OSU and FL: A common history

[gator]

I guess I could have put this under other university sports, but since it kind of involves OSU as well, I post here thinking the viewership would be greater.

In the last couple of years FL and OSU have shared a common history. Both have made it to two football NC games in the past 3 years, and both have played in one basketball NC in the past three years. The similarity does kind of stop when we talk about the results of those games, but I digress.

What this thread is really about is another common theme between these two schools: the troubling number of arrest. From another thread, it looks like tressy has 35 in 9 years and Meyer has 24 in his four years at FL. That's a lot for both, but if FL continues on this pace, we may be talking about the new U. Out of curiousity, I tried to find a "Top Ten" list of coaches with the most arrest to put this thing in perspective. Not too suprisingly, I couldn't find one, but I would love to see it if anyone else can find such a list. I guess it doesn't really benefit sports writers to bash a sport they are paid to follow, even if it is a serious issue that needs to be looked at. I commend the Orlando Sentinel for breaking this story. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/gators/orl-sportscollegeinsider-06060609jun06,0,823310.story

For at least some perspective, the other two schools in FL, notorious for arrest and thuggery, have finally got the hollerback on UF. For years, like UM has had with OSU, FL held the moral highground on the other two FL powerhouses. In this past 4 year span, however, FL St. has only had 13 arrests and Thug U has only had 2. The arrest rate for FL since Meyer took over has been aout 10%; that's over twice the national rate!! Truthfully, I think Urban cares about these kids, tries to provide them with guidance, and wants them to live good lives. However, this many arrest certainly raises alarm. In such cases you always want to find fault in how a coach is handling the situation, but I think Urban has been fairly strict. In response to the "criminals/thugs" (many have had the charges dropped) during this time, Urban has directly kicked no fewer than 5 kids off the team and suspended at least 3 more for a full/remainder of season which lead to them transferring. That's at least 8 kids gone from the team for disiplanary reasons. What should not be overlooked is how important or promising some of these players have been. Marcus Thoman (best D lineman on that '06 NC team), Cam Newton (that 6' 5" beast of a backup for Tebow last season), Torrey Davis (made that monster 4th down stop in the NC game against OK and was supposed to be a beast this year). I don't think Urban is scared to kick anyone of the team if it is warranted, but I have to think something is not being handled correctly.

So what is the real problem? Has FL just recruited too many straight up thugs recenty? You know the saying, you can take the kid out of the ghetto, but you can't take the ghetto out of the kid. Maybe there is some validity to this statement because the only highlight of the story for UF fans is that only 3 of these arrest have involved kids from the last 3 recruiting classes. Maybe it was just the kind of kids Zook was recruiting, and Urban has already admitted that he didn't really get the high character kids he likes in his first recruiting class. Maybe things will turn around if we can stick to recruiting high character kids. I certainly hope so because I will tell everyone here this right now - I love my Gators, but I hate watching thugs even more. I just can't get into a game when all I see is larceny, possession, battery, resisting arrest, property damage, etc... out on the field instead of jersey numbers. If things don't turn around soon; I'm not going to be able to enjoy watching my boys play. If I can't support them, I don't have much reason to watch CFB. Sad...very sad!:mad::(

[bluefan]

Looks like the similarities do stop after the wins/losses. At least Urban does something when a player f's up. Tressel might make one of his convicted felons sit one play. That's only depending on their value to the team, though. The higher the value, the fewer seconds they'll be held out. Every once in a while a 4th string walk-on will f up and then he'll come down hard. It's good to give the appearance of a disciplinarian every once in a while as long as the player has never and would never see the field.

[zilla]

thugs=wins.

[gator]

thugs=wins.

Thanks for that brilliant comment.:rolleyes:

What are you suggesting....that RR go out and recruit thugs?

[zilla]

Thanks for that brilliant comment.:rolleyes:

What are you suggesting....that RR go out and recruit thugs?

It is the willingness of certain schools to take anyone that sets them apart. So yes thugs = wins.

And no I don't think RR should go after thugs because it reflects poorly on the entire school. Such things do not matter to schools like OSU and Florida however where no one really looks at them as institutions of higher learning but just glorified community colleges.

[gator]

It is the willingness of certain schools to take anyone that sets them apart. So yes thugs = wins.

And no I don't think RR should go after thugs because it reflects poorly on the entire school. Such things do not matter to schools like OSU and Florida however where no one really looks at them as institutions of higher learning but just glorified community colleges.

My God, you're a laugh a minute. The glorified community college got me ROFL. I can't comment about OSU, but UF has got some very respectable and nationally ranked programs. They are also one of the largest universities in the country. I haven't looked at enrollment figures recently, but they should be at least in the top 3 largest universities. I don't think UF is hurting for alumni contributions either (a significant guage of success, IMO). Have you seen this campus recently (or ever)? Every time I go down there, another research department has been built. It's slightly more impressive than any CC campus I've ever visited.

Of course having thugs on a team will reflect poorly on the school because they will inevitably get in trouble. Hence, the reason for this thread. I don't want to win at the expense of only getting low character guys. I personally don't think that has to be the case; however, some of the best players in the nation hail from south florida, and there is really a thug culture for certain portions of society down there. I was just questioning your logic: Thugs = wins, you don't want RR to recruit thugs.........so do you not want UM to win or do you just not expect them too?

[rickyleach]

Both schools do have a common history , fla wins and ohio state doesnt..

[StevieBrownforHeisman]

for what it's worth, gator, as a UM fan i think that UF still holds that moral high ground over Miami and FSU.

Also, i hate when people talk-shit about academics. A good sign that your school's football program is down is when you have to pull out the academics card, M fans. just stop. I would guess both OSU and UF have some very impressive buildings/colleges/programs, some of which most people on this message board would have trouble graduating from. People in Ann Arbor do tend to have a stick up their butt about academics, like it's some grand trump card that can be used to one-up your buddies who went somewhere else.

We all know that UM's major sport student-athletes do not get the same treatment as your average IT student, just like at schools like UF, OSU, Miami, etc... where athletes are given major advantages.

If Jeremy Gallon couldn't play football, there is no way in HELL he would be going to U of M. Furthermore, remember that RRod recruited Adam Jones. Pro athletes don't get much more thug than Pacman.

[osusteve]

Every program and coach has recruited thugs, currently has thugs, etc. Pac Man Jones was recruited by RR, Marcus and Michael Vick were recruited by Frank Beamer, etc. etc. etc.

It is laughable for anyone on this site to spew sanctimonious BS about their respective NCAA football program.

[rickyleach]

osusteve, and jim tressel is a saint and shouldnt be ripped for recruiting thugs, you are as blind as stevee wonder if you keep defending a guy like tressel, oh thats right he claims to be a christian , what impresses you more ,his faith or winning football games...... he is a fake...

[Voleye]

Thanks for that brilliant comment.:rolleyes:

What are you suggesting....that RR go out and recruit thugs?

Look at his history at WV. He already has