jmik58's Blog
Most people could get away with relieving themselves in public in the midnight darkness of an Ohio alley. But then again, most people aren't a beacon in the night formed as a 6'6" and 310 lbs frame of pass-blocking muscle.
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer has announced the suspension of tight end Jake Stoneburner and offensive lineman Jack Mewhort after each was arrested this past weekend. Both have been banned indefinitely following a confrontation with Shawnee Hill police. Allegedly, the Buckeye tandem was caught applying some natural liquid graffiti in public and were later run down when attempting to flee.
The official charge: "obstructing official business."
The only question is, what is more ridiculous -- that they were arrested for "obstructing business" instead of liquid name-writing, or the fact they've been suspended indefinitely for such a petty charge?
In a time when SEC players get a free ride on the marijuana-train through their career, it's maddening to qualify how such "obstruction of business" can be so detrimental to the integrity of the team that it warrants a potentially career-shifting suspension.
The truth of the matter, however, is that Stoneburner and Mewhort are burning in the PR fire started by their former coach Jim Tressel.
New head coach Urban Meyer hasn't been immune to the critical eye of the media either. Recent reports of minor secondary violations had America's tabloid-sensationalists drooling at their keyboards.
The accusations have raised questions once again as to whether institutional control is still an issue for Ohio State. The reality, however, is that such minor violations are counted like grains of sand on a beach at every institution in the country. Missteps such as Mike Vrabel using smokeless tobacco on the sidelines, and Meyer sending a "good luck" text to a recruit, have been blown out proportion by the ask-a-question-for-a-headline media.
Meyer, in an attempt to distance himself from the scandal of the previous regime, has decided to fire-ready-aim for the sake of the greater good.
Stoneburner and Mewhort have become the posterized whipping boys of everything wrong with Ohio State football in the past few years. All the frustration from lost recruits and a tipping of the scales in the Michigan rivalry.
The first losing season since the Ronald Reagon administration doesn't help either.
But if anyone can shoulder the weight let's hope the behemoths Stoneburner and Mewhort can take it.
They should have seen it coming. The writing was on the wall.
Let's just hope they used a writing utensil this time instead.
Do you think college football players are held to unreasonable standards for personal conduct?
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @long_snapper.
# 2
sarlndr @ Jun 7
Michigan has beaten Ohio State twice since 2001, how is this considered a tipping of the scales?
# 3
jmik58 @ Jun 7
@sarlndr
I was focusing on much more than wins and losses head-to-head. The Michigan/Ohio State rivalry goes beyond that. Do Michigan fans care what happens to Ohio State on days they don't play them? You bet they do. They compete over everything like two brothers.
Furthermore, my focus was on the past year since the Tressel scandal. From 2008 to '10 the Wolverines went 3-9, 5-7, and 7-6. Ohio State was 10-3, 11-2, and 12-1 over that time. 2011 marked a clear tipping point for the rivalry that gave a boost to the Michigan side. Not only did Michigan put up an 11-2 record, but the Buckeyes went 6-7. On top of that, Michigan beat Ohio State in 2011. To throw salt in the wound, OSU has had recruiting violations and issues since the point of the Tressel problems, and have had postseason bans, etc. Michigan has built their recruiting base back up under Hoke.
Based on all of that the scales definitely tipped back towards Michigan in 2011.
Michigan beating Ohio State twice since 2001; I'm not sure how that would be considered tipping of the scales. I never said that was the reason, so I would agree with you that based on that specific stat it wouldn't be the case.
I was focusing on much more than wins and losses head-to-head. The Michigan/Ohio State rivalry goes beyond that. Do Michigan fans care what happens to Ohio State on days they don't play them? You bet they do. They compete over everything like two brothers.
Furthermore, my focus was on the past year since the Tressel scandal. From 2008 to '10 the Wolverines went 3-9, 5-7, and 7-6. Ohio State was 10-3, 11-2, and 12-1 over that time. 2011 marked a clear tipping point for the rivalry that gave a boost to the Michigan side. Not only did Michigan put up an 11-2 record, but the Buckeyes went 6-7. On top of that, Michigan beat Ohio State in 2011. To throw salt in the wound, OSU has had recruiting violations and issues since the point of the Tressel problems, and have had postseason bans, etc. Michigan has built their recruiting base back up under Hoke.
Based on all of that the scales definitely tipped back towards Michigan in 2011.
Michigan beating Ohio State twice since 2001; I'm not sure how that would be considered tipping of the scales. I never said that was the reason, so I would agree with you that based on that specific stat it wouldn't be the case.
# 4
jmik58 @ Jun 7
More news on the issue today: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stor...in-public.html
Apparently the players were urinating on the side of a daycare building, which the author points out several times -- as if they targeted a place where children inhabit.
Keep beatin' that dead horse, Columbus.
Apparently the players were urinating on the side of a daycare building, which the author points out several times -- as if they targeted a place where children inhabit.
Keep beatin' that dead horse, Columbus.
# 5
djcorrosive @ Jun 8
@ jmik58
Are you kidding me? The scales were tipped so far in favor of Ohio State the past decade it'll take another 10 years for the skunk bears to tip it back just to even. Ohio State had one bad year. They've had a bad decade. One year doesn't magically turn that around. Get back to me when Ohio State goes on the kind of skid Michigan did and when Michigan wins a few Big10 championships. Just be thankful Iowa isn't on the schedule. See you in 2013. ;-)
Otherwise, this is a great article, and I do think it's ridiculous how the media jumps on every little thing the coaches and players do as I'm sure if you put any other major college's football coaches and players under a 24hr microscope you'd be shocked at what you find. At the same time, though, players need to be aware of the microscope placed on them, and urinating in public is probably not the best of ideas. I agree with the suspension.
Are you kidding me? The scales were tipped so far in favor of Ohio State the past decade it'll take another 10 years for the skunk bears to tip it back just to even. Ohio State had one bad year. They've had a bad decade. One year doesn't magically turn that around. Get back to me when Ohio State goes on the kind of skid Michigan did and when Michigan wins a few Big10 championships. Just be thankful Iowa isn't on the schedule. See you in 2013. ;-)
Otherwise, this is a great article, and I do think it's ridiculous how the media jumps on every little thing the coaches and players do as I'm sure if you put any other major college's football coaches and players under a 24hr microscope you'd be shocked at what you find. At the same time, though, players need to be aware of the microscope placed on them, and urinating in public is probably not the best of ideas. I agree with the suspension.
# 6
jmik58 @ Jun 8
@djcorrosive
I appreciate the comments on the article and good conversation.
I stand by my side-point that there was a tip in the scales between Michigan and Ohio State in 2011. I'm not saying it's a tip in the legacy, but the events that transpired in 2011 could be looked upon as the point when things shift. Michigan went from being down to an up year (including a win over Ohio State). The Buckeyes went the opposite direction including the scandals and bad press.
Furthermore, a "tip of the scales" suggests "change." It represents a shift. In this case it implies a movement back towards balance. I think an extreme change is what is being deducted from my usage, and I assure you that is definitely not my belief.
I totally agree that one year doesn't overcome 5-10 years of work. I'm not saying 2011 Michigan is better than 2000 - 2010 Ohio State.
If you stay within the context of my focus (2011), the scales were definitely tipped (changed) in favor of Michigan. That doesn't suggest anything long-term or that Michigan is above Ohio State yet. Although, if the trend continues, 2011 will be looked as a pivotal year.
I appreciate the comments on the article and good conversation.
I stand by my side-point that there was a tip in the scales between Michigan and Ohio State in 2011. I'm not saying it's a tip in the legacy, but the events that transpired in 2011 could be looked upon as the point when things shift. Michigan went from being down to an up year (including a win over Ohio State). The Buckeyes went the opposite direction including the scandals and bad press.
Furthermore, a "tip of the scales" suggests "change." It represents a shift. In this case it implies a movement back towards balance. I think an extreme change is what is being deducted from my usage, and I assure you that is definitely not my belief.
I totally agree that one year doesn't overcome 5-10 years of work. I'm not saying 2011 Michigan is better than 2000 - 2010 Ohio State.
If you stay within the context of my focus (2011), the scales were definitely tipped (changed) in favor of Michigan. That doesn't suggest anything long-term or that Michigan is above Ohio State yet. Although, if the trend continues, 2011 will be looked as a pivotal year.
# 7
TheDudeAbides45 @ Jun 9
One point. Suspended Indefinitely does not mean suspended forever. These guys won't miss any time, the suspensions are just for show.
# 8
jmik58 @ Jun 9
@TheDudeAbides45
That is very true that indefinitely could mean one day or it could mean forever. You hit the nail on the head by saying they are "just for show." I agree that both will miss very little time -- maybe none at all. Their situation may have been reacted to differently had Ohio State not had so much negativity around the program in the past year.
That is very true that indefinitely could mean one day or it could mean forever. You hit the nail on the head by saying they are "just for show." I agree that both will miss very little time -- maybe none at all. Their situation may have been reacted to differently had Ohio State not had so much negativity around the program in the past year.
# 9
sarlndr @ Jun 10
@jmik58
Ahhh ok. It makes sense now. Michigan still sucks and always will
GO BUCKS!
Ahhh ok. It makes sense now. Michigan still sucks and always will
GO BUCKS!
jmik58
42
2,404 Forum Posts
406 Blog Entries
1 News/Blog Comments
4 Reader Score Votes
80 Friends
3 Chalkboard Messages
0 Screenshots
4 Videos
1,425,778 Arena Visits
jmik58's Blog Categories
jmik58's PSN Gamercard
' +
jmik58's Screenshots (0)
jmik58 does not have any albums to display.
More
jmik58's Friends
Recent Visitors
The last 10 visitor(s) to this Arena were:
jmik58's Arena has had 1,425,778 visits
- bgordon0102
- Biglott
- Lewisf33
- Magist
- mastershake88
- maxodds
- NewNapkin
- protomemnon
- squashed377
- tical2399
jmik58's Arena has had 1,425,778 visits
Working...
And to answer your question NO!! College Football players aren't held to unreasonable standards. You go whizz on a wall and see if they police don't chase you down and once the news hits the web see how long it takes your job to suspend you. If anything Student Athletes are held to lower standards for personal conduct especially if it can be swept under a rug quietly. Things regular students do are punish to their fullest extent but Student Athletes don't have that same issue, they get to sit a few games and then go back to playing whatever sport they play. They got arrested for whizzing on a wall do know how many charges can actually be trumped up for a regular person....? Indencent Exposure, Public Intoxication (if they were found to be drunk), Resisting Arrest, Vandalism, and Defamation of Private Property. All they got were a slap on the wrist and Meyer waving his finger saying "Don't you do that again" HA!!!