Zook to McPhearson, Ellis: See ya

[thedoctor]

news-gazette blog

[Jimbo's Drinker]

Look how easy that is Weber!!

 

Zook is a quality coach, and illinois will be good very soon.

[GoodAsGould]

either of those kids any good?

[IlliniKrush]

Not surprised...and pleased with the move.

 

Soxfan...Both saw the field last year, but neither played a gigantic role in the offense. McPhearson was a four star recruit IIRC, and he was recruited by Zook at Florida. Whether he would ever live up to the hype was the question - he didn't really show me that he was in his time here. Ellis wasn't a very hyped recruit and didn't look like he'd be a big contributor.

Edited March 6, 2007 by IlliniKrush

[Soxbadger]

Is some one seriously comparing a DUI to:

 

According to a report posted on the Daily Illini's website and broadcast by WCIA-TV in Champaign, police found laptops and wallets inside in the trunk of the car Ellis and McPhearson were in after a traffic accident on Friday night.

 

One is like a crime ring, the other is a dumbass mistake.

 

Please lets put things in perspsective and not just take a cheap shot at Weber.

[IlliniKrush]

A dumbass mistake that could have killed someone, and nearly did! Then you throw in all the circumstantial evidence, and Jamar should have been toast already.

 

They are very comparable. You could even argue a DUI is worse considering that stealing laptops and wallets didn't (and don't) come close to killing anyone.

 

You are severely 'underrating' a DUI. Try telling someone who has lost a close one to a DUI that it's just a 'dumbass mistake' and not comparable to stealing a possession.

[Soxbadger]

I think your mistaken in terms of how the law and most people feel on the situation.

 

Taking other peoples wallets and laptops shows a criminal mind. That they actually wanted to do something that was against the law and wrong, that they purposefully wanted to hurt some one.

 

Do you think Jamar Smith watned anyone to get hurt that night? Do you think he regrets what he did?

 

Those are the differences.

 

I can give some one a chance if they are young and stupid. But when you show a criminal mind, its much harder to write it off as a bad decision.

[IlliniKrush]

I could easily label stealing stuff as stupid mistake.

 

BTW, how is driving drunk not actually wanting to do something wrong and against the law? Intent to hurt someone is a very poor tool to use here.

 

Also, i'm sure derrick and jody don't regret what they did. Nor did Luther Head, etc.

Edited March 6, 2007 by IlliniKrush

[fathom]

http://www.herald-review.com/blogs/marktupper/?p=349

 

Some pretty pathetic statements by Weber here. He has a lot of nerve discussing other programs being lenient. Every time this goof opens his mouth, he embarrasses the alumni of the school.

[Soxbadger]

Drunk driving is a statutory offense.

 

Thats what the difference is.

 

You dont know for a fact Jamar was impaired, all we know is that he blew X. Alcohol could have played 0 factor in his car accident, it could have been entirely weather conditions, but that wont matter. They are guilty just by doing the action.

 

Where as with stealing they actually have to have intention and knowledge. If all these 2 players are convicted of is something like "possession of stolen property" and there story is: "Our friend put it in our car we didnt know" then I would agree that its just something stupid and that they should get a second chance.

 

But for some reason the story doesnt really suggest that at all.

[whitesoxfan101]

A dumbass mistake that could have killed someone, and nearly did! Then you throw in all the circumstantial evidence, and Jamar should have been toast already.

 

They are very comparable. You could even argue a DUI is worse considering that stealing laptops and wallets didn't (and don't) come close to killing anyone.

 

You are severely 'underrating' a DUI. Try telling someone who has lost a close one to a DUI that it's just a 'dumbass mistake' and not comparable to stealing a possession.

 

A-freaking-men. And plus, like with Jamar, both plead not guilty and want a jury trial. Squeaky voice figures that means you should bring back said felon for senior night, and Zook says screw you, you have no respect for the school or athletic department, get the hell outta here. What a refreshing difference a coach makes. Just on this alone, I hope Zook lasts longer than Weber. One is a great recruiter who doesn't take crap from his players, another brings in mid level MVC recruiting classes and supports felons, drunks, and campus robbers.

 

http://www.herald-review.com/blogs/marktupper/?p=349

 

Some pretty pathetic statements by Weber here. He has a lot of nerve discussing other programs being lenient. Every time this goof opens his mouth, he embarrasses the alumni of the school.

 

 

HA!! What's next, he gonna talk about how the fall off of other programs not named Illinois is due to poor recruiting? What a douche.

[SoxFan562004]

If it was a straight up DUI, and he took responsability ASAP, then I would agree that hammering the kid is wrong, but the story that he left his teammate, oh wait, as Weber puts it "family" member, there to die in the freezing cold, that's where it is brought to the next level for me.

[CanOfCorn]

There is a difference between murder and manslaughter and that is intent. I totally agree with SB here. All you people are doing is looking at the outcome and not the whole incident. Remember, Jamar had a concussion. He wasn't thinking straight. Yeah, he drove back to the apartment complex...do you know how long it took for him to get there? Do you know if he got lost? No.

 

Now, IF Ellis and McPhearson did steal the laptopS and walletS, then that shows intent. Intent to break into peoples houses and take their stuff. They were of sound mind.

[whitesoxfan101]

There is a difference between murder and manslaughter and that is intent. I totally agree with SB here. All you people are doing is looking at the outcome and not the whole incident. Remember, Jamar had a concussion. He wasn't thinking straight. Yeah, he drove back to the apartment complex...do you know how long it took for him to get there? Do you know if he got lost? No.

 

Now, IF Ellis and McPhearson did steal the laptopS and walletS, then that shows intent. Intent to break into peoples houses and take their stuff. They were of sound mind.

 

Actually I do know and no he didn't get lost, he was back at the apartment within 10 or 15 minutes, pretty fast in a destroyed car. And you know what? Anytime your stupid enough to get into a car and drive it plastered drunk, you have the intent to risk the life of yourself and others, both anybody in your car and anybody that drives by you. I mean, driving drunk is like taking a gun and shooting it like spinning in circles, anybody could get hurt, nobody might get hurt, but the intent is potential disaster. How is THAT not intent? And Jamar was of sound mind when he took that wheel, he had no concussion at that point, although I think all crimes that occur while concussed should be dropped. It's a whole new legal system!!

 

And McPhearson and Ellis both have a lot of circumstantial evidence for multiple felonies against them, and plead not guilty, just like Jamar. One coach kicks them off the team, the other ignores it, lets them come back for senior night, and gets on Michigan for playing some guy that has nothing to do with this.

[Soxbadger]

I just dont agree. I think that there is an inherent leniency with drinking, driving, and college students/athletes. I went to college, things were how they were and everyone was doing the same things in terms of alcohol. Now that does not make it right of course, but who am I to throw stones.

 

Comparitively I dont believe that anyone can really write off theft as "youthful" stupidity, especially since these guys are older than 18. For comparison's sake, Im sure you can go back and find tons of DUI's and student athletes where they only received slaps on the wrists, etc.

 

But most theft cases like Peter Warrick/Coles, end up in some one being kicked off the team. There is just a line.

 

And this is not just my opinion, well mainly because I know lawyers and judges and well most of them went to college too, so they understand the alcohol culture. But they are not so understanding of blatant criminal activity.

[whitesoxfan101]

I just dont agree. I think that there is an inherent leniency with drinking, driving, and college students/athletes. I went to college, things were how they were and everyone was doing the same things in terms of alcohol. Now that does not make it right of course, but who am I to throw stones.

 

Comparitively I dont believe that anyone can really write off theft as "youthful" stupidity, especially since these guys are older than 18. For comparison's sake, Im sure you can go back and find tons of DUI's and student athletes where they only received slaps on the wrists, etc.

 

But most theft cases like Peter Warrick/Coles, end up in some one being kicked off the team. There is just a line.

 

And this is not just my opinion, well mainly because I know lawyers and judges and well most of them went to college too, so they understand the alcohol culture. But they are not so understanding of blatant criminal activity.

 

Your obviously right legally, but at the same time, if we are going to do things legally, nobody should ever be kicked off any team until they are a convicted felon. That is the PATHETIC approach that Bruce takes, I'm glad it's not the pathetic approach Ron Zook takes.