The Red and Black

Are we in the era of "Florida/FSU" players at UGA now? The players have alot to represent at the university and they need to keep their heads in the game during the off-season as well as the regular season. If they can't compete off the field as well as on the field by living up to the kind of fiber that a Georgia player is expected to have, they need to be calibrated!!!

IT seems as if players would learn from OTHER players that using alcohol can get you into trouble. Even though I don't personally know either of these players, I've read several comments from Blake Barnes about his knowing that he belongs at Georgia, a "spiritual" knowledge that he's in the right place. I'm sure that both of these young men come from good families who are probably shocked and saddened to learn that their sons have been in jail. NOW though, the question is what happens from here. They can either learn from this and probably have this arrest expunged at a future date or they can wallow in anguish and self pity, make excuses and let this be a negative all their lives. God does and will forgive, families who love their children do and will forgive, Coach Richt loves his players and can and will forgive. Now the FANS who really love their players can and MUST forgive and move ahead. These two young men MUST love and forgive themselves. Not only are they men on their own, they represent families, Blake and possibly Tripp represents Christ to his fellow players, and they also represent the University. Grow up now, it's time to become men. Alcohol will take you down a road that you never intended to travel, in fact it already HAS done that when it took you to jail. There's a good and clean life, you have the world by the tail, don't throw away this opportunity to become REALLY educated, not just in books or sports, but in life. The Athens-Clarke County jail is not a good door through which you should enter adulthood.

Seems the punishment is a"tad" bit excessive for these misdemeanor crimes. I can't believe these type of things can't be handled in house the old fashion way....a good ass kicking by the coaching staff. The Hebron kid gets thrown out of school and loses a year of eligibility for underage drinking ???

Well thanks to "Michael Adams-Almighty" our University is pushing unrealistic punishment on kids in college having a good time. Not one of these kids was driving, nor drawing attention to themselves or passes out in a stall down-town. You don't see Harvard suspending kids from school for off-campus alcohol violations? It's ridiculous...the money has obviously gone to Adams's head as well as Costa Rica!!!

When are we going to realize that this is going to kill our athletics program? I know that having a an open container and drinking underage is illegal, but COME ON! When I went to UGA you had to do something "wrong" to get in trouble. If you were caught doing something this small you got told to go home. The only reason the cops would pursue it further is if you started running your mouth. If someone is driving or fighting or passed out etc, then yes, bust their ass, but this getting ridiculous! I can't recall seeing any other schools having this many problems with players being suspended for minor alcohol infractions. TN, FL, SC, etc players go out and have a good time. I can promise you that some of them get get caught (this also applies to non-athletes). The difference is that the police force does not have such a stupid zero-tolerance stance. Other coaches WILL start using this against us in recruiting, and it WILL hurt us. Now don't start giving me any of this "we want people of high character" crap, because these guys were not doing anything else that led to their arrest. Poll all underage college kids and see how many drink. Now compare that to the number that get arrested (for a drinking infraction only) on other campuses compared to UGA. You will see that UGA has become one of the most strict (outside of the service academies) in the nation. We have got to wise up use some judgment in these cases instead of arresting anyone caught drinking.

When are we going to realize that this is going to kill our athletics program? I know that having a an open container and drinking underage is illegal, but COME ON! When I went to UGA you had to do something "wrong" to get in trouble. If you were caught doing something this small you got told to go home. The only reason the cops would pursue it further is if you started running your mouth. If someone is driving or fighting or passed out etc, then yes, bust their ass, but this getting ridiculous! I can't recall seeing any other schools having this many problems with players being suspended for minor alcohol infractions. TN, FL, SC, etc players go out and have a good time. I can promise you that some of them get get caught (this also applies to non-athletes). The difference is that the police force does not have such a stupid zero-tolerance stance. Other coaches WILL start using this against us in recruiting, and it WILL hurt us. Now don't start giving me any of this "we want people of high character" crap, because these guys were not doing anything else that led to their arrest. Poll all underage college kids and see how many drink. Now compare that to the number that get arrested (for a drinking infraction only) on other campuses compared to UGA. You will see that UGA has become one of the most strict (outside of the service academies) in the nation. We have got to wise up use some judgment in these cases instead of arresting anyone caught drinking.

Well it IS wrong when you violate a law and Blake violated two laws, one by having an open container and two by furnishing alcohol to his friend Tripp who hasn't yet reached the magic age of 21. Hopefully though this will be a learning experience for both of them, not a noose to tie around their necks the rest of their lives. A reminder though, that two strikes and you're OUT at UGA, at least that is supposed to be the way it works. THAT would not be good for them personally and not good for the team.