d’oh….so does Jerry let him go or give him another chance?

doesnt surprise me really. anyone around boone knows that all those guys go to the bars and drink and drive home. doubt jerry will kick him off unless somethig else happened, that isnt made public. there’ve been worse incidences before.

it would be really hard to let him go…..he will be much needed….maybe this will be a jolt to the system and force him to focus on football (and school, but who are we kidding….football )

Probably just misinformation about Coco being a former receiver. It is on a Gamecocks site, after all.

and no, i don’t ‘want’ to read that.

The most disappointing part of this is that obviously Coco learned nothing from Donte Stallworth. You don’t do this type of thing until you’re being paid and can afford to buy off any potential victim’s surviving family.

This is bad news. However, since the drinking age went to 21 for beer and wine there has been a lot of underage drinking on college campuses. Everyone knows this including the parents of these kids.

Also, some things never change; in Boone if you are out driving around after midnight with and ASU parking sticker or anything identifying you as a student and you were stupid enough to be doing so after drinking a beer or two….you are going to be stopped and arrested. And you deserved it; case closed.

I hope he is able to stay on the team and in school. This may be a teachable moment as they say, for Jerry.

It says he was stopped in Lexington Co….where is that?

Nomad, if your are on the internet to post this then you probably have a google toolbar or something of the sort, where it would be much easier to find that info out. It is in the middle of South Carolina.

09 – way to scold him about and subsequently reward his laziness all in one post!

Or ‘watch’ to read it, either.

Mike 03 is correct about Boone PD; they’re equally attentive to the local high school kids. On the other hand, it would be difficult to say they’re doing anything other than their jobs. It’s just that several of the officers are as young or nearly as young as the kids they’re stopping/arresting.

Well I guess you can chalk it up to more of a “do better next time”.

What a stupid thing for Coco to do.. I have no sympathy for this at all — how hard is it to call a cab? Or a friend? I just never understand the reason for people driving even slightly intoxicated!

At least it sounds like Coco was honest and respectful.. that will go a long in the court system. As much as I hate lose someone with his talent, I hope JM, at minimum, suspends him at least 4 or 5 games.

Well, no making up a freak lawnmower accident to cover up this one… (that’s a joke, by the way)

Looks like Aramis has already started following in the path of everyone else on the USC roster. I hate to see this for both of them…..but if you are going to drink and driver at least ditch the evidence. How many open bottles were there? 4, 5, 6……

I doubt that Moore will excuse Coco from the team given that he was respectful during the arrest process. Let us not forget that other former players (and some members of the staff…yeah, some of us heard) have had similar incidents. Not pointing to any particulars, but Moore does normally allow them a second chance if they show sincere remorse.

I hope this isn’t the only thing people think of when talking about CoCo. I hope it’s more along the lines of how he takes the extra time at all fan events to shake hands and sign autographs with a smiling face. He always really did a lot of good work for the program, worked hard while switching to WR with no complaints, and is a great team leader.

Jerry will let him come back, CoCo just needs to learn from the experience. We all have moments like this in college, it just stinks that he has to live his life in the spotlight so every mistake gets announced to the public.

Best wishes to him and I hope he learned his lesson.

This was a really stupid decision, no doubt, but (sadly) it doesn’t make him any different than a good majority of people out there. Luckily no one was injured, so this shouldn’t hang over him for very long, just wise up and don’t do it again. This doesn’t change what I think about Coco as a person.

“Nomad, if your are on the internet to post this then you probably have a google toolbar or something of the sort, where it would be much easier to find that info out. It is in the middle of South Carolina.

Comment by app09 03.11.10 @ 1:06 pm ”

what is this goggle you speak of, youngster?

Dan, you’re on a roll today.

goggle:
1.goggles, large spectacles equipped with special lenses, protective rims, etc., to prevent injury to the eyes from strong wind, flying objects, blinding light, etc.
2.a bulging or wide-open look of the eyes; stare.

Google:
Definition: to search for information on the Internet, esp. using the Google search engine

We also now have the option of using cellular phones to communicate, and we can wirelessly access the internet.

slow day at work, herbie.

Bankers have slow days?

Depending on which part of the bank you work for, yes. We can’t be out forcing people out of their homes and stealing little old ladies’ retirement funds at all hours of the day…

He should get the same suspension as Carlos Dunlap…Indefinite

When I have a slow day, I just open another bottle of cab. Or maybe pinot noir. Or whatever, as long as it’s red.

But those days are when I’m on my “other” job–the more wine I drink, the more creative I become. Probably wouldn’t work in my real job, or in banking.

Okay, ceez, it’s time to educate the old guy again–who is Carlos Dunlap? App09, no lip about doing my own googling, please!

Hey, speaking of wine (as I was, even if no one else joined in), supposedly 80% of wine consumption in the US happens on the two coasts. All those interior states are much more prone to beer and hard liquor. Maybe that explains Midwest’s obsession with FBS.

DRM

Dunlap is the defensive lineman from Florida who got the DUI and was suspended indefinitely. He was caught passed out in his car behind the wheel at a red light

Let’s be fair ceez, Dunlap had the misfortune of being the 900th arrest on UF’s football team last year, which is the only reason he was suspended. His arrest was worse than Coco’s as well, as he was passed out behind the wheel at a light.

Well that explains why I didn’t recognize the name. I hate Florida (almost as much as ND in football or UNC in anything except women’s soccer), so I do my best to avoid hearing/reading anything about them.

Passing out at the wheel, even stopped at a light, does sound worse than Coco’s situation.

I think the coaching staff and university will look at this situation and Coco’s entire history with ASU. He has not had any disciplinary problems before now (that we know of) and he did not add insult to injury by not cooperating with the officer. Those facts may play into his favor.

Do we remember Sam Smalls almost removing a guy’s head at Klondike? He only missed 1 non-conference game. There is precedent here that players get another chance if the coaches believe it has been earned. I would hope that he would be allowed to prove his regret of this whole situation.

Driving drunk is a bad decision. But, I’m in no place to judge him.

You’re killing me Smalls!

Yes, a bad decision. See Tolly Carr or the MADD website. Kills more people than all wars put together.

Bad move, Coco. His brother has already been indefinitely suspended from the USC team. I don’t know how his rehab is coming, but Coco had a severe hurdle to climb already. I didn’t expect him to start the season for us as it was. Now I wonder if he will at all.

how is coco not 21 yet? Still doesnt give him the right to drink and drive but still. He’s a red-shirt senior this year meaning that he should be turning 23 this upcoming season or at least 22. Im confused?

He is 21…born january 10, 1988. And yes I know this doesnt take away from how stupid he is to do this, but how does he get charged for underage drinking?

*He is 22

bob, coco is 21, as stated in the article. his highly touted brother, who we tried to recruit, is under 21, and was the one charged for underage.

Ok I apparently cant read. My bad. He wasnt charged for underage

Nah hes 22.

Columbia SC/USC are both in Richland County, crossing the river to the west, you are in West Columbia, Lexington County, SC. Columbia – West Columbia its all the same. Just prior to crossing the river heading west is a section of Columbia known as the Vista. Boo Koos bars and hang outs for Students with fake IDs.

6

Coco has been at pratice the last few days but hasn’t praticed of course

It could have been almost any of us at some point in time in our lives, I know I’ve narrowly escaped before. Don’t care that CoCo has a DUI, join the club, it’s huge. This is not news.

It wasn’t in Boone. They were pulled in West Columbia.

I find it interesting that South Carolina apparently has a policy of “automatic indefinite suspension” for such an offense, while we’re “reviewing the situation.” How convenient that the coaches/AD are on vacation.

No, it doesn’t change how we feel about Coco, but actions have consequences and if he doesn’t pay and pay dearly in some way for this, he will have learned nada and we will sadly be ready for big-time college football.

I have to admit I’m quite surprised SoCar has an automatic indefinite suspension policy. Of course, “indefinite” could mean nothing more than “until Spurrier decides he needs the kid.” That often seems to be the result of suspensions at big-time programs, if not the actual intent.

“It could have been almost any of us at some point in time in our lives, I know I’ve narrowly escaped before. Don’t care that CoCo has a DUI, join the club, it’s huge. This is not news.”

Sorry, I can’t accept that rationalization. I don’t want him to be crucified over this but I don’t think you can slough it off by pretending that everyone has a DUI, join the club.

It’s something that has happened in his personal life, not on the football field, not at school, not even in Boone, therefore I don’t think we really have the right or need to discuss this. No I don’t believe you should ever drive drunk, but it does happen. Hopefully he’ll learn from it, but as far as it concerning us, it really doesn’t.

Bacardi Silver lemonade is pretty good. Haven’t tried the watermelon.

Shouldn’t you be loyal to (Mike’s) hard lemonade?

“Columbia SC/USC are both in Richland County, crossing the river to the west, you are in West Columbia, Lexington County, SC. Columbia – West Columbia its all the same. Just prior to crossing the river heading west is a section of Columbia known as the Vista. Boo Koos bars and hang outs for Students with fake IDs.

Comment by App in Greenwood, SC 03.11.10 @ 4:20 pm ”

Pay attention App09. This is more the type of information i was looking for, not your goggle map search.

NOT condoning drinking and driving, however, can remember driving when I shouldn’t have got behind the wheel many times in my 20s…prob some in my 30s as well….give him a one game suspension and chalk it up as a learning experience….can also remember driving an ASU vice chancellors(sp?) daughter in a creek my last week at App….guess who picked us up….not mentioning any names!

is it wrong to hope they don’t kick him off the team?

i’m hoping they dont. but guys have had trouble on our team before. i’m thinking this wouldnt have made the papers if CoCo wasnt with his lil bro. I dont want to air out anyone’s business but guys have been in trouble for such like “underage drinking” and “duis” before and it never was made public. he was just in the middle of SEC country with a backup qb and we all know how serious football news is for them. the more i think about it, th emore i’m thinking it will be something like suspension for the first game or few..

when i was on the tennis team, 2 of our guys had dui’s. if never made the papers. the athletic dept. knew about it. (including cobb) and all that was imposed were single game suspensions..

After raising two kids I know that they make mistakes and learn from them. Coco is a Mountaineer…..we should stand behind him and support him….he will learn from this,becomes a little wiser and will not repeat this mistake.

You all are making too big of a deal out of nothing. It’s college, the kid drank, it was stupid to drive but he did. He will lose his license for a year and Case Closed. No way he is kicked off the team for this and if you feel he should be you are foolish and need to get out more. You suspend him for a game for PR purposes for people that think it is a big deal and life goes on. You don’t kick a kid off the team his senior year and ruin any chance he has at the professional level for drinking and driving and only blowing a .11. Honest mistake, he will learn his lesson and move on….Get over it….

i agree with Rob for the most part.

I’m going to have to go with Hapapp on this one, though he might not want my agreement. There is a different standard and a different expectation if one is on a university team. Like it or not, you are representing the university at ALL times. It comes with the free tuition, just part of the deal. Same for faculty, administrators, staff, anyone…what happens to you reflects on ASU.

I think it will be interesting to see how ASU reacts. Yes, it is part of his personal life, but so was Travis Dowda’s arrest for assault. He was immediately suspended. And, if I’m not mistaken, one is arrested for DUI. Will the same standard apply? In my opinion, it should. One thing is for sure, if there are no significant consequences, he WILL learn a lesson: that he can do as he pleases without paying a price.

Rob, it’s not a big deal? Give me a break! Perhaps not so much he was drinking, but got behind the wheel of a car after doing so. Go talk to all those who have lost loved ones from drunk drivers and ask them if it isn’t a big deal. Besides, this isn’t the first time CoCo has been in hot water yet this time it wasn’t in Boone and not swept under the rug.

It is a rare occasion indeed when I agree with Appattack, but I’ve got to second that emotion. Coco should face the same consequences as Dowda. Anything less and the athletic department is admitting that DUI is “no big deal” and that we make exceptions for star players.

His brother is already suspended and as much as it might pain one to admit it, it sounds like Coco not only drove drunk, but might also have supplied alcohol to a minor. I’m guessing that’s what’s meant by violation of the ABC Act although I guess it could be an open container or something. At any rate, his offense is worse than his brother’s.

As much as I hate to miss Coco, he needs to be punished. 3 game suspension.

3 games is a slap on the wrist and little more than a PR stunt. If the coaching staff and athletic department is serious about putting a stop to this sort of thing, they can do so right now. Suspend him. Period. Keeps his scholarship as long as he goes to class and makes acceptable grades and progress toward graduation. Let him retain eligibility to play next season if the NCAA allows. If not, we’ve got other receivers.

Naysayer, never seen it as a problem to find ourselves in agreement.

I won’t recommend what should be the punishment, but I think it would look poorly on ASU if his brother gets a severe punishment from USC and CoCo gets off with a reprimand from ASU.

Lets just crucify him. In my book, if I get a DUI, the law is going to give me enough punishment as I can handle. A cheap DUI lawyer starts at $1,500 & up. When it’s all said and done, one DUI ends up costing you around $10,000.

naysayer “3 games is a slap on the wrist” is one hell of a slap to me.

Whatever happened to “innocent until proven guilty?” CoCo needs a good attorney…unfortunately I’m not licensed in South Carolina ha! A .11 isn’t that bad in the grand scheme and it could have been a bad stop, etc., etc. I hope he gets to stay on the team. Had a guy a couple weeks ago who blew a .34 no lie.

I don’t expect most football fans to agree with me, but the reason stuff like this continues to happen is because coaches, ADs, and alumni associations look the other way. “He’s a kid. He made a mistake, etc., etc., etc.” And, oh yeah, Yosef serves beer before every game and encourages tailgating and all that goes with it. I’m not on a sobriety kick here. I drink. But I don’t drink to excess, drive drunk or supply alcohol to minors. Those are crimes for which the punishment should be severe.

If we had a zero tolerance policy for DUIs, drugs, fighting, sexual assault or any other sort of arrest that carried a year-long suspension, then this sort of behavior would stop. As long as there’s a wishy washy maybe we will maybe we won’t, “let’s review the situation on a case by case basis” mentality, nothing will change. The whole football team lacks discipline anyway. Witness the personal foul penalties, the goofy celebrations. Maybe it’s time to crack down.

Just curious, fletch 96. From a legal perspective if he beat the case on a technicality such as a bad stop, does that mean he’s innocent of the offense? Or just not guilty? I’m all for the rule of law. Indefinite suspension until the case is decided, then appropriate disciplinary action.

Lets suspend every player that has driven drunk in their lives. How many players do we have left? 3? After that lets kick every student out of college that has driven drunk. Who’s left in school? Love it, Hate it, argue it…The most successful people in the world had a party side to them in college. It is a proven fact that it is where people build their best communication skills. Like anything there are exceptions but you can’t argue that. I’m not saying drinking and driving is the right thing to do at all and the consequences with the law should be strict but that is with the law. You must let a kid live his life and learn from mistakes. Then again I could be foolish and you all have never in your life made a mistake and I’m terribly sorry for offending you if that is true. Comparing a DUI to what Dowda and Simpkins did is crazy and I’m positive that they would both tell you the same thing. You give Coco a one to three game suspension and he will learn his lesson also, you don’t ruin the kids life….Please don’t argue that point unless you have never made a mistake in your life….

“3 games is a slap on the wrist and little more than a PR stunt. If the coaching staff and athletic department is serious about putting a stop to this sort of thing, they can do so right now. Suspend him.

Comment by appnaysayer 03.11.10 @ 9:43 pm
”

you are ignorant if you think that suspending Hillary is going to stop other athletes from making the same mistake Hillary did. Do you honestly think that if the threat of prison doesn’t stop people from driving drunk, being suspended from a sports team will.

Jerry should make his decision after the courts do their thing.He must do something so this sort of thing does not become commonplace with his players.Maybe a 5 game suspension would have more of an impact. Since we do have depth at receiver then he would really have to bust his tail to get back on the field after missing almost half the regular season.

Nayersayer says “I don’t expect most football fans to agree with me, but the reason stuff like this continues to happen is because coaches, ADs, and alumni associations look the other way.”

That’s BULL! The kid has been suspended! NO ONE IS LOOKING THE OTHER WAY!

I substantial contributor to the Alumni Association as well as to the Yosef Club. I personally have NEVER gotten a call from any of our coaches asking me for my opinion on how a kid should be punished. It doesn’t happen.

Coach Moore will handle this situation the way he has for 2o + years – thoughtfully, respectfully, and by what is best for the team and the kid.

3 games is 27% of our season next year. Doesn’t sound like a slap on the wrist to me. Unless of course, Jerry decided those 3 games would be against our weakest competition.

I know it’s tough, but try to pay attention here. His brother has been suspended. We’re “evaluating the situation.” So far South Carolina has taken the appropriate action. We’ve done nothing.

Without naming names, we all know there are plenty of times in the past with various incidents on campus and in Boone when coaches have let players continue playing after they’ve been in trouble.

And exactly HOW is this different from what Dowda did?

With respect there, David, you’re looking the other way now. Doesn’t matter what he did, coaches will handle it, do “what’s best for the team” (that’s rich by the way). St. Jerry of the Sacred Rock can do no wrong. HE’S the one who’s never made a mistake.

Naysayer, gotta hand it to you. You’re right on this one.

Driving while intoxicated is serious. If one wants to get drunk while at home, that’s their business. But when that person chooses to endanger other people’s lives by driving, then that’s the public’s business. Too many innocent people are killed every year by drunk drivers. This must be taken seriously. Sure, he’s a college student, but he’s got to be held accountable for his decision to get behind the wheel while intoxicated just like everybody else. Bad choices carry consequences.

What (possibly) makes it different than what Dowda did is intent. I of course don’t know for sure, but it’s probable he didn’t think he was impaired. We all have a point after we’ve been drinking when we feel Ok to drive, but legally shouldn’t. Who’s to say that’s not what happened with Coco? How’s he supposed to know he’s over the legal limit w/o carrying a breathalyzer around? .08 Is surprisingly easy to get to and doesn’t feel like much as far as being intoxicated goes.

I’m not quite following dan. Did he not “intend” to get behind the wheel after drinking? And how does anyone know whether he felt “impaired?” Maybe he just figured he wouldn’t get stopped and his intent was to get away with it. I just don’t see the distinction.

I do think, though, that it has a lot to do with the country’s and football fans’ attitudes toward alcohol. It’s summed up in all the “no big deal” comments. No big deal to get trashed at a game, drive drunk, we’ve all done it, helps develop communication skills (had to smile at that), part of college life yada yada yada. Yosef Club serves alcohol; fans drink in the parking lot. Who cares if a kid drives drunk, endangering himself and others? Suspend him for a game. Just don’t interrupt my party or crush my buzz, or worse, cost us the conference championship.

Naysayer, I agree with a lot of what you’re saying but it is different from what Dowda did. Dowda was charged with felonies. Right now, as serious as DWI(DUI in SC)is, it’s not a felony and does not carry the same punishment. It should also not carry the same punishment outside of the legal system, i.e. ASU Athletics. Whether he is found guilty or not in court he should serve some type of suspension. He made a bad decision that could have had much worse consequences that what it is. To those who bring up presumption of innocence, that rule is only valid in the legal system and only exists to insure the defendant of a fair trial. If the facts, as we know them, are true then there is no reasonable doubt, in my mind, that he is guilty of at least some violation of the law. He could get off on a technicality but that does not necessarily confirm his innocence and whatever decision Coach Moore makes should not be dependant on the outcome of the criminal charge. The damage to the football program has been done and I fully expect him to plead guilty to at least part of what he’s charged with.

Just think of what would have happened if he killed someone? Would people be saying “oh, he was just drinking a little bit.. not a big deal”? It’s people like those that are the reason drunk drivers kill more people than wars, cancer, etc.. It’s completely irresponsible, stupid, and he should get a punishment (at least a few game suspension from the team).

I know all the people who are ok with Coco doing this will say “Yea but he didn’t kill anyone”. You’re right, fortunately, he didn’t. So what happens if someone shoots a gun into a crowd of people, but doesn’t hit anyone? Should that person be let go because he didn’t hit anyone? I know its a slightly different premise, but the same concept — both entirely stupid acts that should get punished.

He had what, 4 or 5 open bottles in his car? Was that necessary? Could he not have skipped buying one of those bottles so he could afford a cab? It’s really not that hard — if you don’t have a designated driver or the money for a cab, DON’T DRINK!

Coco didn’t get behind the wheel with the intent of hurting anyone, I’m pretty sure about that. Dowda’s situation is entirely different in that regard. Moreover, if we were serious about putting an end to drunk driving and not just accumulating income for the local governments, all cars would be built with breathalyzers.

I’m not excusing what he did, but there is a difference in trying to cause someone harm and misjudging if you’re impaired. I’m also assuming that anyone who’s of the ‘kick him off the team’ opinion doesn’t drive after even a single beer, right?

Dan, I do agree there is a difference in trying to cause harm and misjudging if you’re impaired.. but, both are stupid and should not be done!

I’m not in favor of him getting kicked off the team, but a hefty suspension should be in order. And for the record, I drive after a beer or two — but if I plan on having more than that, I either make sure I have enough money to call a cab, or I have a friend who is willing to come get me. If both of those options are exhausted, I don’t have any more than that — a pretty simple solution.

And Rob.. “It is a proven fact that it is where people build their best communication skills” It’s also a proven fact that even one drink impairs judgment and driving abilities.. so that point (if true) is moot

Whatever is done will say more about ASU than about Coco. We may finally have achieved what midwest wants: Big-time college football. Two major arrest incidents within year might well confer that status upon our fine institution. Of course, we’re not in Tennessee’s league yet, but we’re workin’ on it.

I agree with Joe.

I also believe that had CoCo been a player on another team, some of the people’s reactions would be different. When the player is on a team that you pull for, you try to rationalize his actions. Many people do this.

What would I do if this guy played for WCU? I would want the coach to kick him off the team. Some of these guys think they are above the rules. Why? …because they play a game that we all love. It is just a game.

The night it happened…he was not playing a game of football. He was playing a game of life, possibly someone else’s life.

For those of you that say that he built up all of this goodwill, do you honestly think that this was his first time doing this? Honestly?

Coach Moore is in a tough spot. I have said before that he is a great coach and the main reason App is where they are now. We will learn a lot about him when a decision is made. Let’s hope that he doesn’t pull an Urban Meyer and pretend it never happened.

Also, best wishes to CoCo learning from this.

Naysayer, we aren’t even close to Tennessee’s league..

And also, since so much has been said about the Simpkins and Dowda incident, they were both found not guilty to the assault.. it was a fabricated story by the “victim” who was found guilty of just as much as Dowda and Simpkins..

Didn’t know that Joe. Were they found guilty of anything?

“Not guilty is not the same as ‘innocent.’” Regardless of verdict, they were involved in nefarious activity that involved alcohol, partying, and fighting.

Point taken about UT, but I do think that the more big-time football becomes, the more of these sorts of problems one sees. It’s inevitable as recruiting expands and the search for good players widens. Less emphasis on character and more on 40-yard dash times, arms strength etc. If we’re winning, alumni are more willing to excuse such “behaviors.” I would also argue that there’s a general lack of discipline on the football team as opposed to some of the other sports, including basketball. As ambivalent as I am about Buzz, it’s hard to imagine him ignoring a celebration penalty or an illegal hit out of bounds.

jonmac, I believe it was minor charges.. trespassing I know was one.. everyone involved, including the “victim”, was sentenced to community service.. This is was I have been told by first hand accounts of the situation. I am trying to find court documents to prove it, but I can not find them as of now.

Naysayer, I know not guilty is not the same as innocent.. All I was saying is the “victim” in that whole ordeal was found just as guilty as Simpkins and Dowda. It was a complete fabrication . Had the fabrication not happened, Dowda might have been on the team for his senior season.

It boiled down to self defense for Dowda, Simpkins and the other guy came in to break it up. Being 3 against a whole party (although the victim said they were sleeping) Simpkins and the other guy had to use some force to break it up. Yes, I agree it should not have happened, but it was not as bad as originally reported.

Naysayer, I know you enjoy the role of “pot stirrer” and relish the reactions from other posters but I have to question your sincerity on this one. Are you honestly that naïve that you believe once a player is suspended all other young men and women will stop their nefarious (your words) behavior and walk the line? Consequences are necessary but so is reason. Capital punishment is for capital offenses.

Rufus, what do you think is fitting?

And I don’t really relish much, except the odd Newcastle Brown and the occasional Penrose sausage with a suitably pickeled egg.

At the risk of bursting David’s bubble regarding his belief that all decisions are made in the interest of what is best for the team and student athlete,(It is a lovely, refreshing idea, and I love it)I suspect that factors such as 1) did the incident go public? and 2) is this student a major player on the field are more likely influential factors in player suspensions. In CoCo’s case, I believe factor #1 will trump factor #2. Hard to sweep it under the rug now that it’s public, even if his knee gets healthy.

And, dang naysayer, I am not used to agreeing with you, but I do on all counts in this thread.

so what, kick him out of school?

Dan, if you have read any of our posts, you would have realized we said suspension.. In fact, naysayer explicitly said to let him keep his scholarship and just go to class and continue his education…

Naysayer, I don’t think we can appropriately assign a punishment until more information is known about the incident (which we don’t have access to). However if I were hypothetically in charge I would look at a multiple game suspension and additional external punishment i.e.: campus based volunteer service etc. I do wholeheartedly agree with you that there needs to be consequences but I don’t think this is a case of preventative justice to save the future. That’s just not being reasonable or realistic.

I am glad you enjoy a Newcastle but I don’t believe you if you say you don’t enjoy the commotion you cause.

Jerry’s priorities in deciding how to deal with this situation should be first what’s best (in his judgment) for Coco, second what’s best for the university, and third what’s best for the football team. Second and third considerations could well be the same thing.

Equating the Dowda/Simpkins incident (as originally reported) with Coco’s incident is to equate apples and oranges. What ultimately is important to the comparison is what did happen, not what might have. Had Coco maimed or killed someone, his incident would be far worse than Dowda’s; as it happened, it isn’t, nor is it equal.

Believing that any punishment–harsh, weak, or in between (evaluating where on that scale a punishment falls is a matter of individual judgment)–will have a significant effect on the behavior of other players is naive (don’t overlook the adjective I used; I’m not saying there would be zero effect). Human nature is to believe we can “get away with it,” whatever “it” is. That tendency is generally greater in the young, as they usually haven’t had as many life experiences as more mature folks that prove the fallacy of the belief. Human nature of those in power (politicians, well-publicized athletes, entertainers, corporate CEOs, certain clergy, etc., etc.) is not only to believe “I can get away with it” but also that “It’s okay for me to do this because I’m (whomever/whatever–fill in the blank); I’m privileged.” In other words, the higher profile the individual the (generalizing here) more basic human tendencies are exacerbated.

Comparing our (JM’s and the university’s) handling of Coco to South Carolina’s handling of Coco’s brother isn’t particularly relevant, in my opinion. At minimum, if the “indefinite suspension” supposedly imposed on the younger Hillary is to be our standard of reference, we should monitor that story closely. I’m skeptical that indefinite would mean indefinite if the USC Hillary was a starter instead of a second- or third-string guy. I’m also skeptical that, should something happen to the USC starter, Coco’s brother will remain suspended if Spurrier decides he’s needed on the team. My point here isn’t that we should punish Coco less or more than USC is reportedly punishing his brother, but rather that we (again, Jerry and the university) should decide on the punishment appropriate for Coco in his (and our) situation–with priorities as outlined in my first paragraph above.

Comparing our players’ transgressions (in quantity, I mean–not making a judgment as to “quality”) to Tennessee’s or Florida’s or those at dozens of other big-time schools is far-fetched.

Kick Coco out of school? Absolutely not. Kick him off the team? Up to Moore, Cobb, Peacock, et. al. I will trust whatever decision is ultimately made. And, as football fan, I won’t worry about any effect his punishment has or doesn’t have on the team’s fortunes. In my view (assuming no problems, be those legal or physical), Coco would be a nice-to-have, but he isn’t a must-have. Again, do what those close to him judge as being in his best interests, and let the peripheral considerations take care of themselves.

Joe, I don’t have nearly enough time to read all of those posts.

I’m down with a suspension, even some community service like Rufus suggests (in addition to, not in lieu of), but I think kicking him off the team is a bit much for what looks to be a first-time offense. As Joe pointed out, Coco handled the incident well with the arresting officer, which I think more than anything speaks to whether or not he thought he was in the wrong. How many times have you seen/heard of people being belligerent to the cops because they thought they were being treated unfairly?

Yeah, everything DRM said….

Wow, Coach Moore definitely isn’t going to like this. I will be very surprised if he ends up playing this season. I like Coach Moore not playing favorites and if you aren’t a good person, then you aren’t playing on his team and he stands firm by that.

Then walt, you’ve raised the question of whether or not Coco is a good person.

I am with you DRM. At the end of the day, it is up to Coach Moore, Cobb, and Peacock.

I also agree that CoCo is not a must have, regarding all of the talent that App has at WR.

This is a tough issue for all of you because it is affecting one of your own. That is why there are all of these passionate posts.

Good luck, and again, let’s up that CoCo learns from this.

Naysayer – We are as Big Time as it gets at the level we play. In the last 2 years we have had the Dowda situation and now this with CoCo. Does this mean we are going down the road to ruin? I do not think so.

I am not looking the other way when I say let Coach Moore handle it. Who should handle it in your mind? The posters on this website?

Furthermore, few of us know Coco’s history of off the field issues. Has there been any? I have not heard if there were. Maybe this was his first mistake and his brother’s 10th. Maybe his brother had been warned. Maybe Spurrier needs the scholarship for another kid. I do not know.

I do know for better or worse you have to allow the coach of a team to make these types of decisions.

A Penrose saugsage and a pickled egg? Really? That should be a crime.

Pickled anything should be a crime. Except for cucumbers. And paint, if you’re into those finishes.

hate to do it, but suspend him for the season. work the young Jamill Lott in there. has the same dreds and everything.

David has a short memory. I believe the Dowda thing was a year ago about this time. DRM, as usual takes, forever to say something and I’m still not sure what he said. There were fewer mental gymnastics at the health care summit than in that post. It comes down to this: Where does the university stand on this kind of behavior? What’s best for Coco is not even all that relevant. He will get his punishment from the authorities. They will decide what’s best for him and he will abide by it. This is about the university and what it believes in and what sort of an athletic problem we’re running here. And no one, from what I’ve read has even suggested kicking him out of school.

Prediction a la Muhammed Ali: If Coco gets more than a 3-game suspension from this athletic administration, I’ll say Appattack is the greatest, up my donation to the Yosef Club, lobby for a move to FBS, join the Republican Party, and catch the next jet out of the country (kidding about those last two).

Can we suspend him for the NCCU, Jacksonville, and WCU game?

Coco driving with a .11 is probably as alert as a lot of us driving with a .06. That being said from the looks of what he was drinking about two blocks later he’d have been a .15. I’ll defer to Coach, but he should get at a game or two.

Hey, Nay, don’t bray!

If you have trouble following my post we may have to seriously reevaluate your status as most accomplished (academically, that is) poster on the site. I would be really concerned about you if you hadn’t taken back the “. . . join the Republican party . . .” comment–but not enough so that it would ruin my weekend.

If you think the institution is more important than the individual, you’re certainly entitled to that position, however. Even though you’re wrong.

No Gwalt, Bobby Petrino is not our coach. (Wasn’t it Arkansas that suspended a player for a game until that game wound up closer than was expected and he was magically re-instated for the second half?)

CoCo made a grevous error in judgment. His actions could have killed or maimed another human being(s). What if it was one of your relatives or a close friend. Wouldn’t you be more than a little angry with CoCo’s decision making in order “to have a litte fun”? It is a big deal and CoCo and all athletes at ASU need to understand that this is at least a long term suspension (6 games) if not the entire season. CoCo earned a full scholarship and with that comes expectations and responsibilites. He can keep his scholarship, stay in school and graduate if the university deems that appropriate.

Yes Dan. Since we only lost two games during the regular season last year, don’t act like two games isn’t a big deal.

Well, on the “grevous” error in judgment if on nothing else, I expect all of us can agree.

The decision the university makes is more about itself than the individual player. It will say what we stand for. It may affect Coco one way or another. But as an individual, his problem is with the legal system. The university wouldn’t even be involved if he were not on the team.

Coco made a mistake. The intent in his bad decision, for me, would be a big factor in the length of suspension. If he just didn’t think he was that impaired (as I tend to believe), I would chalk that up to an honest mistake that he should be allowed to atone for. Now if he knew he shouldn’t have been driving but said ‘the hell with it’ then i’m all in favor of a year-long suspension. In my opinion, it boils down to if you think Coco is a good kid who just made a dumb mistake or if you think he has the opinion that rules don’t apply to him. I’m good with a 3 game suspension.

This may be overly cynical (though I doubt it), but I expect the decision the university makes will be more narrowly focused on the publicity it has received or may receive than it is about anything (or anyone) else involved in this case. Final action taken will not be a consistently reliable indicator of university “values.”

And this may be idealistic, but I would hope (wish may be a more appropriate word) that any university would be concerned enough about its students, athletes or not, to put their interests first, its own image second. Scratch that–”. . . may be idealistic . . .” is assuredly incorrect; it is absolutely an idealistic view.

Just in case it is otherwise unclear, I haven’t advocated any specific punishment or lack of punishment for Coco. As I said, it is up to Moore, Cobb and–if he wants to become involved–Peacock, as well as the various advisors any of those three may utilize. We can discuss and we can have opinions, general or specific, but ultimately we have no input into the matter. Whatever punishment those representing ASU in this case choose–harsh or weak–is fine with me. I’m not worried that Coco will experience zero football-related consequences as a result of this incident. If that happened, we might indeed be concerned about “what we stand for.”

DRM, your post makes my head hurt.

Bummer.

Well, I don’t have much sympathy for people who drive drunk. We all make bad decisions, but that’s one that can hurt more than just ourselves. I’m not saying they should be locked up with the key thrown away, but they’ve got to deal with whatever the consequences are.

What really stinks is that they’re letting down their teammates. This could cost a win or two. Sucks.

I stand by my prediction and by the notion that the university’s decision is not about the individual. If they wanted to do what is absolutely best for him and the team, they might well do nothing and just let the legal system sort it out.

The university’s decision is about what it will or won’t tolerate from those who represent the institution, regardless whether the player is a benchwarmer or a star. We’ve already been shown up on that front by (gasp!) South Carolina which apparently has a universal standard in place.

My guess is that in the end we’ll tolerate quite a bit when it comes to a DUI. You all may be right in that fighting or assault looks a lot worse than driving drunk and/or providing alcohol to a minor. Look for a terse statement that it’s being handled as a “team disciplinary matter” and “according to NCAA and team rules.” Then come the season, after all this dies down, we shall see what it all really means. And by the way, it’s impossible to be too cynical for this blog.

That’s the beer, Dan, not my post. Try some Gatorade for awhile.

Probably so (re: cynical), especially for someone in my profession. And in that vein, forgive me if I’m less than confident in South Carolina’s “universal standard.” Unless it is dictated by SEC, which is only moderately less doubtful.

By the way, you’re correct about no one having suggested kicking Coco out of school. Dan posed a rhetorical question to that effect; I was addressing that. Though given all the soccer-slamming and other BS I have to endure from Dan, I’m not sure why I bothered.

Michael, whether Coco is out no games (doubtful), one game or one season, I doubt it will cost us any wins. Despite my desire to see him treated with some compassion (assuming he has no prior history of which we’re unaware), I’m not nearly the Coco fan Clayton is. He’s good, but no better than some others we have at the position. Regardless, the effect on the team’s fortunes should be last of the considerations involved, in my opinion.

“The university” is being used fairly loosely in several posts here. There are different entities at the university which make disciplinary decisions. Coach Moore and Charlie Cobb can make decisions about an athlete’s playing time, membership on the team, scholarship, etc. but there is another office on campus which handles conduct violations and sanctions (such as suspension from school)for those. Not sure if a DUI received in South Carolina gets referred to that office (perhaps not, but many off campus violations do), but that office typically does consider what is best for the student and university, and being an athlete is not a factor.

Besides soccer, what BS do I make you deal with? Besides, you know that’s like 70% of the reason you come on this blog in the first place.

Coco is a boy. That’s right, a BOY, not a man. It’s always been evident from the way he plays that he’s just a big, overgrown boy–no discipline, no character, no judgement, no maturity. Moore ought to kick him off the team.

If it wasn’t for BS, we’d have no blog at all.

nevermind that Michigan catch or anything, right Carbine?

It was a friendly joke, Dan . . . have another beer. It is Friday night, after all. Curious though–what reason(s) do you think comprise the other 30%?

I don’t know the procedure either, rocky, but it wouldn’t seem likely an infraction (even arrest) in another state, at a time when the university is on break, would involve this other office of which you speak.

I assume Carbine knows Coco well and is making informed judgments of his true character and not simply making assumptions off of his interpretations of Coco’s on-field behavior, right?

DRM, i know, joking right back (still need some sort of font to differentiate serious posts from sarcastic ones). I’m more of a social drinker, honestly. Not big into ‘relaxing’ with alcohol.

Good–I thought that was where you were headed, but wanted to be certain–despite what some on here might think, I wouldn’t want to offend. Except when addressing clayton, of course.

I wouldn’t worry too much, i’m pretty difficult to offend.

Noted. Better safe than sorry, though.

Nay – My memory is fine. Last year and this year are the last 2 years.

Who do you want to handle Coco’s punishment? If not Jerry Moore then who?

You always have a lot to say without actually saying anything.

App Fans our program is not going to hell in a hand basket because last year a college kid got into a fight and this year a college kid got caught drinking and driving. I bet that’s a lot better than the student body as a whole. Does that mean Coach Moore should not take it seriously? No. He will. That’s why we have so FEW incidents.

Naysayer said “If the coaching staff and athletic department is serious about putting a stop to this sort of thing, they can do so right now. Suspend him.” So by this logic we should never expect another USC Gamecock to be arrested for underaged drinking? Afterall they did suspend the Aramis.

If you listen to Naysayer an Appalachian Arrmageddon is on the horizon. Maybe the reason we have so few problems is that Coach Moore does a pretty good job of handling these types of things.

Athletic department, not the coach himself, should handle it as is, I think, the case with all such suspensions, certainly those for “violating team rules.” Another kid may drink at USC, but he will in no uncertain terms know the consequences. Not so here. May be severe and immediate or we may “review the situation.” At USC, it will be the former.

Two high profile cases–an assault arrest and a DUI with a minor involved–in a year sounds fairly serious to me. Not to mention the general lack of discipline on the team which constantly results in personal foul penalties, in your face celebrations, late hits out of bounds, all indicators of poor sportsmanship and a certain tolerance of such behavior on the part of coaches.

Let us see what happens. The ball is certainly in Athletics’ court at present.

Just curious naysayer, but do you get any enjoyment out of watching App football?

I agree with David. Fair is not equal. I have a feeling the young man at USC had had other issues prior to this one to merit a suspension for underaged drinking. If that were not the case there would be very little football played at USC.

I think the athletic department is handling these types of situations. They hired well qualified and trustworthy coaches to deal with issues as they arise. If the coaches do not do the right thing I would have confidence the Athletic Department would step in. Ask Mike Kramer of Montana State.

I like football just fine. But I’m a Penn State, not a Miami type of guy. I’ll wager I’ve been watching ASU since before you were born, dan, and it hasn’t always been this way. No Joe Paternos here now.

I’m sure you have been (watching football longer than i’ve been alive, that is), I was just curious given your traditionally, well, nay-saying stance on almost everything App sports. I guess you just take everything in life more seriously than I do.

I just Googled “Penn State Football Player Arrested”. It looks like to me they have had their fair share of issues over the last couple of years. Including DWIs, fights and shockingly underage drinking (gasp)!

Hey Nay maybe the administration should take control of player disipline and strip Paterno of the control he has over his players. It looks like to me they are undisiplned and that the coaching staff is incompetent. If you travel thru Happy Valley be very careful.

Appnaysayer – You say it hasn’t always been this way. Are you saying that “back in the day” kids didn’t drink and fight? That’s stupid. I had my nose broke 4 times in college – twice playing football and twice in bar fights. I didn’t drink underaged because the legal drinking age was 18. We all drove drunk because that’s the way it was. That certainly does not make it right. I do not condone the young man’s bad decision to drnk and drive. But I would say come off the high horse and give the kid a break.

Without regard to discipline or lack thereof, I doubt App has ever had any Paternos. And that’s fine with me; he’s another guy who should have retired long ago. Sort of like Bobby Bowden (who I find more likeable than Paterno, though that’s not necessarily a character judgment between the two) and Brett Favre.

I don’t know. Drinking age used to be 18, so, as you suggest, there WERE in fact fewer arrests. But my comment was directed at the showboating, flip-turning, personal foul, illegal-hits-out-of-bounds, chest-thumping-on-routine-plays, unsportsmanlike style that we now play. Coaches could quickly put a stop to that if they so desired. Simple matter of benching the offenders. As noted, I don’t see Buzz Peterson allowing that sort of nonsense.

The allusion to Penn State-Miami was their famous good guy v. bad guy confrontation in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl, though I could have gone with Notre Dame (Catholics v. Convicts). Just seems to me the reins are pretty loose these days and the more big-time we get, the looser they’re likely to be. That’s all.

Agree that Paterno’s overstayed his welcome…another analogy we might not want to push too far.

I hope Coco to learns from this. He is a great player and exciting to watch and as an App Fan I want to see him healthy and playing again soon.

In the Catholics v. Convicts scenario, I would pull for the Convicts. And I’m Catholic!

Since UNC isn’t in the NCAA tourney for me to root against, my preferred first-out this year will be Notre Dame. Followed by Duke, followed by Florida, followed by any ACC team not previously named, followed by . . . hmmmm . . . guess I could enjoy the entire thing if those schools would just conveniently lose on day one.