Smokey and Jkennedy are correct. This is not a simple case of underage drinking. It is a DUI where he ran a red light. It is only luck that prevented someone from being killed! It is a felony.
My kids drank when they weren't supposed to. But they ALWAYS had a way home without driving, whether a "dd" or public transportation. I agree that coaches have some responsibility, but this is not breaking curfew or simply drinking at a frat party.
Some said the kid will be picked up by a JUCO. It won't be my son's. Other players have said it is too much of a risk. As I said before, I beleive in second chances, but I think going after the coach on this one is "off base".
People killed by drunk drivers are just as dead as people killed by hand guns or knives.
He is a kid and it's a very tough lesson. I have two thoughts: 1. I have my doubts about it being strike one for some of these kids. Seems like every kid who gets busted for this got caught the only time they did it. The role of alcohol in college and HS continues to be a big problem that is generally ignored.
2. There are many circumstances parents, coaches, administrators, etc. etc look the other way as kids behave this way. It starts in HS and a kid might get the idea that so long as they produce and don't get caught no one cares. Certainly I can't remember a time when a coach dismissed a player that he found out was drinking.......always seems to come from somewhere else. Seems like if they really mena NO DRINKING, they'd play more than lip service about it.
2. There are many circumstances parents, coaches, administrators, etc. etc look the other way as kids behave this way. It starts in HS and a kid might get the idea that so long as they produce and don't get caught no one cares. Certainly I can't remember a time when a coach dismissed a player that he found out was drinking.......always seems to come from somewhere else. Seems like if they really mena NO DRINKING, they'd play more than lip service about it.
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Good to hear from you FastballDad.
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Good to hear from you FastballDad.
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I would just like to say that my thoughts and prayers go out to this young man and his family. Bad judgement(of course it was) bad kid (I have no idea) whatever the case, I know that this must be a very humbling and humiliating experience to have to go through. I think that any parent on these boards can envision this happening to their son or daughter and having to deal with a similar situation. Although we would all like to think that our kids are little angels I think in the back of our minds when we read something like this we think "I'm glad that wasn't my kid" or that "I'm glad my kid didn't get caught". We all know that kids, just like adults, make errors in judgement and we can only hope that it does not lead to a greater tragedy as mentioned by several other posters. Hopefully this experience will serve as a wake up call and make this individual stronger so he can get on the right track in life and share his apparently awesome baseball talent at another college or university.
One thing we at Rhodes do to try to help students out of those situations is to shove the number of a particular cab company down everyone's throat (and trust me, it's easy to remember --> 577-7777). Our first safety presentations ask everyone to put that number and campus safety into their cell phones. The number for this cab company is displayed in large numbers on the back of our student ID cards, which most of us would never go anywhere without. They also gave us key chains with the number on them, assuming one would never leave his or her room without at least one of their keys or card. Also, they even gave us those foam things people like to put their beer cans in with the number on it.
The even more ingenious part of the plan, in my opinion is what happens once you call the cab company. They drive you to Rhodes and then charge the cab fare to your student account, under a miscellaneous fees heading so that the fear of parents finding out does not deter students from using the service. Also, unless the student is so drunk that their health is a legitimate concern, campus safety will not hit them with an alcohol violation for using the service.
The even more ingenious part of the plan, in my opinion is what happens once you call the cab company. They drive you to Rhodes and then charge the cab fare to your student account, under a miscellaneous fees heading so that the fear of parents finding out does not deter students from using the service. Also, unless the student is so drunk that their health is a legitimate concern, campus safety will not hit them with an alcohol violation for using the service.
CPLZ – I say this with all due respect: Your statement; “It's well known that punishments do not serve as deterrents”, is a false statement of both fact and opinion. I find making this statement without the empirical evidence is irresponsible and misleading. I will take this in the spirit of “kicking up the dust” of the argument/discussion. I also believe that that decision to drink and drive was made long before this young man’s judgment was impaired by alcohol. That argument is bollocks. How it works is; when you plan on drinking – you leave your car at home and/or make other arrangements. That’s how it works.
Zero tolerance is an administration policy – team, school, family, work, church – you name it. IMHO, I don’t think this is in place for “one reason” and I don’t think that the decision to dismiss this student/player was easy or taken lightly. I commend the coach and administration for having the courage to enforce a “zero tolerance” policy. This young man is an adult. The sooner he understands that, as an adult, he will be held accountable for his actions, the better. Blaming the coach and administration for enforcing the consequences for HIS actions is a copout. Remember, this young man is the only one responsible for being dismissed from the LSU Baseball team. I personally believed that the coach and administration used their judgment – sound judgment – by enforcing the team’s and school’s policies.
Let this be a lesson to those entering the college baseball ranks – at all levels. Your 4 or 5 years of eligibility will go by fast. Players come and go within programs. Most coaches are in the process of building a winning program and do not have the time and energy to put up with team members who do not follow the team’s mission statement. Disruptive players can and will be “cut from the herd”. I have personally witnessed this at high level D1 and D3 programs. Team “Espri de Corps” is a fragile chemistry and can be the competitive difference. Most coaches do not have the time, patience, or tolerance to put up with disruptive behavior. It is not their responsibility.
Was this kid tossed out like “trash” – I don’t have enough information to make that oppinion. Do I think this experience will help this young man – YES – if he answers this wakeup call, accepts the consequences for his actions, and changes his behavior?????? I truly wish him nothing but the best and will include him in my daily prayers.
BTW - Where are his parents and/or guardians???????
I have ZERO tolerance and take a TOUGH GUY stance regarding drinking and driving. This has NO grey area – it’s black and white in my book. My adult children, if they plan on drinking, walk, take the el, and/or call a cab – PERIOD. Also - don't get into a car with a drunk driver. They can also call me at any hour of the day if needed. However, my recommendation is to make sure they have $50 folded in the recesses of their wallet……….
As my father always said; “Many are called but few are chosen.” ~ Matthew 22:14
Zero tolerance is an administration policy – team, school, family, work, church – you name it. IMHO, I don’t think this is in place for “one reason” and I don’t think that the decision to dismiss this student/player was easy or taken lightly. I commend the coach and administration for having the courage to enforce a “zero tolerance” policy. This young man is an adult. The sooner he understands that, as an adult, he will be held accountable for his actions, the better. Blaming the coach and administration for enforcing the consequences for HIS actions is a copout. Remember, this young man is the only one responsible for being dismissed from the LSU Baseball team. I personally believed that the coach and administration used their judgment – sound judgment – by enforcing the team’s and school’s policies.
Let this be a lesson to those entering the college baseball ranks – at all levels. Your 4 or 5 years of eligibility will go by fast. Players come and go within programs. Most coaches are in the process of building a winning program and do not have the time and energy to put up with team members who do not follow the team’s mission statement. Disruptive players can and will be “cut from the herd”. I have personally witnessed this at high level D1 and D3 programs. Team “Espri de Corps” is a fragile chemistry and can be the competitive difference. Most coaches do not have the time, patience, or tolerance to put up with disruptive behavior. It is not their responsibility.
Was this kid tossed out like “trash” – I don’t have enough information to make that oppinion. Do I think this experience will help this young man – YES – if he answers this wakeup call, accepts the consequences for his actions, and changes his behavior?????? I truly wish him nothing but the best and will include him in my daily prayers.
BTW - Where are his parents and/or guardians???????
I have ZERO tolerance and take a TOUGH GUY stance regarding drinking and driving. This has NO grey area – it’s black and white in my book. My adult children, if they plan on drinking, walk, take the el, and/or call a cab – PERIOD. Also - don't get into a car with a drunk driver. They can also call me at any hour of the day if needed. However, my recommendation is to make sure they have $50 folded in the recesses of their wallet……….
As my father always said; “Many are called but few are chosen.” ~ Matthew 22:14
Wow! That cab plan at Rhodes college should be implemented at every college in the country.
Mood,
It would never work. Too expensive to cab it from Rhodes to Baton Rouge.
It would never work. Too expensive to cab it from Rhodes to Baton Rouge.
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Hmmm?
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Hmmm?
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This fare looks affordable... 
According to the Prep Baseball Report, the player mentioned above will be attending Parkland in the Fall.
Thanks for the update, I hope this works out better for him than lsu did.