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TE Louis Irizarry (official thread)

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If it's true, that would be another violent offense committed by LI. I think the coaches can work with you if you make a stupid kid mistake. Like testing positive for weed, disorderly conduct, underage or public intoxication, etc. Doesn't mean offenses like that are "okay", but they're a far cry from driving around with tabs of ecstasy and a handgun in your truck, or multiple instances of violence where the police had to get involved, one involving an attempted robbery.

I have to admit, I'm a little skeptical right now. I just can't fathom why two guys that will see the field would do something as stupid as try and take someone's wallet. You're going to get what, if you're lucky maybe a couple 100 bucks. But more likely less than 50. But let's call it 1000. 500 each is worth risking a free ride to a major I-A program, your chance at seeing the field, and your hopes of someday making the NFL? I know kids can be dumb, I mean, I was one. But drunk, high, stupid -- none of that would explain jacking a guy for a wallet. Maybe it was a normal fight and the guy is trying to screw them up by suggesting they were robbing him, who knows.

For their sake, I hope the allegations are untrue, or at least sounding worse than they really are. I definitely hope there's some sort of misunderstanding. If not, then I wouldn't bemoan Izzy's dismissal a bit. Despite being of the opinion that being kicked off the team is something of the death penalty. A second violent offense, this time involving an alleged attempted robbery, it would be clear at that point that the lesson wasn't learned the first time you were tossed in jail.

Let's just hope it's less than it's being made out to be by the media and the victim. If not, then let's be glad Hamby is only a junior...
 
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Wasn't it already mentioned that Ira was not participating in spring drills, along with Hiley, and they may be ready to come back for fall? I took that as meaning they were in serious trouble with the team already, but had no idea what. This could be the end for both Ira and Izzy at OSU.
 
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Wasn't it already mentioned that Ira was not participating in spring drills, along with Hiley, and they may be ready to come back for fall? I took that as meaning they were in serious trouble with the team already, but had no idea what. This could be the end for both Ira and Izzy at OSU
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That's correct.

Ira was out because of of violation departmental policy, which many assumed meant academics.
 
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I have to admit, I'm a little skeptical right now. I just can't fathom why two guys that will see the field would do something as stupid as try and take someone's wallet. You're going to get what, if you're lucky maybe a couple 100 bucks. But more likely less than 50. But let's call it 1000. 500 each is worth risking a free ride to a major I-A program, your chance at seeing the field, and your hopes of someday making the NFL? I know kids can be dumb, I mean, I was one. But drunk, high, stupid -- none of that would explain jacking a guy for a wallet. Maybe it was a normal fight and the guy is trying to screw them up by suggesting they were robbing him, who knows
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Thats what i was thinking. Why the hell would these 2 rob somebody. Doesnt make sense to me.
 
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There's no positive spin on this story, any way you look at it. Nothing else needs to come out.... sure it may have been a fight and the guys wallet fell out of his pants, and one of them stupidly picks it up. But, fact of the matter is they were involved in an altercation at 3 am, on a campus where they are supposed to be good will ambassadors. And they didn't sleep in their paid for dorms, but a paid for jail cell. I'm sure JT and staff give all of the players fair warning of the consequences of doing wrong. Enough said. They're gone.... both of them.
 
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Here's a nice article on Irizarry done by the O-Zone's John Porentas that starBUCKS posted at BN....


Football
Irizarry Back From Legal Woes in 2003
By John Porentas
The 2003 football season did not lack for off the field headlines.

Former OSU running back Maurice Clarett improved ink sales around the state by barrels, sometimes overshadowing the football program itself with his notoriety. His exploits left printing presses whirling and ink sales soaring.

It was with some relief that Clarett was finally declared ineligible and the focus returned to the football team, a team that did a lot of winning in 2003. Things were going along smoothly when off field problems once again stole the spotlight.

Freshman tight end Louis Irizarry stole the spotlight, but not with his pass catching or blocking abilities. Irizarry was involved in an on campus altercation that left several students battered and resulted in criminal charges being filed against Irizarry.

Buckeye fans didn't expect it, and were shocked. So, it turns out, was Irizarry.

"I never expected myself to do that in the first place," said Irizarry.

Irizarry was suspended from playing in games for the rest of the regular season and was not allowed to practice until his legal status was resolved. That was resolved in time for Irizarry to return to practice before the season ended, but the talented tight end from Youngstown paid a heavy price for his lapse of judgment.

"It was the most pain," said a penitent sounding Irizarry on Tuesday.

"I really knew before this what the consequences were, but I really lost a lot, even though I knew. I lost the rest of the season's games, and I was just all by myself, and it really hurt. As soon as I was allowed to practice, I was practicing like a deamon, out there waiting for this year," Irizarry said.

Before he could return to practice however, he had to face the legal consequences of his actions. Irizarry said that the experience was a tough learning experience, but that he is now better off for having faced the consequences of his mistake.

"I went to jail for three days. What is there not to learn from that?" he said.

"I had to pay some fines and make some restitution. I'm on probation right now," he added.

Beside the legal ramifications Irizarry found out that the notoriety of being an OSU football player has a downside when things don't go quite right. His legal problems were well publicized in newspapers throughout the state on local radio and television, a fact that left him feeling less-than proud.

"That's part of the learning process, that my name is out there and I have to watch what I do and play the (proper) part. I really wasn't doing that, so I suffered the consequences and I learned from it," said Irizarry.

Irizarry, did not by any means, get off with a slap on the wrist, but he does not seem at all bitter about that fact. In fact, a contrite Irizarry says he feels fortunate to have been given a second chance to prove himself.

"There's not more problem, so she (the judge) put me on non-reporting probation, so everything is pretty cleared up and I don't expect myself to do anything wrong, especially under probation. As far as I see, everything is behind me," he said.

"I'm one of the lucky ones, definitely. My college career could be over. A lot of guys don't even come up from this kind of thing. They might lose focus and keep getting into trouble and just lose it all. I went through some tough times. Granted, I made them myself, but I had a lot of support to get me back up and I feel stronger," Irizzary said.

Irizarry says that his experience was anything but pleasant, but that he has taken to heart the lessons of his mistake.

"What can't you take (from the experience), from turning the other cheek or not even laying your hand on anyone to don't take for granted the season, the school. I'm carrying my family's name, Coach Tress, Ohio State, all on my back. That's a great target. Usually I'd like to be that, but I got away from the team a little bit, I got away from my goals. I learned to come back," he said.

Irizarry has developed a true appreciation for what he has and the opportunity before him.

"I was just thinking to myself, at a school like this I could go to a different place every year (for a bowl game), eat fillet's every day and stay in a resort, go to that stadium and play against a team. All the focus is on that game, these two teams and that big game. I want to make a big play in a game like that," he said.

Irizarry finally got out of the doghouse in time for OSU's bowl game against Kansas State. After sitting out much of the season, he was finally allowed to put on a uniform again. Irizarry was positively elated for that opportunity.

"I warmed up like I was the king of the world. I was out there sweating like it was game time already. It was the greatest thing," he said.
 
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I am skeptical to, but police don't arrest people for the hell of it. There must at least be circumstancial evidence.

Nothing good happens after 10:00pm

I really hope it is not true, but if it is, it is time to send him packing. You can't keep giving second chances, and maybe kicking them out of here would be the best thing for him. Tough love, and you know another school would take him.
 
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Sure, no question that they did something wrong. We just don't know what it is yet. I've got no real reason to doubt the story as reported, but like anything else, we'll have to wait and see what the facts of the case are. Hell, we may never know them, I'm just happy we have a coach who I trust entirely to do the right thing here. And by 'right thing', I don't mean brush it under the carpet. If one or both deserves dismissal, then they'll get it. There are a lot of questions to get answered. Like, if two young football players from a I-A program mean to take your wallet, aren't they going to get it? Were they caught with it on their person after? Were they somehow caught at the scene screaming "we're going to steal your wallet!", did witnesses see them ripping the guys back pocket off to get at the wallet, someone ran to call the cops and the 2 idiots took off without it?

I'm no apologist. If they did something more stupid than get in a fight, then I'm all for whatever consequence JT and the law decide they have to face. But lest anyone jump to conclusions, this could just as easily be something far more benign that what's being reported.

So sure, innocent until proven guilty, although in this case 'innocence' still puts these two in a situation, time and place they had no business being in. That too will have to have its consequences.
 
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Irizarry should be gone. As said by someone earlier in this thread, there is no positive spin to put on this...none. Two-time violent offender in a year. He'll never learn. Send his ass back to Y-Town...
 
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Irizarry...just another punk, even if these allegations aren't true. Yeah, real tough guy..sucker punching a guy and pushing a girl in an OSU dorm room.

Yet another nail in the coffin to the idiotic "Coop didn't care about getting good kids, JT cares" notion.
 
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