No way should Jamar Smith be back on the Illini. Bruce Weber has to finally take a stand. He's been way too lenient with criminals on his team, and it would be an embarassment to have a convicted felon associated with this fine program. Take a page from Ron Zook (actually, take two pages and learn how to recruit)...get rid of this bum Smith!
I really doubt anyone is going to answer 'yes' to this question. Seriously, a convicted felon on scholarship? I can't believe Bruce Weber would even consider that.
Roman responds: I guarantee many will say he should stay.
Why should he stay - because he's going to have time served and he should be given a second chance? Give me a break. Jamar Smith made a decision to drive a car despite the amount of tequila and beer he had just consumed. He crashed into a tree and caused such severe injuries to his friend that he thought he was dead. He then decided to leave the scene of the accident, go home and leave his injured friend in the smashed-up car. These decisions, while not indicative of his basketball talent, are clearly indicative of his moral character. Maybe Illinois basketball fans would be the only ones desperate enough to say he should play.
Should Bill Clinton have remained President? If felons are removed from politics, sports, business, religion and the like, Who's left? Were it a premeditated act and not just being scared and stupid I might say yes. As it stands I say he gets a second chance like all the other pedophiles, drunks, assaulters, and the like on their first offenses.
Why wouldn't he keep him on? He made a mistake, albeit a huge one but a mistake nonetheless. Why shouldn't he be given another chance? Does he have a history of drinking and driving? My gawd we live in such a throw-a-way society. Oh the kid made a mistake, he is a bum throw him out. Why are we so quick to throw people away? How many people are out here that have done boneheaded things walking around with great jobs because "oh they were kids with a bright future, let's give them a break". But here is another "KID" and we are just like he sucks.
People like Ricky Williams, and Tank Johnson, and Chris Henry etc should be thrown away. They knowingly and willingly conduct themselves in a questionable manner. You have a bunch of drunk teenagers(yes teenagers because 20 sure as hell isn't grown) that were drinking and paid the price with the scare of their lives. How much more should they be punished? Does anyone not understand that being drunk probably played a big role in his decision to not report it? I suppose that doesn't matter because we are all capable of making rational decisions while sloshed. As I am sure everyone here has made the perfect decisions after having who knows how many drinks. Please........
Here is a flip side to this.....there was recently a guy, who killed a woman on the expressway. She was 22, and had a 15 month old child. The woman was an aspiring broadcaster. The GROWN A@@ man that hit her who was 34!!!!!!!!!!!!!! drove away.....in his awesome 2006 Mercedes. He has a family, and children. He should have been at home with his kids instead of out drinking. He wasn't. He drove off.......
now.....please tell me how if a 34 year old attorney(I believe he is) is incapable of stopping and making a rational decision(as everyone in the USA knows it's automatic vehicular homicide for leaving the scene of an accident that directly leads to death) How could a 20 year old college sophomore had been any more rational? This guy has 3 kids.....should we just throw him away now and screw his whole family? No, that's not going to help him, his family or anyone else for that matter now. Just like throwing away Jamar Smith isn't going to help anyone.
the Illini (as an Illini alum) should not keep Weber! Apparently all the success was just run-off from Lon. I know they are still feeding off Mackovic leftovers. Say how 'bout a lil' Nascar bait in the threads? Maybe even Indy 500? Cmon Mr. Modrowski...the INDY FIVE ZERO ZERO!! If one of those other girls(and one certainly can) finish better than Danica......then is it over???
She's got an Andretti car. If they fixed it so his punk nephew could almost do it...then what's cooking in the kitchen this year?? More then just boiled peanuts.
Roman : The people who say he should stay are the same people who are terrified of the fact that Coach Weber has failed to recruit accordingly and Jamar's absence will only enhance that. They fear Illinois' terrible offense being even worse than last year's.
And let's be honest, Jamar Smith wasn't shooting the lights out last year as it was anyway. NO EXCUSES. Ankle sprains be damned. He just wasn't that good last year but regardless Jamar's presence and reputation as a shooter causes defense to shift their focus a bit as opposed to the embarrassment Purdue dealt out to Chester Frazier last year by not even guarding him and openly inviting him to shoot at will.
Anyone with any sense of decency, remorse and understanding would likely feel Jamar Smith's services are no longer wanted on the Illinois basketball team. I'm not saying kick the kid out of school and take away an opportunity to finish school.
I am saying dismiss him from the team. Rescind his scholarship and let him pay for his final 2 years of school like almost everyone else does from the jump.
For whatever reason, I just can't shake the lingering feeling that had Bruce Weber landed Eric Gordon, Sherron Collins or any other potential high level recruits that quite a few people would probably change their tune regarding Smith's future with the basketball team.
If Bruce Weber REALLY is the honest, down home guy who "does things the right way" because he was raised the exact opposite of Kelvin Sampson then he would find the courage to suck up a potentially much more difficult basketball season and dismiss Smith from the team.
And if Bruce is what he, along with so many delusional Illinois fans, says he is then Bruce will be able to help Jamar understand the ramifications and consequences of his situation and feel good and righteous about it.
That's what a good coach would do.
Even moreso, that's what a good person would do.
If this happened at another school I can only imagine what the Illinois fans would say about that said player or that said coach if they gave the kid a pass.
yes he should be allowed to stay. the punishment will have been plenty. kids like this can have their lives turned around positively by having a mentor adult, like Bruce Weber, and by staying in college.
He should keep him on scholarship. If he drops this kid, Smith will not be the same person in life. Like Duke, if Weber drops Smith, it will show once again that schools use these kids, and kick them to the curb in the face of adversity. It's a shame and embarrassing. And people wonder way kids leave school early!
I am not condoning what Jamar Smith did, it was a stupid mistake. But what 19 year old doesn't make stupid mistakes? You really don't think there is some guy sitting in an office next to you that didn't do exactly the same thing as a college sophomore? The only difference is his accident didn't make the newspaper nor was it the topic of a blog.
Jamar Smith. What a bonehead. He hasn't a clue on what reality is. If you drive while drinking you could blow your whole future. He's a pretty good basketball player. A pretty big future to take a chance on blowing Jamar. How about thinking of others? Brian Carlwell, your parents, the team and Bruce Weber. Can't think that far Jamar? One question. What kind of person are you? Stupid and childish yes, but are you a selfish jerk too? What's your past life show? If you haven't shown to be a smart ass who thinks rules are made to be broken in your history till this fiasco maybe you are not a jerk. In that case maybe you are teachable and you will learn to use your brain for somrthing other than the next wisecrack. If Weber feels that you are just a confused juvenile and made a string of mistakes that only a bonehead could make but you are ready to see that you have to listen and do what is right and not do what is illegal, and Weber is willing to trust his coaching future and the reputation of the University of Illinois to your word that you will not do anything stupid again, I'll trust Weber's judgement if he stands by you and gives you one more chance. But will you be worth everybody's trust?
Roman responds: One of our writers did a story on Jamar's background and found it to be trouble-free. Maybe this was a one-time miscue. Even so, it was pretty big.
The last time you had a blog on this subject, we were subjected to freaks who suggested "everybody makes a mistake...let him back on the team". Like you said Romo, you will undoubtedly get more of that. "Oh he goes to my church"..."he's not like that"...yada, yada.
A felony is a felony. Weber was a complete fool to let him hang around the team last year. You make a mistake like this (to remind everyone, he got drunk, drove a car, got into an accident, and left a teammate for dead in the car, and did not call 911) and you pay for it.
By the way, has there been any investigation into the role of the IL assistant coaches in all of this? Supposedly they were called first before police...I smell a massive cover-up.
Why are the standards so much higher for a basketball player than for the President of the United States, as both have had DUI's. Perhaps one got out of his sentance. Let the kid sit out how ever much time the coach deems necessary, then let the kid continue with his life and play basketball for the U of I.
This is a difficult situation...I am not an Ilinois grad or even an Illinois fan....As a first time offender, like the Basketball player from Notre Dame, I believe he should be expelled from the University for 2007-2008 school year but, if he serves his time and follows all of the conditions of probation/community service etc., he should be able to reapply for the 2008-2009 School Year...
As a father of five, one of my kids had a alcohol related misdemeanor conviction as a teen.. Thankfully, it was a real wake up call for him..He did everything as mandated by the court,cleaned up his act, learned in lesson and is now a pillar of the community with his own family..
Hopefully, this young man can have the opportunity to do the same...
Has a convicted felon every played Big Ten basketball? Nope.
This would institute a horrible precedent. The Head/McBride/Spears situation was bad enough. Illinois hoops cannot keep embarrassing the rest of the conference.
Roman responds: Did Skiles play after getting busted?
Not saying that I totally believe this, but I want to play Devil's Advocate for a second... Let's assume for a second that Smith gets cut. Some smaller school will eventually pick him up, and Smith will probably turn his life around. It wouldn't be the first time it's happened. All of a sudden, that coach and school is praised for taking a chance on a troubled kid and helping him turn his life around. Why can't Coach Weber and Illinois be keep Smith on the roster credited with taking a chance on him and helping him turn his life around? Is it only because it's a Big Ten program and subject to more scrutiny? Why can't a major university do what smaller ones seem to do all the time? I mean let's face it, it's not like Coach Weber will never be mistaken for a bad character coach. It's not like he's Bob Huggins or something.
Yes - I'm listening, and it seems like the majority think he should not be given a scholarship. I never said he should be kicked out of school. I just don't think his behavior should be rewarded with a basketball scholarship. He should at least serve a lengthy suspension from the team. Maybe he could earn his way back onto the team after sitting out a year. Community service, staying out of trouble, getting good grades - all would be proof enough for me that he should be allowed to play.
What Jamar Smith did was about as stupid and idiotic as possible. However, Jamar Smith should stay at Illinois. The whole situation showed how immature he was and how he probably panicked and had no idea of what to do. Judging by his lack of criminal background, and the fact that he doesn't seem like a bad person, I think he can learn from this and grow as a better person. Now, there has to be some penance to pay. Have him sit for one year. With Jamar Smith watching from the bench for a year, probably killing him that he can't go out and help his teammates would be a huge lesson. I guarantee you we won't be hearing about Jamar Smith in the news being in a situation like this. If Jamar is unwilling to through the year suspension, then maybe he didn't learn the gravity of what he did and deserves to be let go from the team
Skiles had the charges of felony cocaine charges dropped. He has only been convicted of misdemeanors.
Michigan State has a policy that convicted felons are not allowed to represent the University in athletic endeavors, thus removing the coach and athletic director from the decision.
Hopefully, for the good of the conference, Illinois has something similar. Nobody wants to end up like the SEC, because Weber's current team is offensively challenged and needs an outside shooter. This should just give Watkins a chance to step up early.
His scholarship should be revoked immediately and forever. He should be banned from the team for at least one season. If he immediately becomes and remains a model citizen then maybe he could return to the team. It's not like he knifed someone to steal their crack or committed armed robbery or attempted murder.
Keith, did Tony LaRussa know that Josh Hancock was drunk and about to get behind the wheel? Was he his parent or legal guardian? There's only so much control one adult can have over another, and I don't know why LaRussa would be liable for the actions of his players off the field. Jamar Smith is an adult that is lucky to be alive and should be responsible for his own actions. These two cases don't seem related to me.
A friend of mine has had a # of classes with Jamar, and I've heard that he's a clown in the classroom too. I guess he cheats on his classwork all the time. So nobody who knows the guy at U of I is surprised by this chain of events. He seems to play fast-and-loose with life in general. However, he's also supposedly one of the most popular players on the team, a terrific jump-shooter, and this team can't afford to suck again next year. They have to let him play. He should be one of the best 3-pt shooters in the Big 10 next year. It is not out of bounds to suggest he could win them some games even. If he doesn't play, the team is doomed to another mediocre season.
I think Jamar Smith should take a page from Josh Hancock's father and sue IDOT, the people who planted that tree, the maker of the alcohol he drank, Lexus (wonder who popped for that?) and the passengers who allowed him to drive!
Oh yeah, and 911 for not planning for the accident ahead of time.
Roman responds: Actually, I'm surprised a suit hasn't been filed by the passenger, Carlwell.
I am a huge Illini fan, so take from that what you will...
If we are truly interested in helping the young man and redeem his future, he should be allowed to remain in school and remain a part of the team, on scholarship.
If we are interested in the integrity of the program, he should never be allowed to play for the University again.
This way he is not removed from his stromgest support network (teammates), but still may not represent the school. Plus, think of as a punishment to the program by having one less scholarship available for actual participating athletes.
Julie B. I've heard other things about Jamar that don't coincide with what your sensationalist friend says. I think, however, that Jamar should not be allowed to play next year, & see if he shows himself to be a model citizen he could be reinstated the following year. That said, I think we are too easy on DUI's LaRussa, Ditka, & alot of other famous & not so famous people should have spent time in jail. A DUI makes alot of people potential innocent victims. The Hancock tragedy, was terrible, but he could have easily killed some innocent person. His dad suing every person in sight shows alack of insight. The real one to blame was his son.
Julie thank you for even replying. The revelancy here (in my humble opinion) is drunk driving and the surrounding events of others. I drew that parallel because I believe folks are coming down on Jamar because of the OTHER events Illinois is embroiled in. Some might suppose that he is a product of "that culture", instead of judging each event on its own leggs. I look at Tony LaRussa and believe this might even be the case with the loss of his pitcher - which LaRussa has said he might have been partially responsible. You got two different incidents involving drinking, but these bloggers only suppose "punishment" for one kind of person. FYI - I don't think either person should be punished. Once again thank you for posting.
Roman respond: Wait a minute Keith. What do you mean you don't think either should be punished? To me, both should be punished, Smith more harshly because someone was injured in the accident and the events that followed.
Roman, I would understand Tony LaRussa being punished for his own DUI (which didn't happen), but not for Josh Hancock's situation. What kind of punishment do you think he deserves for that?
Roman responds: No, nothing for Hancock. Although I am surprised Hancock's dad hasn't sued LaRussa.
I find the sanctimonious railing about drunk driving hilarious. I guarantee you more than half the people who have written in complaint about Jamar have driven drunk and will do so in the future. It's a painful fact that very close to everybody who drinks socially and owns a car sometimes drives under the influence. How do you think people get home from bars, weddings, casinos, picnics, family reunions, birthday parties, etc.? Fly! Get serious. If people under the influence were magically removed from the roads traffic problems might cease to exist after 8 PM.
Roman responds: No argument that most of us have done it, but I wouldn't leave a friend and/or teammate for dead in a car I smashed.
Keith, Jamar Smith can only be judged on this particular event, since he supposedly has a clean background. If he is allowed to play next year, his teammates would rightly assume that getting into trouble (i.e, a felony conviction) is not going to affect their ability to play basketball at U of I. A line has to be drawn somewhere. He should be able to get the structure he needs by going to class and getting good grades. By the way, who decides on this anyway? It can't be only Bruce Weber.
And thanks to Pedro Muchacho for proving my earlier point about Illini fans thinking he should play.
Roman, The road to heaven is paved with good intentions. What any of us would do under severe circumstances is mere conjecture and perhaps even wishful thinking that we would respond appropriately. How many people polled would say they could ever commit a hit and run? Still it happens all the time. Reading a newspaper on a daily basis reveals regularly that even some of the best among us do some deplorable things they never thought themselves capable of doing.
Roman responds: Maybe we don't truly know what we would do, but we can look inside and believe we would do the right thing.
Jamar should stay. It is Athletic Director Ron Guenther who should go. Besides his horrible track record in football, how many UI athletes have been arrested in the past few years? Zero leadership. Not to mention he called basketball player Warren Carter an "idiot" during the NCAA tournament.
Smith should be alowed to stay, why discrimanate because he plays basketball , proberly a high percent of college students drink and at least half have gotten behind the wheel at least once, If he was not an athlete no one would even care if he remained a student.
The university review committee will decide Jamar's fate at Illinois. If he gets dismissed, there's a certain coach named Jim Les at Bradley who will be there with open arms as soon as Smith gets out of the big house. Les wants to keep Peoria players at home and will be thrilled to pronounce Smith has "payed his debt to society" and offer him a 2nd chance. Smith will then actually perform better against the lesser competition of the Missouri Valley.
Things are looking bad for Webber. Ohio State will be a dominant program in the nation for the next few years. Wisconsin has passed Illinois up. Indiana is on the rise too. Michigan State seems a little shaky of late, but in the past ten years certainly has more to rave about than Illinois. Purdue will be better for the next few years. If Bielin can get anything going at Michigan, that just pushes Illinois further down the Big Ten pecking order, and into mediocrity and a perennial NCAA fringe team. That won't do.
The Illinois faithful remember what Illinois can be when the program had the dazzling sex appeal of Bill Self's recruiting. (Had Self stayed at Illinois, Charlie Villanueva picks Illinois over UConn and Illinois wins the title against UNC. Then, Sherron Collins, Julian Wright, and who knows who else choose Illinois and maybe they have a second title by now... Self, you blew it! You could have been Illinois' Phog Allen!!!)
Though a decent guy, Webber lacks the zip to woo top recruits. And he has to deal with an out-of-control AD in Ron Guenther. That behavior on press row at the showcase event of the NCAAs says he should go. Recruiting is tough anyway: just imagine teens and their families hearing from competing schools the Illinois AD calls his players stupid during a game in front of everyone. And tells his coach what substitutions to make. And then lies about it. Are the players playing for the coach, who recruited them, or a raging moron of an AD??? It's time for Guenther to go. And I think within two years Webber will be off to coach some Ivy League school.
Retire, Guenther! For the good of the Illinois' athletics program!
What many people seem to be forgetting (aside from using spell-check) is that this was not just a DUI. He wasn't simply pulled over for driving erratically and unable to recite his ABC's. Jamar Smith smashed his car into a tree, left the accident scene and failed to get help for his severely injured friend. No good intentions there. If he was not an athlete, we would not be talking about this at all, so to say he is discriminated against because he is an athlete is insane. If anything, Smith gets special privileges because of his basketball talent. We are, after all, debating if he should be allowed to remain on scholarship. Hopefully he will be allowed to continue with his education, because he will not be a basketball player for the rest of his life. Allowing him to play this year would be a mistake and would send him and his teammates the wrong message.
YES. DUI. Mistake. it has happened to a lot of people. Dont wreck this kids life over a mistake. HE Definitely, definitely should be playing for the illini...
Jamar is a YOUNG man who's team was being overwhelmed with negative press. He got out of that car and ran from the trouble that he was probably warned not to be in.
Comments
Weber should not keep Smith on the Illini. Absolutely not.
Posted by: willie | May 24, 2007 05:41 PM
No way should Jamar Smith be back on the Illini. Bruce Weber has to finally take a stand. He's been way too lenient with criminals on his team, and it would be an embarassment to have a convicted felon associated with this fine program. Take a page from Ron Zook (actually, take two pages and learn how to recruit)...get rid of this bum Smith!
Posted by: Hayes R. | May 24, 2007 06:05 PM
I really doubt anyone is going to answer 'yes' to this question. Seriously, a convicted felon on scholarship? I can't believe Bruce Weber would even consider that.
Roman responds: I guarantee many will say he should stay.
Posted by: Julie B. | May 24, 2007 06:46 PM
Why should he stay - because he's going to have time served and he should be given a second chance? Give me a break. Jamar Smith made a decision to drive a car despite the amount of tequila and beer he had just consumed. He crashed into a tree and caused such severe injuries to his friend that he thought he was dead. He then decided to leave the scene of the accident, go home and leave his injured friend in the smashed-up car. These decisions, while not indicative of his basketball talent, are clearly indicative of his moral character. Maybe Illinois basketball fans would be the only ones desperate enough to say he should play.
Posted by: Julie B. | May 24, 2007 07:13 PM
Should Bill Clinton have remained President? If felons are removed from politics, sports, business, religion and the like, Who's left? Were it a premeditated act and not just being scared and stupid I might say yes. As it stands I say he gets a second chance like all the other pedophiles, drunks, assaulters, and the like on their first offenses.
Posted by: R. Martin | May 24, 2007 09:33 PM
Why wouldn't he keep him on? He made a mistake, albeit a huge one but a mistake nonetheless. Why shouldn't he be given another chance? Does he have a history of drinking and driving? My gawd we live in such a throw-a-way society. Oh the kid made a mistake, he is a bum throw him out. Why are we so quick to throw people away? How many people are out here that have done boneheaded things walking around with great jobs because "oh they were kids with a bright future, let's give them a break". But here is another "KID" and we are just like he sucks.
People like Ricky Williams, and Tank Johnson, and Chris Henry etc should be thrown away. They knowingly and willingly conduct themselves in a questionable manner. You have a bunch of drunk teenagers(yes teenagers because 20 sure as hell isn't grown) that were drinking and paid the price with the scare of their lives. How much more should they be punished? Does anyone not understand that being drunk probably played a big role in his decision to not report it? I suppose that doesn't matter because we are all capable of making rational decisions while sloshed. As I am sure everyone here has made the perfect decisions after having who knows how many drinks. Please........
Here is a flip side to this.....there was recently a guy, who killed a woman on the expressway. She was 22, and had a 15 month old child. The woman was an aspiring broadcaster. The GROWN A@@ man that hit her who was 34!!!!!!!!!!!!!! drove away.....in his awesome 2006 Mercedes. He has a family, and children. He should have been at home with his kids instead of out drinking. He wasn't. He drove off.......
now.....please tell me how if a 34 year old attorney(I believe he is) is incapable of stopping and making a rational decision(as everyone in the USA knows it's automatic vehicular homicide for leaving the scene of an accident that directly leads to death) How could a 20 year old college sophomore had been any more rational? This guy has 3 kids.....should we just throw him away now and screw his whole family? No, that's not going to help him, his family or anyone else for that matter now. Just like throwing away Jamar Smith isn't going to help anyone.
I am sorry but that's a bunch of bull.
Posted by: Bryant | May 24, 2007 09:39 PM
the Illini (as an Illini alum) should not keep Weber! Apparently all the success was just run-off from Lon. I know they are still feeding off Mackovic leftovers. Say how 'bout a lil' Nascar bait in the threads? Maybe even Indy 500? Cmon Mr. Modrowski...the INDY FIVE ZERO ZERO!! If one of those other girls(and one certainly can) finish better than Danica......then is it over???
She's got an Andretti car. If they fixed it so his punk nephew could almost do it...then what's cooking in the kitchen this year?? More then just boiled peanuts.
Posted by: stuckinwisconsin | May 24, 2007 09:50 PM
Roman : The people who say he should stay are the same people who are terrified of the fact that Coach Weber has failed to recruit accordingly and Jamar's absence will only enhance that. They fear Illinois' terrible offense being even worse than last year's.
And let's be honest, Jamar Smith wasn't shooting the lights out last year as it was anyway. NO EXCUSES. Ankle sprains be damned. He just wasn't that good last year but regardless Jamar's presence and reputation as a shooter causes defense to shift their focus a bit as opposed to the embarrassment Purdue dealt out to Chester Frazier last year by not even guarding him and openly inviting him to shoot at will.
Anyone with any sense of decency, remorse and understanding would likely feel Jamar Smith's services are no longer wanted on the Illinois basketball team. I'm not saying kick the kid out of school and take away an opportunity to finish school.
I am saying dismiss him from the team. Rescind his scholarship and let him pay for his final 2 years of school like almost everyone else does from the jump.
For whatever reason, I just can't shake the lingering feeling that had Bruce Weber landed Eric Gordon, Sherron Collins or any other potential high level recruits that quite a few people would probably change their tune regarding Smith's future with the basketball team.
If Bruce Weber REALLY is the honest, down home guy who "does things the right way" because he was raised the exact opposite of Kelvin Sampson then he would find the courage to suck up a potentially much more difficult basketball season and dismiss Smith from the team.
And if Bruce is what he, along with so many delusional Illinois fans, says he is then Bruce will be able to help Jamar understand the ramifications and consequences of his situation and feel good and righteous about it.
That's what a good coach would do.
Even moreso, that's what a good person would do.
If this happened at another school I can only imagine what the Illinois fans would say about that said player or that said coach if they gave the kid a pass.
Sad but true.
Hey Bruce Weber...Who you crappin?
Posted by: Pete | May 24, 2007 09:59 PM
It will be difficult for Bruce Weber to release Jamar Smith from the team but if he wants any credibility at all that is what he has to do.
Posted by: John W | May 24, 2007 11:19 PM
It will be difficult for Bruce Weber to release Jamar Smith from the team but if he wants any credibility at all that is what he has to do.
Posted by: John W | May 24, 2007 11:19 PM
yes he should be allowed to stay. the punishment will have been plenty. kids like this can have their lives turned around positively by having a mentor adult, like Bruce Weber, and by staying in college.
Posted by: tpis | May 24, 2007 11:34 PM
He should keep him on scholarship. If he drops this kid, Smith will not be the same person in life. Like Duke, if Weber drops Smith, it will show once again that schools use these kids, and kick them to the curb in the face of adversity. It's a shame and embarrassing. And people wonder way kids leave school early!
Posted by: brandon | May 25, 2007 12:23 AM
Roman responds: I guarantee many will say he should stay.
Especially if the inmates get to vote on it.
Posted by: Mark | May 25, 2007 05:15 AM
I am not condoning what Jamar Smith did, it was a stupid mistake. But what 19 year old doesn't make stupid mistakes? You really don't think there is some guy sitting in an office next to you that didn't do exactly the same thing as a college sophomore? The only difference is his accident didn't make the newspaper nor was it the topic of a blog.
Posted by: Cisco | May 25, 2007 06:33 AM
Jamar Smith. What a bonehead. He hasn't a clue on what reality is. If you drive while drinking you could blow your whole future. He's a pretty good basketball player. A pretty big future to take a chance on blowing Jamar. How about thinking of others? Brian Carlwell, your parents, the team and Bruce Weber. Can't think that far Jamar? One question. What kind of person are you? Stupid and childish yes, but are you a selfish jerk too? What's your past life show? If you haven't shown to be a smart ass who thinks rules are made to be broken in your history till this fiasco maybe you are not a jerk. In that case maybe you are teachable and you will learn to use your brain for somrthing other than the next wisecrack. If Weber feels that you are just a confused juvenile and made a string of mistakes that only a bonehead could make but you are ready to see that you have to listen and do what is right and not do what is illegal, and Weber is willing to trust his coaching future and the reputation of the University of Illinois to your word that you will not do anything stupid again, I'll trust Weber's judgement if he stands by you and gives you one more chance. But will you be worth everybody's trust?
Roman responds: One of our writers did a story on Jamar's background and found it to be trouble-free. Maybe this was a one-time miscue. Even so, it was pretty big.
Posted by: D. Guzzetta | May 25, 2007 07:24 AM
The last time you had a blog on this subject, we were subjected to freaks who suggested "everybody makes a mistake...let him back on the team". Like you said Romo, you will undoubtedly get more of that. "Oh he goes to my church"..."he's not like that"...yada, yada.
A felony is a felony. Weber was a complete fool to let him hang around the team last year. You make a mistake like this (to remind everyone, he got drunk, drove a car, got into an accident, and left a teammate for dead in the car, and did not call 911) and you pay for it.
By the way, has there been any investigation into the role of the IL assistant coaches in all of this? Supposedly they were called first before police...I smell a massive cover-up.
Posted by: Jason | May 25, 2007 07:50 AM
Why are the standards so much higher for a basketball player than for the President of the United States, as both have had DUI's. Perhaps one got out of his sentance. Let the kid sit out how ever much time the coach deems necessary, then let the kid continue with his life and play basketball for the U of I.
Roman responds: Julie B., are you listening?
Posted by: Rich R | May 25, 2007 08:05 AM
This is a difficult situation...I am not an Ilinois grad or even an Illinois fan....As a first time offender, like the Basketball player from Notre Dame, I believe he should be expelled from the University for 2007-2008 school year but, if he serves his time and follows all of the conditions of probation/community service etc., he should be able to reapply for the 2008-2009 School Year...
As a father of five, one of my kids had a alcohol related misdemeanor conviction as a teen.. Thankfully, it was a real wake up call for him..He did everything as mandated by the court,cleaned up his act, learned in lesson and is now a pillar of the community with his own family..
Hopefully, this young man can have the opportunity to do the same...
Roman responds: Good post.
Posted by: TomC | May 25, 2007 08:26 AM
Has a convicted felon every played Big Ten basketball? Nope.
This would institute a horrible precedent. The Head/McBride/Spears situation was bad enough. Illinois hoops cannot keep embarrassing the rest of the conference.
Roman responds: Did Skiles play after getting busted?
Posted by: Big Ten Fan | May 25, 2007 09:41 AM
Where is all of this hostility for folks who actually KILL people when driving drunk every day!!! Folks with 4 and 5 offenses that just walk!!!
Anyone think Tony LaRussa should have been fired - a player on his team ACTUALLY died!!!
I am very anxious to hear if posters who think Jamar should be banned, think Tony should be fired?
Posted by: Keith-Lifetime Southsider | May 25, 2007 09:49 AM
Not saying that I totally believe this, but I want to play Devil's Advocate for a second... Let's assume for a second that Smith gets cut. Some smaller school will eventually pick him up, and Smith will probably turn his life around. It wouldn't be the first time it's happened. All of a sudden, that coach and school is praised for taking a chance on a troubled kid and helping him turn his life around. Why can't Coach Weber and Illinois be keep Smith on the roster credited with taking a chance on him and helping him turn his life around? Is it only because it's a Big Ten program and subject to more scrutiny? Why can't a major university do what smaller ones seem to do all the time? I mean let's face it, it's not like Coach Weber will never be mistaken for a bad character coach. It's not like he's Bob Huggins or something.
Posted by: Jojo B. | May 25, 2007 09:54 AM
Yes - I'm listening, and it seems like the majority think he should not be given a scholarship. I never said he should be kicked out of school. I just don't think his behavior should be rewarded with a basketball scholarship. He should at least serve a lengthy suspension from the team. Maybe he could earn his way back onto the team after sitting out a year. Community service, staying out of trouble, getting good grades - all would be proof enough for me that he should be allowed to play.
Posted by: Julie B. | May 25, 2007 09:55 AM
What Jamar Smith did was about as stupid and idiotic as possible. However, Jamar Smith should stay at Illinois. The whole situation showed how immature he was and how he probably panicked and had no idea of what to do. Judging by his lack of criminal background, and the fact that he doesn't seem like a bad person, I think he can learn from this and grow as a better person. Now, there has to be some penance to pay. Have him sit for one year. With Jamar Smith watching from the bench for a year, probably killing him that he can't go out and help his teammates would be a huge lesson. I guarantee you we won't be hearing about Jamar Smith in the news being in a situation like this. If Jamar is unwilling to through the year suspension, then maybe he didn't learn the gravity of what he did and deserves to be let go from the team
Posted by: Kris | May 25, 2007 10:02 AM
Skiles had the charges of felony cocaine charges dropped. He has only been convicted of misdemeanors.
Michigan State has a policy that convicted felons are not allowed to represent the University in athletic endeavors, thus removing the coach and athletic director from the decision.
Hopefully, for the good of the conference, Illinois has something similar. Nobody wants to end up like the SEC, because Weber's current team is offensively challenged and needs an outside shooter. This should just give Watkins a chance to step up early.
Posted by: Big Ten Fan | May 25, 2007 10:32 AM
His scholarship should be revoked immediately and forever. He should be banned from the team for at least one season. If he immediately becomes and remains a model citizen then maybe he could return to the team. It's not like he knifed someone to steal their crack or committed armed robbery or attempted murder.
Posted by: BBB | May 25, 2007 11:45 AM
Roman, you bring up two very good points in your responses.
#1. Jamars' past history. It will come into play.
#2. Scott Skiles. Maybe he should give this kid a call?
I'm not going to pass judgement. My closet door has it's own weight to think about.
Posted by: Anthony Navarro | May 25, 2007 12:18 PM
Keith, did Tony LaRussa know that Josh Hancock was drunk and about to get behind the wheel? Was he his parent or legal guardian? There's only so much control one adult can have over another, and I don't know why LaRussa would be liable for the actions of his players off the field. Jamar Smith is an adult that is lucky to be alive and should be responsible for his own actions. These two cases don't seem related to me.
Posted by: Julie B. | May 25, 2007 12:26 PM
A friend of mine has had a # of classes with Jamar, and I've heard that he's a clown in the classroom too. I guess he cheats on his classwork all the time. So nobody who knows the guy at U of I is surprised by this chain of events. He seems to play fast-and-loose with life in general. However, he's also supposedly one of the most popular players on the team, a terrific jump-shooter, and this team can't afford to suck again next year. They have to let him play. He should be one of the best 3-pt shooters in the Big 10 next year. It is not out of bounds to suggest he could win them some games even. If he doesn't play, the team is doomed to another mediocre season.
Posted by: Pedro Muchacho | May 25, 2007 01:08 PM
I think Jamar Smith should take a page from Josh Hancock's father and sue IDOT, the people who planted that tree, the maker of the alcohol he drank, Lexus (wonder who popped for that?) and the passengers who allowed him to drive!
Oh yeah, and 911 for not planning for the accident ahead of time.
Roman responds: Actually, I'm surprised a suit hasn't been filed by the passenger, Carlwell.
Posted by: Mabrey | May 25, 2007 01:18 PM
I am a huge Illini fan, so take from that what you will...
If we are truly interested in helping the young man and redeem his future, he should be allowed to remain in school and remain a part of the team, on scholarship.
If we are interested in the integrity of the program, he should never be allowed to play for the University again.
This way he is not removed from his stromgest support network (teammates), but still may not represent the school. Plus, think of as a punishment to the program by having one less scholarship available for actual participating athletes.
Posted by: Matt | May 25, 2007 01:18 PM
Julie B. I've heard other things about Jamar that don't coincide with what your sensationalist friend says. I think, however, that Jamar should not be allowed to play next year, & see if he shows himself to be a model citizen he could be reinstated the following year. That said, I think we are too easy on DUI's LaRussa, Ditka, & alot of other famous & not so famous people should have spent time in jail. A DUI makes alot of people potential innocent victims. The Hancock tragedy, was terrible, but he could have easily killed some innocent person. His dad suing every person in sight shows alack of insight. The real one to blame was his son.
Posted by: Anonymous | May 25, 2007 02:33 PM
Julie thank you for even replying. The revelancy here (in my humble opinion) is drunk driving and the surrounding events of others. I drew that parallel because I believe folks are coming down on Jamar because of the OTHER events Illinois is embroiled in. Some might suppose that he is a product of "that culture", instead of judging each event on its own leggs. I look at Tony LaRussa and believe this might even be the case with the loss of his pitcher - which LaRussa has said he might have been partially responsible. You got two different incidents involving drinking, but these bloggers only suppose "punishment" for one kind of person. FYI - I don't think either person should be punished. Once again thank you for posting.
Roman respond: Wait a minute Keith. What do you mean you don't think either should be punished? To me, both should be punished, Smith more harshly because someone was injured in the accident and the events that followed.
Posted by: Keith-Lifetime Southsider | May 25, 2007 03:09 PM
Roman, I would understand Tony LaRussa being punished for his own DUI (which didn't happen), but not for Josh Hancock's situation. What kind of punishment do you think he deserves for that?
Roman responds: No, nothing for Hancock. Although I am surprised Hancock's dad hasn't sued LaRussa.
Posted by: Julie B. | May 25, 2007 04:08 PM
I find the sanctimonious railing about drunk driving hilarious. I guarantee you more than half the people who have written in complaint about Jamar have driven drunk and will do so in the future. It's a painful fact that very close to everybody who drinks socially and owns a car sometimes drives under the influence. How do you think people get home from bars, weddings, casinos, picnics, family reunions, birthday parties, etc.? Fly! Get serious. If people under the influence were magically removed from the roads traffic problems might cease to exist after 8 PM.
Roman responds: No argument that most of us have done it, but I wouldn't leave a friend and/or teammate for dead in a car I smashed.
Posted by: R Martin | May 25, 2007 05:07 PM
Keith, Jamar Smith can only be judged on this particular event, since he supposedly has a clean background. If he is allowed to play next year, his teammates would rightly assume that getting into trouble (i.e, a felony conviction) is not going to affect their ability to play basketball at U of I. A line has to be drawn somewhere. He should be able to get the structure he needs by going to class and getting good grades. By the way, who decides on this anyway? It can't be only Bruce Weber.
And thanks to Pedro Muchacho for proving my earlier point about Illini fans thinking he should play.
Posted by: Julie B. | May 25, 2007 05:33 PM
Roman, The road to heaven is paved with good intentions. What any of us would do under severe circumstances is mere conjecture and perhaps even wishful thinking that we would respond appropriately. How many people polled would say they could ever commit a hit and run? Still it happens all the time. Reading a newspaper on a daily basis reveals regularly that even some of the best among us do some deplorable things they never thought themselves capable of doing.
Roman responds: Maybe we don't truly know what we would do, but we can look inside and believe we would do the right thing.
Posted by: R Martin | May 25, 2007 09:55 PM
Jamar should stay. It is Athletic Director Ron Guenther who should go. Besides his horrible track record in football, how many UI athletes have been arrested in the past few years? Zero leadership. Not to mention he called basketball player Warren Carter an "idiot" during the NCAA tournament.
Posted by: Fire Ron Guenther | May 26, 2007 06:41 AM
Smith should be alowed to stay, why discrimanate because he plays basketball , proberly a high percent of college students drink and at least half have gotten behind the wheel at least once, If he was not an athlete no one would even care if he remained a student.
Posted by: mike | May 27, 2007 09:14 AM
The university review committee will decide Jamar's fate at Illinois. If he gets dismissed, there's a certain coach named Jim Les at Bradley who will be there with open arms as soon as Smith gets out of the big house. Les wants to keep Peoria players at home and will be thrilled to pronounce Smith has "payed his debt to society" and offer him a 2nd chance. Smith will then actually perform better against the lesser competition of the Missouri Valley.
Things are looking bad for Webber. Ohio State will be a dominant program in the nation for the next few years. Wisconsin has passed Illinois up. Indiana is on the rise too. Michigan State seems a little shaky of late, but in the past ten years certainly has more to rave about than Illinois. Purdue will be better for the next few years. If Bielin can get anything going at Michigan, that just pushes Illinois further down the Big Ten pecking order, and into mediocrity and a perennial NCAA fringe team. That won't do.
The Illinois faithful remember what Illinois can be when the program had the dazzling sex appeal of Bill Self's recruiting. (Had Self stayed at Illinois, Charlie Villanueva picks Illinois over UConn and Illinois wins the title against UNC. Then, Sherron Collins, Julian Wright, and who knows who else choose Illinois and maybe they have a second title by now... Self, you blew it! You could have been Illinois' Phog Allen!!!)
Though a decent guy, Webber lacks the zip to woo top recruits. And he has to deal with an out-of-control AD in Ron Guenther. That behavior on press row at the showcase event of the NCAAs says he should go. Recruiting is tough anyway: just imagine teens and their families hearing from competing schools the Illinois AD calls his players stupid during a game in front of everyone. And tells his coach what substitutions to make. And then lies about it. Are the players playing for the coach, who recruited them, or a raging moron of an AD??? It's time for Guenther to go. And I think within two years Webber will be off to coach some Ivy League school.
Retire, Guenther! For the good of the Illinois' athletics program!
Posted by: Bubba | May 27, 2007 09:51 AM
What many people seem to be forgetting (aside from using spell-check) is that this was not just a DUI. He wasn't simply pulled over for driving erratically and unable to recite his ABC's. Jamar Smith smashed his car into a tree, left the accident scene and failed to get help for his severely injured friend. No good intentions there. If he was not an athlete, we would not be talking about this at all, so to say he is discriminated against because he is an athlete is insane. If anything, Smith gets special privileges because of his basketball talent. We are, after all, debating if he should be allowed to remain on scholarship. Hopefully he will be allowed to continue with his education, because he will not be a basketball player for the rest of his life. Allowing him to play this year would be a mistake and would send him and his teammates the wrong message.
Posted by: Julie B. | May 27, 2007 10:19 AM
YES. DUI. Mistake. it has happened to a lot of people. Dont wreck this kids life over a mistake. HE Definitely, definitely should be playing for the illini...
Posted by: Michael Cullen | May 27, 2007 08:19 PM
Jamar is a YOUNG man who's team was being overwhelmed with negative press. He got out of that car and ran from the trouble that he was probably warned not to be in.