FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[raiderpa]

Just a note on D'Angelo Fulford...
At the men's basketball game last week and I pointed out Fulford to my grandson.  Fulford is a great hero to him as he attends Mount games. I asked him if we should ask D'Angelo for a picture with him, and he nervously, but excitedly agreed to do it.

The QB could not have been kinder.  When asked, He said, "Sure" and posed all the while conversing with the eight year old, asking his name,  what grade in school, etc...

This made a great impression on grandpa and grandson and I have nothing but the best to say about how the young man accepted the interruption and the subsequent few minutes of kindness he offered to a kid he did not know from Adam,
Perhaps he did something stupid a few years ago, but time does a great deal to help the maturing process.  I hope my experience with this young man will help others, perhaps, cut him some slack over a four year old incident. 

[MUC57]

 
raiderpa

I totally concur with your observation of D'Angelo. I have talked to him several times. He even walks over to me at practice to say "hi"! Met him at a party two doors down from me (home to several football players) two years ago. A really classy guy. Very personable and much more articulate than I expected.
I, personally, don't even think about his legal "problems". Doesn't take away from the gentleman he is. Nice story by you. 

[Dr. Acula]

raiderpa

I totally concur with your observation of D'Angelo. I have talked to him several times. He even walks over to me at practice to say "hi"! Met him at a party two doors down from me (home to several football players) two years ago. A really classy guy. Very personable and much more articulate than I expected.
I, personally, don't even think about his legal "problems". Doesn't take away from the gentleman he is. Nice story by you. 

Hold on here, 57.  You met him at a party a couple doors down?  Please tell me you didn't run out of beer again and go knocking at the neighbors!   

[emma17]

raiderpa

I totally concur with your observation of D'Angelo. I have talked to him several times. He even walks over to me at practice to say "hi"! Met him at a party two doors down from me (home to several football players) two years ago. A really classy guy. Very personable and much more articulate than I expected.
I, personally, don't even think about his legal "problems". Doesn't take away from the gentleman he is. Nice story by you. 

This is awesome. I've always liked you MUC, but my fondness for you has just gone to the next level. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

raiderpa

I totally concur with your observation of D'Angelo. I have talked to him several times. He even walks over to me at practice to say "hi"! Met him at a party two doors down from me (home to several football players) two years ago. A really classy guy. Very personable and much more articulate than I expected.
I, personally, don't even think about his legal "problems". Doesn't take away from the gentleman he is. Nice story by you. 

Hold on here, 57.  You met him at a party a couple doors down?  Please tell me you didn't run out of beer again and go knocking at the neighbors!   

Hey, when you're out of beer, ya gotta do what ya gotta do!

[Frank Rossi]

At the end of the day, the question isn't about whether or not he's Mother Teresa at this point.  And the duration of this ends up becoming a self-inflicted wound more than anything else.  Remember, the date of the offense was 8/4/2015.  There were investigations for 15 months before a warrant was issued for his arrest on 11/16/2016.  For whatever reason, he did not give himself up to authorities until 12/22/2017.  It's taken 13 months for the case to be declared "ready for trial" in March 2019.

From a legal point of view, this is a mess.  The delayed reaction after a long investigation suggests to me that they are pretty confident about Fulford's involvement in a matter in which a youth was hurt during what reads like a hazing episode.  It likely was a stupid mistake if it was indeed him involved in it, but the stupidity was bad enough to get a felony charge filed against him.  Once this thing moved into arrest mode in December 2017, I would have hoped that his attorney(s) would have found a way to get this thing pled down to a misdemeanor (it's a third-degree felony battery charge, so it shouldn't be tough to achieve that).  Instead, what I would have to guess are large legal fees have been spent on six calendar calls, several depositions, and other things that come with criminal litigation — and we still don't have a resolution.  The legal fees question opens another Pandora's box of questions that we'll just skate by right now.

I get that Fulford may feel he is innocent.  I get that he may have grown up over the past 3 1/2 years.  But what I don't get is the need to spend this money and still risk the possibility of having a felony conviction on his record if he's looking to play pro ball after next season.  I hope for his sake that either they were waiting for this moment to maximize his plea deal before trial, or that his case is so strong that his risk level is close to zero.

One thing I've learned over time, though, is that we don't introduce present-day character witnesses in criminal matters for acts that occurred years ago.  Those types of witnesses are used to help mitigate the penalties enforced during the sentencing phase.  So, I get what you guys are trying to say, but I'd say those things end up mattering more later in the process, not during an actual trial.

Finally, for me, the comparisons of the Tevin Jones matter — which involved misdemeanors from the start — and Fulford's matter are instructive.  When I sat down with Jones, he was someone that surprised me in terms of his maturity and accountability from the start.  While we sat and spoke, friends of his from the Belton area came by to say hello, not knowing who I was — he was obviously a much-beloved figure in Belton, having graduated from Belton High School.  But no matter how much I liked the guy he has become, the interview we did required me to ask the questions about his mistakes, about what he's done to rectify those issues (including mental health issues that led to the mistakes discussed), about the penalties he faced (including separation from the school he loved), and about the sorrow he had for what transpired.  He didn't duck the interview — and he didn't duck any of the questions.  To me, THAT is the epitome of showing who you are and what you're made of.  I hope that no matter what happens to D'Angelo in the future, he's able to tell his story, accept accountability for any mistakes related to the last 3 1/2 years he feels he made, and become less of the controversial figure he seems to thrive on these days (see "horns down" and more from the playoffs). 

You guys may be 100% right about the guy he is — and I had a good conversation with him last year that gave me some confidence that he has grown up somewhat from whatever happened in 2015.  What doesn't help him is some of the antics since everything was unearthed in 2017 and the perpetuation of a court case that we were told was basically "nothing" back then.  Hopefully, we're about to close that chapter, and hopefully for D'Angelo, he will come out on top if he was indeed innocent in the matter.

It's about that time when purple will come in and crow about Fulford and misspell his first name... So I'll shut up now and let him tell everyone how off my rocker I am...

[MUC57]

HELP!

Glad to see some people posting. That being the case, hear my plea!

I'm in Alliance. The temperature is 1 degree. The wind chill is -8 degrees. We have been buried in snow. I can't get to my garage to get my car. Hell, I can't really get out of my house. All of the walks are covered. And it has just begun to snow again.

I have lots of food. Plenty of flashlights in case of a power failure. All the medicinal products I could ever need. My cats have plenty of dried food and canned food. I have coffee for the morning.

However; I have run out of beer. This is having an adverse effect on my well being. The weather situation has reached the crisis level. I'm at my wit's end.

So, if anyone could possibly drop off a 12 pack - even a six pack. Anything would help. A cold can of Bud Light would be great, for now! Just look for the house with the sign in the window that states "WE ARE MOUNT UNION". If you throw it up to me, i'll try to catch it.

I know I can count on our terrific posters from the OAC! Thanks in advance. 🍺🍺🍺🍺 ⛄️

P.S. If you could bring some tortilla chips and salsa, since I'm almost out of those, I would be very appreciative. You guys are the best!

Here's a post I put on awhile back. Now this is desperation. I was invited to go to the party where I met D'Angelo. So there! 🍺
And by the way, no one came by to help me in my time of need! 😥 🍺

[JCUStreaks70]

HELP!

Glad to see some people posting. That being the case, hear my plea!

I'm in Alliance. The temperature is 1 degree. The wind chill is -8 degrees. We have been buried in snow. I can't get to my garage to get my car. Hell, I can't really get out of my house. All of the walks are covered. And it has just begun to snow again.

I have lots of food. Plenty of flashlights in case of a power failure. All the medicinal products I could ever need. My cats have plenty of dried food and canned food. I have coffee for the morning.

However; I have run out of beer. This is having an adverse effect on my well being. The weather situation has reached the crisis level. I'm at my wit's end.

So, if anyone could possibly drop off a 12 pack - even a six pack. Anything would help. A cold can of Bud Light would be great, for now! Just look for the house with the sign in the window that states "WE ARE MOUNT UNION". If you throw it up to me, i'll try to catch it.

I know I can count on our terrific posters from the OAC! Thanks in advance. 🍺🍺🍺🍺 ⛄️

P.S. If you could bring some tortilla chips and salsa, since I'm almost out of those, I would be very appreciative. You guys are the best!

Here's a post I put on awhile back. Now this is desperation. I was invited to go to the party where I met D'Angelo. So there! 🍺
And by the way, no one came by to help me in my time of need! 😥 🍺

Well MUC, I was in Chicago so I couldn't just drive out there to bring you beer...

[MUC57]

JCUStreaks70

Was it because you're JCU and I'm UMU? I think in times like this, we have to be unified. No democrats and republicans, no Catholics and Protestants, no white and black, no Raiders and Blue Streaks! Out of beer is no laughing matter. We help each other. Forget our differences. We live together on this planet.
I will today, on my birthday, have a toast to you. I can only hope you will be filled with goodness and caring for your fellow beer drinker. If you ever run out, I'll be there for you. Unless it's JCU / UMU game time, in which case you're on your own! 🍺 🍺 

[JCUStreaks70]

JCUStreaks70

Was it because you're JCU and I'm UMU? I think in times like this, we have to be unified. No democrats and republicans, no Catholics and Protestants, no white and black, no Raiders and Blue Streaks! Out of beer is no laughing matter. We help each other. Forget our differences. We live together on this planet.
I will today, on my birthday, have a toast to you. I can only hope you will be filled with goodness and caring for your fellow beer drinker. If you ever run out, I'll be there for you. Unless it's JCU / UMU game time, in which case you're on your own! 🍺 🍺 

MUC, if it really is your Birthday......

[skunks_sidekick]

So Frank I have a question for you.  Is it your position that the young man needs to "come clean" with you to prove his "maturity/contriteness/innocence"?  Maybe he has already had that conversation with many people more involved in his life and is comfortable where he is in regards to this incident?  I was amazed to the fact that he reached out to you long ago, as if it were my son (and I am sure with his attorney's guidance) I would not have him talking to anyone that has no bearing on his case, position with UMU, and/or his family.  Why this hasn't been settled is beyond me, but again I am NOT one of the above people in his life so I will reserve judgement until this shakes out.  Frank,you as an attorney know there are many twists and turns in the legal process and my only wild guess at this point is that his attorney believes in whatever legal tactic they have taken to this point.  I hope it's so for the kid's sake.

[MUC57]

70

Thanks buddy. It really is my birthday. Check my profile, I got the slice of cheese cake with a cherry on top. You don't get that unless ...........! Is this website great or what? Have a good one!!

[Frank Rossi]

So Frank I have a question for you.  Is it your position that the young man needs to "come clean" with you to prove his "maturity/contriteness/innocence"?  Maybe he has already had that conversation with many people more involved in his life and is comfortable where he is in regards to this incident?  I was amazed to the fact that he reached out to you long ago, as if it were my son (and I am sure with his attorney's guidance) I would not have him talking to anyone that has no bearing on his case, position with UMU, and/or his family.  Why this hasn't been settled is beyond me, but again I am NOT one of the above people in his life so I will reserve judgement until this shakes out.  Frank,you as an attorney know there are many twists and turns in the legal process and my only wild guess at this point is that his attorney believes in whatever legal tactic they have taken to this point.  I hope it's so for the kid's sake.

With me?  No.  I think I stated a clear tone that suggested it wouldn't be me he chose to speak with.  The point I made was that one person worked to resolve their issues and took accountability for them (even a mental health issue that isn't really a conventional right/wrong thing), and one seems to keep punting their issue instead of resolving it.  His tone with me last year was he wants to tell his story, but this prolonged agony of continuances and no resolution -- and his attitude and mouthpieces since (see some of the tweet attacks and purple's statements over the past months) make you wonder how accountable he is or the "adults" around him let him be.

If D'Angelo wants to sit down with me and discuss any of this -- even asking me about the things I've said and done over the last couple years that he didn't seem to like in the process of the discussion -- I've already invited him to do so.  But I do not expect it.  And I do not define him by whether he sits with me or not.  Maybe Jeff Zupanic isn't exactly the right party either, but I'm sure there are fine journalists in the middle that could get his story out there once this is resolved.

[HScoach]

^ I know nothing about the case.  Nor do I know anything about Fulford as person or student.  But the one thing I do know is that Zupanic is not the guy to be telling anyone's story.

[Craft_Beermeister]

HELP!

Glad to see some people posting. That being the case, hear my plea!

I'm in Alliance. The temperature is 1 degree. The wind chill is -8 degrees. We have been buried in snow. I can't get to my garage to get my car. Hell, I can't really get out of my house. All of the walks are covered. And it has just begun to snow again.

I have lots of food. Plenty of flashlights in case of a power failure. All the medicinal products I could ever need. My cats have plenty of dried food and canned food. I have coffee for the morning.

However; I have run out of beer. This is having an adverse effect on my well being. The weather situation has reached the crisis level. I'm at my wit's end.

So, if anyone could possibly drop off a 12 pack - even a six pack. Anything would help. A cold can of Bud Light would be great, for now! Just look for the house with the sign in the window that states "WE ARE MOUNT UNION". If you throw it up to me, i'll try to catch it.

I know I can count on our terrific posters from the OAC! Thanks in advance. 🍺🍺🍺🍺 ⛄️

P.S. If you could bring some tortilla chips and salsa, since I'm almost out of those, I would be very appreciative. You guys are the best!

Here's a post I put on awhile back. Now this is desperation. I was invited to go to the party where I met D'Angelo. So there! 🍺
And by the way, no one came by to help me in my time of need! 😥 🍺

57 that was worth some karma