TheCatsDomain.Com Message Boards: Indiana having some serious off-court issues

This is topic Indiana having some serious off-court issues in forum UK / NCAA Basketball at TheCatsDomain.Com Message Boards.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://www.thecatsdomain.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=28;t=033758

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 09-01-2015, 05:28 PM:

That's what you get when you recruit basketball players based on just ability.

Two Indiana men's basketball players were cited last Friday, shortly after midnight, by local police after both players -- Emmitt Holt and Thomas Bryant -- were caught in posession of alcohol.

Holt is 19, Bryant is 18.

Indiana confirmed the news late Monday afternoon.

"We are aware that men's basketball players Emmitt Holt and Thomas Bryant were each cited Friday for underage possession of alcohol," the athletic department's statement reads. "We take this matter very seriously and are continuing to gather information."

Holt's involvement is his second alcohol-related incident since he's been at Indiana. Last fall, Holt was driving a car after having imbibed and subseqeuntly hit/injured teammate Devin Davis. Davis suffered injuries to his head that prevented him from playing last season. Holt reportedly had a blood-alcohol level of .025 at the time of the incident.

Davis is no longer with the team. He was suspended in May after he was busted for marijuana possession. He opted to transfer from Indiana to Odessa College (Texas) in early June.

Link

[ 09-01-2015, 05:29 PM: Message edited by: catmandoo ]

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 09-02-2015, 06:18 AM:

I've heard the local liquor stores are going to be this years sponsors on their Men's basketball calendar!

Posted by boomdaddy (Member # 2644) on 09-02-2015, 08:50 AM:

I am just glad no UK players are in the media at the present. If and when it does happen, there is always that portion of the fan base that screams for them to be burnt at the stake.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 09-02-2015, 09:07 AM:

There are certain rules that players must follow and they really aren't that hard and if they don't they must pay the consequences. Alcohol and drugs are a no-no for obvious reasons especially when the police get involved. I think Kentucky does a good job monitoring their athletes fairly and most of our fans feel that way,

Posted by handycat (Member # 2323) on 09-02-2015, 09:35 AM:

I don't like Indiana and I'm not defending them.
That being said, alcohol and kids that age go hand in hand. If you don't believe this IMO you have your head stuck in the sand. There are exceptions to this but that's what they are, exceptions. This could be UK or any other University.

I may even have taken a drink or two when I was underage.

I do agree that UK appears to do a good job of monitoring and controlling this type of behavior.

[ 09-02-2015, 09:36 AM: Message edited by: handycat ]

Posted by Tiptree (Member # 844) on 09-02-2015, 11:42 AM:

Handy,

I may have done a lot of things then that could have landed me in trouble. But I took the risk, because (a) the probability of trouble was low, and (b) the consequences were minimal.

Now, however, I refrain from doing those things because the consequences are no longer minimal. The impact of a DUI, for example, would be devastating to me and my family.

If you are an athlete at IU, or UK, or any major sports program, the fact is that your life is NOT that of a normal college student. You have many more demands on your time, you are in the media spotlight, and you are considered a 'representative of your university'. Thus, the option to engage in some of the stupid stuff that you or I might have done is simply not there for them.

In exchange for this more scrutinized, public life they receive full scholarship and the possibility of later earning millions of dollars as a pro. Even if that doesn't work out, many former athletes are granted favorable opportunities for employment or business opportunities based upon their name recognition.

So, sorry, but I don't buy the "boys will be boys" line for these guys. They are on the fast track to success, and stupid decisions should have serious consequences.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 09-02-2015, 01:40 PM:

TT, well said as usual.

Posted by boomdaddy (Member # 2644) on 09-02-2015, 01:55 PM:

I do not agree with the line of thinking that young men have to be perfect. I do think each event has to be looked at individually.

The Hartline incident is a perfect example of where the head coach should have told the press that the issue would be handled internally and that it was a private matter. Instead, Joker kicked Mike Hartline off the team and subsequently lost the bowl game. I felt bad for Hartline, being denied the chance to win the bowl game for Kentucky. That was the beginning of the end for Joker as a head coach. But, the bright side is that Joker got fired and Kentucky now has Stoops.

Posted by handycat (Member # 2323) on 09-02-2015, 05:46 PM:

quote:
I may have done a lot of things then that could have landed me in trouble. But I took the risk, because (a) the probability of trouble was low, and (b) the consequences were minimal.

Tip, you're also older and much wiser than you were then.

IMO, most kids at that age never stop to think of the consequences as they believe they are invincible. I believe that I have read that the male brain does not reach maturity until age 25 or something to that effect. I could be wrong about that.

Some actions should have serious consequences but I would hope that one incident of underage drinking would not ruin a career at UK. I like to believe that would be the case. I really don't care what they do at other universities.

If we are going to hold a student athlete to these standards, I would hope the same would apply to any student on scholarship whether it be scholastic, musical etc.

IMO, telling a young college student to never have a drink is comparable to telling him to keep his pecker in his pants. In most cases it ain't going to happen.

I think we may have to agree to disagree on this one.

[ 09-02-2015, 06:10 PM: Message edited by: handycat ]

Posted by Wildcat Bill (Member # 615) on 09-07-2015, 03:24 PM:

I'm with Tiptree on this one. The players are afforded an unbelievable opportunity, far in excess of the average student, and in return, then are scrutinized heavily and therefore need to be aware of that. If they can't stand that scrutiny, then maybe they need to play at lower profile institution.

Having said that, I blame the coaching staff and administrators of IU for this, because this is hardly the first time that this has occurred. If it was, it might be a "boys will be boys" and "this is a rare occurrence" sort of defense. It is far from rare. IU appears to have a culture of alcohol, indifference to potential consequences, and lack of respect for the coaching staff and the university.

Posted by Tiptree (Member # 844) on 09-08-2015, 02:22 PM:

Saying IU is 'having some off-court issues' is like saying Miley Cyrus is having 'some sexual morality issues'.

Ya think? [Roll Eyes]

Posted by CatFanInYankeeville (Member # 2025) on 09-09-2015, 10:50 AM:

I'm with both handy and Tip. Yes, these young men are in a way different situation than your average 20 year old college student. Yes, they should be held to a higher standard.

BUT...

They're still 20 year old young men. As handy said, they've probably been catered to for as long as they've been athletes, and feel invincible.

I certainly have no lost love for IU, but I hope these young men use these type of situations as an eye-opening experience, and get themselves turned around. Nobody (except perhaps the Patriots and OJ Simpson) are above the law, and 20 years of age is a good time to learn a hard lesson.

Posted by gaiball (Member # 2926) on 09-09-2015, 01:42 PM:

I don't care what school your at, everyone including us are going to have some kids in trouble. There is no way that a school is never going to have a trouble maker. With all the kids that come to any school they all are not good kids.

Hopefully the bad ones that do come change their life to the better by hanging around a round the better ones, but you always going to get a few bad apples.