4 Tennessee Basketball Players Arrested.

[downtown85]

Just heard it on ESPN.  No real details yet except it has to do with drugs and weapons. 

[Jay Bee]

"Tennessee men's basketball players Tyler Smith, Cameron Tatum, Brian Williams and Melvin Goins were arrested after a traffic stop around noon on Friday.

The players are facing misdemeanor weapon and drug charges, according to a source with knowledge of the situation."

[nyg]

"Tennessee men's basketball players Tyler Smith, Cameron Tatum, Brian Williams and Melvin Goins were arrested after a traffic stop around noon on Friday.

The players are facing misdemeanor weapon and drug charges, according to a source with knowledge of the situation."

http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/01/01/four-tennessee-players-reportedly-arrested/

[Jay Bee]

Bad, bad news.  Smith and Williams have felony charges.

Suspects and charges:

   1. Cameron Alexander Tatum (driver) dob 07/88 (a) unlawful poss. of firearm (b) open container of alcohol

   2. David Tyler Smith (front seat passenger) dob 09/86 (a) unlawful poss. of firearm (b) poss. of firearm with altered serial #

   3. Melvin Lamont Goins II ( left rear seat passenger ) dob 12/87 (a) unlawful poss. of firearm (b) poss. of schedule VI

   4. Brian M. Williams ( right rear seat passenger ) dob 08/87 (a)unlawful poss. of firearm (b) poss. of firearm with altered serial # (c) poss. of schedule VI

[ecompt]

guess there will be plenty of room for Jeronne now.

[Golden Avalanche]

When you turn over your program to a guy like Bruce Pearl, and turn your face as you squirm, this type of news was always going to happen.

[nyg]

If the law wants to really nail them, they would call in the ATF and make the alteration of a serial number on a weapon a federal charge.

Those four players saw significant playing time and provided about 40% of the offense.  Probably won't see them on the court for the SEC play.

[77ncaachamps]

At least it's not Wayne Chism.

[GGGG]

At least it's not Wayne Chism.

That name always makes me snicker.

[avid1010]

guess there will be plenty of room for Jeronne now.

Will this hurt or help J-May?  As much as TN is going to need players, they're not going to need anyone with a questionable background. 

[wildbillsb]

Will this hurt or help J-May?  As much as TN is going to need players, they're not going to need anyone with a questionable background. 

I'm not so sure about that.  Apparently, Coach P. is used to working with players with "a questionable background."

[mviale]

Will this hurt or help J-May?  As much as TN is going to need players, they're not going to need anyone with a questionable background. 

Maymon does not have a questionable background? He just chose to transfer from Marquette. 

[groove]

haha, love it. thug coach. thug program.

[avid1010]

Maymon does not have a questionable background? He just chose to transfer from Marquette. 

Grades and fighting at Memorial.  Not that it's a big deal, but I have to believe those above Pearl will be watching who he recruits.

[4everwarriors]

I wouldn't want my livelihood dependent on the skills, behavior, and families of 18-22 year old athletes. There's a reason coaches have health problems attributed to the stress of their jobs. Scholarship athletes have a special talent. To be honest, they also may have been spoiled and pampered on the road to manhood. Don't expect a squad of choirboys to represent your favorite university. It ain't going to happen.  Doesn't matter if it's UW, UL, Tennessee, or fill in the blank U., items occur.
The easiest route for us and others is to universally place the blame with the head coach. And, yes, I realize he or she is ultimately responsible for the actions of the players both on and off the court or field. But, the head coach is not with them 24/7. The blame here, and in all other incidents, must be shared foremost by the players, and secondary by the people who gifted them with a $100,000-$200,000 college scholarship.
Incidents like this are happening at public schools, private schools, small conferences, large conferences, and at D-1,2, and 3 institutions. Don't be so smug in your judgment, your alma mater may someday face the same embarrassment.

[Jay Bee]

Incidents like this are happening at public schools, private schools, small conferences, large conferences, and at D-1,2, and 3 institutions. Don't be so smug in your judgment, your alma mater may someday face the same embarrassment.

  Just about anything can happen anywhere.  However, I have no problem making a judgment about certain coaches and certain programs being especially slimy and lacking character.  The likelihood of incidents like this happening is clearly affected by the types of kids you bring into your problem.

[groove]

  Just about anything can happen anywhere.  However, I have no problem making a judgment about certain coaches and certain programs being especially slimy and lacking character.  The likelihood of incidents like this happening is clearly affected by the types of kids you bring into your problem.

+1 exactly. IF 4 MU basketball players get arrested with the same type of charges tonight, I'll say the same thing about MU. Thug coach. Thug players. Thug program.

[mviale]

I wouldn't want my livelihood dependent on the skills, behavior, and families of 18-22 year old athletes. There's a reason coaches have health problems attributed to the stress of their jobs. Scholarship athletes have a special talent. To be honest, they also may have been spoiled and pampered on the road to manhood. Don't expect a squad of choirboys to represent your favorite university. It ain't going to happen.  Doesn't matter if it's UW, UL, Tennessee, or fill in the blank U., items occur.
The easiest route for us and others is to universally place the blame with the head coach. And, yes, I realize he or she is ultimately responsible for the actions of the players both on and off the court or field. But, the head coach is not with them 24/7. The blame here, and in all other incidents, must be shared foremost by the players, and secondary by the people who gifted them with a $100,000-$200,000 college scholarship.
Incidents like this are happening at public schools, private schools, small conferences, large conferences, and at D-1,2, and 3 institutions. Don't be so smug in your judgment, your alma mater may someday face the same embarrassment.

+1

[ChicosBailBonds]

I wouldn't want my livelihood dependent on the skills, behavior, and families of 18-22 year old athletes. There's a reason coaches have health problems attributed to the stress of their jobs. Scholarship athletes have a special talent. To be honest, they also may have been spoiled and pampered on the road to manhood. Don't expect a squad of choirboys to represent your favorite university. It ain't going to happen.  Doesn't matter if it's UW, UL, Tennessee, or fill in the blank U., items occur.
The easiest route for us and others is to universally place the blame with the head coach. And, yes, I realize he or she is ultimately responsible for the actions of the players both on and off the court or field. But, the head coach is not with them 24/7. The blame here, and in all other incidents, must be shared foremost by the players, and secondary by the people who gifted them with a $100,000-$200,000 college scholarship.
Incidents like this are happening at public schools, private schools, small conferences, large conferences, and at D-1,2, and 3 institutions. Don't be so smug in your judgment, your alma mater may someday face the same embarrassment.

All of that is true, but there's also certain programs that are in the spotlight more for transgressions of their student athletes because they recruit more players with bigger problems, etc.  Risk and reward. 

Stanford, Duke, etc don't have the same problems as other programs like Memphis, Tennessee, etc.

Sure, they all have problems to some extent but the coach knows who he is bringing in and usually knows a considerable amount about the kid's past.  Of course the coach can't control the kid's actions once they get to said university, but part of evaluating a kid during the recruiting process is to understand what kind of character he has and what kind of risk he poses.   

[TallTitan34]

I've been reading some message boards and several people seem to be worried about the vehicle they four were riding in.  A vechicle generally too expensive for college students too afford.  Again this is just from various message boards and I can't find any information on what the players were actually driving.

[g0lden3agle]

I've been reading some message boards and several people seem to be worried about the vehicle they four were riding in.  A vechicle generally too expensive for college students too afford.  Again this is just from various message boards and I can't find any information on what the players were actually driving.

According to ESPN, Bruce Pearl stated that "to his knowledge" the car was in one of the player's girlfriend's name.

[TallTitan34]

According to ESPN, Bruce Pearl stated that "to his knowledge" the car was in one of the player's girlfriend's name.

That seems about right.

[warthog-driver]

Just heard it on ESPN.  No real details yet except it has to do with drugs and weapons. 

Throw in some poon and you have the Holy Trinity!

[warthog-driver]

  Just about anything can happen anywhere.  However, I have no problem making a judgment about certain coaches and certain programs being especially slimy and lacking character.  The likelihood of incidents like this happening is clearly affected by the types of kids you bring into your problem.

I believe the blame for this shameful incident rests squarely with the Volunteer Hostess Squad assigned to these 4 young men. If the Hostesses had been doing their duty these men would not have been out prowling the late night streets but instead been firmly between the sheets.

[avid1010]

According to ESPN, Bruce Pearl stated that "to his knowledge" the car was in one of the player's girlfriend's name.

As were the guns and weed.

[Tugg Speedman]

Update: Bruce Pearl will indefinitely suspend the four players, Tyler Smith, Cameron Tatum, Brian Williams and Melvin Goins, according to a CBSSports.com report.

[Golden Avalanche]

I wouldn't want my livelihood dependent on the skills, behavior, and families of 18-22 year old athletes. There's a reason coaches have health problems attributed to the stress of their jobs. Scholarship athletes have a special talent. To be honest, they also may have been spoiled and pampered on the road to manhood. Don't expect a squad of choirboys to represent your favorite university. It ain't going to happen.  Doesn't matter if it's UW, UL, Tennessee, or fill in the blank U., items occur.
The easiest route for us and others is to universally place the blame with the head coach. And, yes, I realize he or she is ultimately responsible for the actions of the players both on and off the court or field. But, the head coach is not with them 24/7. The blame here, and in all other incidents, must be shared foremost by the players, and secondary by the people who gifted them with a $100,000-$200,000 college scholarship.
Incidents like this are happening at public schools, private schools, small conferences, large conferences, and at D-1,2, and 3 institutions. Don't be so smug in your judgment, your alma mater may someday face the same embarrassment.

It's cute to me when you defend Bruce Pearl so vigorously.

[4everwarriors]

Cute? So you disagree with my statement?

Here's the disclaimer I should have added:

I like Pearl. I consider Bruce to be a friend. Though since he left MKE, there hasn't been much contact. Nonetheless, I still stand by my statement about the difficulties of managing student athletes. Bruce really doesn't need me to stick up for him either.

Disclaimer #2
Had this happened to Crean, I would not verbalize his defense.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Cute? So you disagree with my statement?

Here's the disclaimer I should have added:

I like Pearl. I consider Bruce to be a friend. Though since he left MKE, there hasn't been much contact. Nonetheless, I still stand by my statement about the difficulties of managing student athletes. Bruce really doesn't need me to stick up for him either.

Disclaimer #2
Had this happened to Crean, I would not verbalize his defense.

Well, I give you credit for being honest here, but it doesn't really excuse the hypocrisy.

You are smart enough to recognize your own biases, but you just don't care. Awesome.

I actually agree 100% with your first post about Bruce. You are dead on. But, I apply that same logic to all coaches, not just my "friends".

[ChicosBailBonds]

Cute? So you disagree with my statement?

Here's the disclaimer I should have added:

I like Pearl. I consider Bruce to be a friend. Though since he left MKE, there hasn't been much contact. Nonetheless, I still stand by my statement about the difficulties of managing student athletes. Bruce really doesn't need me to stick up for him either.

Disclaimer #2
Had this happened to Crean, I would not verbalize his defense.

I appreciate your honesty, you are one of the few here that openly admits the double standard....for that you get major kudos.

I will say this about BP, he is a funny funny dude.  Very likable.  I just know too many stories on the basketball front that taints my judgment of him overall....that's my disclaimer.  How he got UWM to where he did was frustrating as hell on the other side of town because we knew how shady it was but you couldn't say anything without it coming off as total sour grapes.

[groove]

According to ESPN, Bruce Pearl stated that "to his knowledge" the car was in one of the player's girlfriend's name.

Pearl probably has had a bit of the girlfriend also.

[Tugg Speedman]

Incidents like this are happening at public schools, private schools, small conferences, large conferences, and at D-1,2, and 3 institutions. Don't be so smug in your judgment, your alma mater may someday face the same embarrassment.

T. Mbawke And M. Clark were "almosts" for MU.  Tom Copa, Oliver Lee, Terry Reasoner are in our history. 

No we are not Tenn or BP, but the point about holds true, it happens to everyone to some degree.

[MU B2002]

Way to go Bruce.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRTU4egxCMw

[NavinRJohnson]

Not sure what his motivation would be, but that immediately struck me an intentional comment.

[Hards Alumni]

T. Mbawke And M. Clark were "almosts" for MU.  Tom Copa, Oliver Lee, Terry Reasoner are in our history. 

No we are not Tenn or BP, but the point about holds true, it happens to everyone to some degree.

I think the difference is, that if these were 4 MU guys with these charges, they'd be off the team the next day.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I think the difference is, that if these were 4 MU guys with these charges, they'd be off the team the next day.

I hope you are right.

[Benny B]

Way to go Bruce.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRTU4egxCMw

I don't know what was funnier, Bruce's faux pas or his recognition of it.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

I feel bad for the guy what a kick in the teeth