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Chris L. Rucker should not play again for MSU
If Chris L. Rucker ever plays football at Michigan State again, the benefits of him playing will be outweighed by the message it would send about the Spartans' football program, and the university in general.
He is a very good football player. The Spartans have moved into contention for the Big Ten title. Rucker's presence on the field is paramount to that.
But he blew it. He reportedly got behind a wheel and drank alcohol past the legal limit for driving. I'm all for second chances, but this was his second chance. He was a part of the fight with the football players and a fraternity last fall. He is on probation for the incident.
If what happened early Sunday with Rucker isn't a violation of team rules, it should be. Otherwise, MSU's football program has run amuck.
Look, Michigan State's an institution of higher learning. That's the biggest part of the equation. Football comes second.
Michigan State has a long and infamous history involving deportment issues involving its athletes, which has enormously hurt its reputation academically.
Time to put a foot down and say, "Enough's enough."
Random Thoughts
- Wonder how much Carl Crawford's free agency stock will drop based on his postseason performance against the Rangers? My guess: Not much. He is still the No. 1 guy on the market. Remember, he had played in the postseason before and done well.
- Honestly, when the Lion player scores a touchdown, I hope they learn to act like they have been there before. The celebrations Sunday at Ford Field bordered on bush league.
- Anybody shocked the Tigers didn't pick up the contract option on Magglio Ordonez's contract? Please. Whether he remains with the Tigers or not will determined by what other moves they make this off season. Ordonez will be this year's version of Johnny Damon and Jermaine Dye in the sense he will have to wait out the process, and the big-money offers he is seeking may never come in.
He is a very good football player. The Spartans have moved into contention for the Big Ten title. Rucker's presence on the field is paramount to that.
But he blew it. He reportedly got behind a wheel and drank alcohol past the legal limit for driving. I'm all for second chances, but this was his second chance. He was a part of the fight with the football players and a fraternity last fall. He is on probation for the incident.
If what happened early Sunday with Rucker isn't a violation of team rules, it should be. Otherwise, MSU's football program has run amuck.
Look, Michigan State's an institution of higher learning. That's the biggest part of the equation. Football comes second.
Michigan State has a long and infamous history involving deportment issues involving its athletes, which has enormously hurt its reputation academically.
Time to put a foot down and say, "Enough's enough."
Random Thoughts
- Wonder how much Carl Crawford's free agency stock will drop based on his postseason performance against the Rangers? My guess: Not much. He is still the No. 1 guy on the market. Remember, he had played in the postseason before and done well.
- Honestly, when the Lion player scores a touchdown, I hope they learn to act like they have been there before. The celebrations Sunday at Ford Field bordered on bush league.
- Anybody shocked the Tigers didn't pick up the contract option on Magglio Ordonez's contract? Please. Whether he remains with the Tigers or not will determined by what other moves they make this off season. Ordonez will be this year's version of Johnny Damon and Jermaine Dye in the sense he will have to wait out the process, and the big-money offers he is seeking may never come in.
posted by Pat Caputo at
1:13 PM
8 Comments:
Bush league??
The players were feeding off the fans. I admit the punt from Nate was a bit much. But this town finally got see a great football game, and I think the players were simply feeding off it
Pat,
I agree completely that Rucker should be done. He's an adult that should have been aware of the behavior limitations he had as a result of Rather Hall. If he is allowed back, how can Dantonio ever be taken seriously in the future when it comes to discipline? Football is a priviledge, not a right.
For situations like the Rucker deal, there can be no specific set of rules that are applied the exact same way for each player or each offense. It should be up to the head coach to determine what is best for the player and the team.
No two circumstances are ever the same. The Head Coach is the one constant that knows the players best. He knows whether or no the player is a good person. He knows how respectful a player is toward others. He knows whether or not the player is a good student. In general, he knows the situation best and his judgment must be be prioritized.
It then becomes the responsibility of the Administration to determine whether or not the Coach is acting in the University's best interests or his own. If they determine the coach is making poor decisions, then they must act.
We have 'evolved' to a society that loves to mete out punishment for things we know very little about. We love "teaching lessons" to those we feel have done wrong. But it is still possible that good people make poor decisions. And when that occurs, there should not be a 'blanket' set of rules that applies to everyone.
Young men from the ages of 18-23 can still earn valuable life lessons if they show enough good character to offset any transgressions that occur and this evaluation is one of the tasks and responsibilities of a college football coach. I am not condoning Rucker's alleged behavior, nor am I specifically saying he should be brought back. What I am saying is that Mark Dantonio (the man and the coach) has earned the right to make the decision he feels is in the best interests of all parties.
Mark,
I said on the border of it. I think it would be wise of the Lions to act more like they have been there after scoring a touchdown.
Caputo
Jeff H,
It took luster away from the team after a moment of glory - and there had been the issue before. Agreed.
Caputo
msu1983,
I agree about the life lessons. They mean more than football.
Caputo
I don't think anybody was expecting the Tigers to dump a bunch of money on Magg's lap. After that nasty start too the season last year.I love Maggs as much as any other Tigers fan, but we gotta think with our heards here and not our hearts.
Rob,
He actually was productive and had shown good batspeed over a period of full year when he was injured. He is not worth $15 million to the Tigers, obviously, but might be worth $6 million or something like it.
Caputo
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