FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[allsky7]

One thing that bothers me is that the more you boil the story down, like that old grade-school game telephone, something like "as many as 15 people were on the scene" becomes "15 people jumped these guys," etc.

Frankly, it's one of those situations where you don't know what to believe. I don't think you have to have had journalistic training to realize there's often more to each side of the story than what the police were told. And that's really all I know at this point.

I'd be interested to learn what Barnette means by he's being treated unfairly. It's definitely possible that the whole story isn't coming out, or that people are jumpion to conclusions. But then again, it's not hard to envision some drunk guys whaling on someone while spitting racial slurs, even on a "tolerant" college campus.

As a former football player (as well as editor of the school paper, and being involved in performing arts), I remember what it was like when people tried to box you in, or people from other walks of life look at football players like maniacs. Not even that, they look at you like the big, evil bullies, let's say, with no morals (I think someone said this earlier). Like you're the kind of guy they've always wanted to get back at their whole lives. And a lot of time that's the furthest thing from the truth. But then again, if it was a story where a bunch of white guys had allegedly beaten up some poor black kids screaming the N-word, I have to wonder how pissed I'd be.

So there's no way to know what to think without filling in some of the blanks in your own mind and taking sides. Which isn't always wise.

All you can definitely say is this is looking real bad right now, for everyone. It would be a major victory for involved parties to spin it into something positive.

     As I mentioned previously, this type of thing can/has happened  on about any college campus (or elsewhere for that matter) in the US. Like it or not, when you have a group of young males (aka testosterone city) and their need to be accepted into a group....throw in a little booze...a couple of guys that happen to have the same look as the ones chanting their hatred for the USA on the news and you have a recipe for this type of thing. Born of ignorance, clouded judgement, the previously stated need to fit in, and possibly a myriad  of other issues kids deal with today. It is possible that this was a case of wrong place...wrong time...wrong circumstances. Unacceptable....absolutely!!
       I am not saying that this is what happened in this case but it is one possible scenario. It happens on college campuses with regularity. No one pays much attention when it is a bunch of frat guys beating the crap out of each other. When it involves an attack based on race/ethnicity..then it is elevated to a whole different level.

[WLU78]

Two reason why these football players don't have a prayer:



and



As long as hysteria trumps truth the nightmare will continue!

[abnrgr]

WLU
Bada Bing

[Snakehandler]

Guilford = Incubator

[BrotherB]

I wonder if this will cause the Guilford HC to be the next Todd Strop in D3?

Same or different situation?

[EHCPride]

Without it being the season info is hard to come by.  That being said, word is Emory has gotten a few transfers in that should look to help the program next year.  I don't really know that much about names or info, but it appears CJ Johnson has transferred back in from UVa-Wise and that Thad Wells is back in school.  Also, former Richlands standout Cain Ringstaff has transferred from UVa to give Emory more presence in the backfield.  This should prove interesting in seeing the development of the offense next year and the race to see who will replace Woods and Co. as the source of offensive firepower.

And as an addendum, my take on the Guilford situation.  Obviously none of us knows that much about what happend that night, but I think that when you couple that incident with the Dion Rich incident things aren't looking so hot with the ole ball coach.  Just my take though.

[muchacho]

And as an addendum, my take on the Guilford situation.  Obviously none of us knows that much about what happend that night, but I think that when you couple that incident with the Dion Rich incident things aren't looking so hot with the ole ball coach.  Just my take though.

Good take in my opinion. This situation seems ripe for a scapegoat, and Kiesel or the whole football program may have that coming. Hasa...any rumblings in the community about shutting down the football program? How much of this will be blamed on athletes as trouble makers, instead of individual mistakes?

[hasanova]

And as an addendum, my take on the Guilford situation.  Obviously none of us knows that much about what happend that night, but I think that when you couple that incident with the Dion Rich incident things aren't looking so hot with the ole ball coach.  Just my take though.

Good take in my opinion. This situation seems ripe for a scapegoat, and Kiesel or the whole football program may have that coming. Hasa...any rumblings in the community about shutting down the football program? How much of this will be blamed on athletes as trouble makers, instead of individual mistakes?

Hey, muchacho.  Yes, it is ripe for a scapegoat, but I see no rumblings about shutting down the football program.  I see a focused approach at the alleged assailants and not a broad attack of football or sports.  In fact, many of the football team's members have spoken at rallies and other public forums on and around campus (the Friends Meeting across the road) to condemn the violence and have received cheers and applause.  Coach Kiesel has also publicly voiced his confidence and support in the college and the integrity of its internal judicial system, which is comprised of a panel of five students and two faculty members.  Each student who comes before the judicial board is given the services of an experienced faculty member (who is very versed in the judicial proceedings) to act as their mentor and advocate.  It is a nonconfrontational session(s), but there is a vigorous charge to find the truth and act accordingly, which can include a punishment up to expulsion from the college.

I think President Chabotar and his staff are moving forward in a sane and fair manner with the college's internal judicial process.  The city's separate criminal system will follow it's own path and timetable for those formally charged, which, by the way, is now at five (two more players were arrested and released on bond Thursday).  The college has been forthright about what happened, has fully cooperated with outside authorities and has released regular updates on the college website.  I anticipate a lot of uncensored coverage in the college newspaper, The Guilfordian, this week and, as an alumnus, I got an email from the college today explaining the situation and asking for feedback - which I gave.  The local TV, radio and print media have been on campus daily all week, so this is getting widespread coverage and debate from all sides of the political spectrum.

Coach Kiesel is a fine man, a father of three and a stand-up guy.  I personally hope he will not be professionally punished for the alleged actions of some of his players at a gathering unrelated to football.  If I see that happening, I will let my voice as an alumnus, donor and Quaker Club member be loudly heard.

As a blogger said the other day, "This is not good" and as someone else said in response, "This is not good for anyone."  Guilford has stood for what's right for 170 years and I'll be damned if 370 seconds of ignorance is going to bring that down.  Peace

[sludge]

Yea I tend to lean to the athlete at Guilford (or an American) for they are the true minorites at Guilford. The 160 players or so I saw over the past 5 years were great Americans and I would take most to war. 

I would honor them as you, and also take them to peace.  Any approach that treats people as other than individuals is flawed.  That's the root of so many problems.

[Trenches]

Hey everyone,
     I haven't been around on here much lately, but I figured I'd check up to see what was being said about the GC incident. I would like to throw a few things out there that were originally grossly misinterpreted by the media that are slowly coming forward now.
     When I first heard what was up I said I was not going to cast any judgement until I heard more. Since then I have heard more each day. I don't know the whole story, very few people do. But I do have the "luxury" of knowing people involved and who live right there. From what I can gather the entire incident was nothing more then a clashing between two groups of friends that escalated into a fight; No different then two groups of friends fighting at a bar.
     Unfortunately it was dubbed a "hate crime" after the international group laid down a story and names from the night. Similar instances (accusations, confrontations, etc...) have happened with the same group in the past but have never been on this level. One thing I would like to point out that I found interesting was that one of the names that was apparently thrown out there wasn't even in greensboro that night.
     There has also been much talk about barnette. I would like to let everyone here know that Chris is one of the least confrontational people I have ever met. In the past, he would often be the one to break incidents up if involved at all.

     Like I said, when I first heard what happened I held back judgement. But after hearing things that the media is only beginning to scratch on, I can only hope that people wait to hear the whole story before jumping all over the football players for "perpetrating this crime."

[abnrgr]

Not to beat a dead horse Trenchs but I did say lets not eat the fish before they are scaled. You're dead on with this theme.

Those are some good kids on that team. The players seemed to me to much more different than the average student at GC-Q.

It sounds like "hysteria without cause".

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Don Hansen finally released his All-America teams.

Congrats to the following ODAC players...

Second Team
Chris Barnette, Guilford WR

Honorable Mention
Gamal Alwan, Randolph-Macon DT
Mike Six, Guilford DT
Marshall Doss, Emory & Henry LB

With Guilford's Six being named, that now makes two All-Americans that may have been involved in this hate crime.

Also, and I know this is awful to say, but before I saw that R-MC's Alwan made Hansen's AA team, I have never heard of the guy!  Who the heck is he?

*looks up his stats*

OK, so apparently he is a sophomore who tied for 25th in the ODAC in tackles (53), was No. 1 in sacks (9.5), and third in tackles for a loss (13.0).

Pretty good numbers, but he didn't even make D3football.com's All-South team (which includes three teams - six total DTs).  Hmm.

[abnrgr]

So he was an AA after all

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Don Hansen finally released his All-America teams.

Kid,

I see Nate Kmic was a first team RB and a second team AP.  What is an AP?

PK-Place Kicker, PR-Punt Returner, KR-Kick Returner, but I don't think I recall ever seeing a Football position of AP...

[muchacho]

Pretty good numbers, but he didn't even make D3football.com's All-South team (which includes three teams - six total DTs).  Hmm.

Sounds like you are trying to say that Don Hansen should be picking his All Americans from a pool of d3football.com Regional teams. I don't know how Hansen picks his team, but Alwin's numbers that you posted seem worthy for a DT.