Are you saying we cut every kid who gets into trouble? I don't think thats a realistic thing to do. Youre dealing with kids, that's essentially what they are, and they're going to make some bad decisions. I'm not saying to coddle him, he should definitely be punished but to throw the kid away I don't think we do that. You can't honestly think that he's the only kid who's smoking pot on the team. Henton wasn't kicked off the team, and he made national headlines for soliciting a hooker, Nate Williams shoplifted, granted these weren't felonies, but you give the kid at least another chance to prove himself, not just on the field but his character and in the classroom too. Some kids are more immature than others and just need a lesson, and who knows maybe this will scare Berry straight and he'll be on the straight and narrow from now on.

Keep in mind, if this would've happened in Ohio, he would have been given a civil citation (like a traffic ticket). He would just have to pay a $250 fine. There would be no felony on his record.

[osugrad21]

Originally Posted by kippy1040

In February i was very surprised to learn that Berry had signed to play at Ohio State. My immediate thought was " how in the world did he slip thru the grasp of Florida and thier effort to recruit this young man" I could have bet my life that we would go to Florida.

But then again maybe the Gators knew something of this kids background and decided that he was a bad egg to begin with. This could be seen as pure speculation on my part but ya just have to wonder about it anyway.

Miami was the only Florida school to not offer. They were thinking they were set at RB at the time.

[Bleed S & G]

Originally Posted by kippy1040

But then again maybe the Gators knew something of this kids background and decided that he was a bad egg to begin with. This could be seen as pure speculation on my part but ya just have to wonder about it anyway.

Seriously?

[DontHateOState]

Originally Posted by UpNorthBuckeye

I still say cut him loose. One reason I haven't mentioned yet is this: you have to get (or keep) control of your program.

The best thing that could come out of cutting him loose would be the message it sends to the other 150 (or however many) associated with the team.

Now I don't think Alabama is the world's worst place, but sportswriters are jumping all over them now, because of kids getting free BOOKS.

If Tressel lets Berry skate, then it's someone else, someone else, and they bring up the stuff that happened last year, and before you know it we are being called a "program out of control". that's what pains me.

Jaamal could make it somewhere else. If we are concerned about the kid, then this is a good lesson. This is good for him. Not throwing the baby out with the bath water, we are just teaching him rules are rules, not suggestions.

What about the 100+ kids who are keeping their noses clean?

So sure, I made HUNDREDS of mistakes when I was young, and the times I learned lessons were when I caught trouble for what I did, not when I was allowed to skate by.

My God, it is weed. He didn't kill the president. If you think kicking him out of Ohio State and denying him a scholarship is ultimately good for him then I question your mental capacity. I'm sure you've NEVER messed up before in your life. Oh wait, you just admitted to messing up HUNDREDS of times.

Thank God Jim Tressel understands people better than you.

[DontHateOState]

Originally Posted by kippy1040

In February i was very surprised to learn that Berry had signed to play at Ohio State. My immediate thought was " how in the world did he slip thru
the grasp of Florida and thier effort to recruit this young man" I could have bet my life that we would go to Florida.

But then again maybe the Gators knew something of this kids background and decided that he was a bad egg to begin with. This could be seen as pure speculation on my part but ya just have to wonder about it anyway.

The Gators view weed possession as a step up from their current position. Please, I know for a fact that the Gators and Seminoles both chased JB up until signing day. They were recruiting him until he went to bed the night before.

[BuckeyeTillIDie]

Originally Posted by DontHateOState

My God, it is weed. He didn't kill the president. If you think kicking him out of Ohio State and denying him a scholarship is ultimately good for him then I question your mental capacity. I'm sure you've NEVER messed up before in your life. Oh wait, you just admitted to messing up HUNDREDS of times.

Thank God Jim Tressel understands people better than you.

Agreed, 100%. Some of you calling for him to be kicked off the team are off your rockers.. or you're living in the 1950s.

[scarletngray]

Originally Posted by UpNorthBuckeye

I still say cut him loose. One reason I haven't mentioned yet is this: you have to get (or keep) control of your program.

The best thing that could come out of cutting him loose would be the message it sends to the other 150 (or however many) associated with the team.

Now I don't think Alabama is the world's worst place, but sportswriters are jumping all over them now, because of kids getting free BOOKS.

If Tressel lets Berry skate, then it's someone else, someone else, and they bring up the stuff that happened last year, and before you know it we are being called a "program out of control". that's what pains me.

Jaamal could make it somewhere else. If we are concerned about the kid, then this is a good lesson. This is good for him. Not throwing the baby out with the bath water, we are just teaching him rules are rules, not suggestions.

What about the 100+ kids who are keeping their noses clean?

So sure, I made HUNDREDS of mistakes when I was young, and the times I learned lessons were when I caught trouble for what I did, not when I was allowed to skate by.

Coach T has never let anyone "skate". After finding out all the details and letting the courts do their job, then speaking with the student/athlete, he makes an informed decision which almost always includes some type of discipline. If anything Tress has been accussed of being to much of a disciplnarian, not vice versa.

I laugh at the comment "program out of control" when it is said in the same breath as Ohio State and Coach Tressel. Coach T is in total control of the program, always has been and always will.

Finally, let's remember this is a kid who is not even a student at tOSU yet. As far as I know, this is his first major run in with the law. It is not like he is a repeat offender like others the coaches have had to deal with.

[OSUsushichic]

High school kids think they're invincible and untouchable. For many kids, it only takes one time to prove to them that they're not. I hope Berry is one of those kids.