[Rosiak's Blog] Monterale Clark arrested, charged in Texas

[Chili]

Even if there were red flags you can't completely rule them out. Caron Butler was charged with gun and drugs possession. He took the long way to college. What happened? He played great for UCONN, made a ton of money, and is highly involved in giving back to Racine and Washington. I talked to people who knew him in high school and he was scum. I've talked to him personally and those around the past few years and he's one of the classiest players in the NBA.

It's a judgment call. It's up to Buzz to still recruit these "character problems" and decipher if he will change. Not an exact science. Would it be unacceptable for Clark to be on the team? absolutely. But is it the Jesuit way to turn away from kids you think will turn it around because they screwed up in high school? In turn denying him a great education and way to shine in sports. What's more important: our reputation or educating kids?

I think the Jesuit way would be to give it to someone deserving. He got a full fucking ride. Clark was a POS and still is a POS.

[AlumKCof93]

Our reputation is more important.  It is a privilege for any teenager to receive a full ride scholarship to any university, particularly a fine private institution like Marquette.  It is incumbent that our coaches bring in players that do not pose a threat to students at the university and that reflect well upon our university. Even good kids will make a mistake to two, but for a coach to base his reputation and the school's reputation on a young man with as many questions as Clark seemingly had is just bad.  It reflects poorly on MU and for that, I blame Buzz.  Buzz is well-compensated in exchange for finding strong character kids who can compete playing basketball at a high level.   He failed MU in offering a kid like Clark a scholarship. Had there been no prior indications that Clark was a character risk, that would be one thing.  But red flags abounded here, and it's on Buzz that he didn't heed them.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Wow, when did MU turn into a some type of rehabilitation institute? Its a privilege just to be able to attend MU, let alone, be on the basketball team. Look, I'm for giving kids opportunities, but the fact is, some kids haven't earned or more importantly, don't deserve the opportunity to attend MU.

This is a terrible story and reflects poorly on MU and Buzz. Yes, Clark is responsible for his own actions, but Buzz needs to face some responsible as well. Look, Clark had character concerns and Buzz either overlooked them or thought that he had matured past them. Either way, he was wrong.  

That's the reality of it.  No one is blaming Buzz for this kid's actions, but absolutely the coach has to take some responsibility...they are his recruits.  Fairly or unfairly, that is one of the things he is judged on.  It sucks, especially when we're talking about 18-22 year old men.  I think this is why the college coaches I've met and worked with are very much on edge.  Their living is based on how well 18-22 year old men perform and behave....that would stress out many folks.

[MARQKC]

Sad news, but to be perfectly honest, never heard of him. Here's why: I turned 60 this week, and I realize now more than ever that there are only so many minutes in our lives. I love college basketball, and, of course, especially Marquette basketball, but stories like these are among the reasons I tend not to spend too many of those minutes following college basketball recruiting or recruits. I know recruiting is a passion for a lot of MUScoopers, but I'm too old to worry about how good some 8th grader across town might be, or (worse) whether some snot-nosed teenager with a great jump shot is keeping his zipper zipped or his veins drug-free. I hope and trust that the coaches will do their best to do their recruiting jobs well, and I save up my "college basketball minutes" for any MU game I'm lucky enough to catch live; for the Big East Tournament (been to every one since we've joined, and caught almost every game in those tournaments, including the entire six-overtime game last March); or, since virtually every MU game is on TV somewhere now, watching games with fellow alumni in bars or at home. And, of course, I spend some of those college basketball minutes occasionally chiming in on one thing or another on MUScoop.com. That's my rant, and I'm stickin' to it.

[MarquetteDano]

I can only imagine the posts in response to what I write here but people better start realizing that something has changed in our recruitment process.  I graduated Marquette in '92 and I cannot recall us recruiting anyone who was charged for such a serious crime.

We have had three coaches since then and I just cannot remember something so disturbing.  I am sure some will say that he is innocent until proven guilty.  This is true.  However, I do find it odd that we have a new coach and suddenly such a serious charge has been levied towards someone Marquette thought about admitting to the university.

I don't hate Buzz.  I am not a Crean worshipper.  But, this had better not be the start of a trend.

[BrewCity83]

If this happened in '92 to a kid who had verballed but not even signed yet, you may very well have never heard about it.  The kid would have just never signed a LOI and rot away in the Big House and MU would have quietly moved on.  This is the internet age.  Everything is public now.

[Marquette Gyros]

Sad news, but to be perfectly honest, never heard of him. Here's why: I turned 60 this week, and I realize now more than ever that there are only so many minutes in our lives. I love college basketball, and, of course, especially Marquette basketball, but stories like these are among the reasons I tend not to spend too many of those minutes following college basketball recruiting or recruits. I know recruiting is a passion for a lot of MUScoopers, but I'm too old to worry about how good some 8th grader across town might be, or (worse) whether some snot-nosed teenager with a great jump shot is keeping his zipper zipped or his veins drug-free. I hope and trust that the coaches will do their best to do their recruiting jobs well, and I save up my "college basketball minutes" for any MU game I'm lucky enough to catch live; for the Big East Tournament (been to every one since we've joined, and caught almost every game in those tournaments, including the entire six-overtime game last March); or, since virtually every MU game is on TV somewhere now, watching games with fellow alumni in bars or at home. And, of course, I spend some of those college basketball minutes occasionally chiming in on one thing or another on MUScoop.com. That's my rant, and I'm stickin' to it.

+1,000. 

[tower912]

I graduated in 88.   Two words.   Pops Sims.   Not rape, but assault of an (ex?) girlfriend.    "The only thing new in life is the history you don't know".     Harry Truman


So, we've been down this road.    We have had thieves, gamblers, pot-users, poor students.     But to your main point, it seems recruiting has changed.    Much more interesting and exciting, with the occasional disaster to go with the successes.

[GGGG]

Sad news, but to be perfectly honest, never heard of him. Here's why: I turned 60 this week, and I realize now more than ever that there are only so many minutes in our lives. I love college basketball, and, of course, especially Marquette basketball, but stories like these are among the reasons I tend not to spend too many of those minutes following college basketball recruiting or recruits. I know recruiting is a passion for a lot of MUScoopers, but I'm too old to worry about how good some 8th grader across town might be, or (worse) whether some snot-nosed teenager with a great jump shot is keeping his zipper zipped or his veins drug-free. I hope and trust that the coaches will do their best to do their recruiting jobs well, and I save up my "college basketball minutes" for any MU game I'm lucky enough to catch live; for the Big East Tournament (been to every one since we've joined, and caught almost every game in those tournaments, including the entire six-overtime game last March); or, since virtually every MU game is on TV somewhere now, watching games with fellow alumni in bars or at home. And, of course, I spend some of those college basketball minutes occasionally chiming in on one thing or another on MUScoop.com. That's my rant, and I'm stickin' to it.

-1

I'm failing to understand why you would even bother posting this.

[avid1010]

Sure would be great to see the kid graduate with an MU degree and turn into a man.  I hope Buzz is able to help the kid grow, just as I hope the same for the two at UW.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I graduated in 88.   Two words.   Pops Sims.   Not rape, but assault of an (ex?) girlfriend.    "The only thing new in life is the history you don't know".     Harry Truman


So, we've been down this road.    We have had thieves, gamblers, pot-users, poor students.     But to your main point, it seems recruiting has changed.    Much more interesting and exciting, with the occasional disaster to go with the successes.

Amal had an "issue" as well, but was cleared. 

[chapman]

-1

I'm failing to understand why you would even bother posting this.

All he's saying is it doesn't hurt a school's reputation in the college basketball world when only a few crazed fans will ever know who this guy is.  Of the entire crowd at the Big East Tournament, there are no more than a dozen people (probably all on this board) who will have heard of this and think it hurts our reputation.  Actually, the overintoxicated fan at the Big East tournament would make more people notice and think poorly of MU than some police blotter about a guy who has never been and will never be affiliated with the university.  It doesn't change the fact that trying to recruit a player who is barely good enough for the A-10 and recruiting someone who looks to be headed for prison is even worse than failing to recruit any bigs at all, even if it'll never get a mention on ESPN, ESPN2, or even MUTV. 

[GGGG]

All he's saying is it doesn't hurt a school's reputation in the college basketball world when only a few crazed fans will ever know who this guy is.  Of the entire crowd at the Big East Tournament, there are no more than a dozen people (probably all on this board) who will have heard of this and think it hurts our reputation.  Actually, the overintoxicated fan at the Big East tournament would make more people notice and think poorly of MU than some police blotter about a guy who has never been and will never be affiliated with the university.  It doesn't change the fact that trying to recruit a player who is barely good enough for the A-10 and recruiting someone who looks to be headed for prison is even worse than failing to recruit any bigs at all, even if it'll never get a mention on ESPN, ESPN2, or even MUTV. 

But he is "affiliated" with the University.  "Marquette Recruit Montreale Clark..."

[Chili]

Sure would be great to see the kid graduate with an MU degree and turn into a man.  I hope Buzz is able to help the kid grow, just as I hope the same for the two at UW.

you're kidding right? you want mu to allow a rapist on campus?

[mosarsour]

you're kidding right? you want mu to allow a rapist on campus?

+1...I don't want anything to do with this kid anymore. He's had enough chances to straighten out his life. Time to move on.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

But he is "affiliated" with the University.  "Marquette Recruit Montreale Clark..."

He'll only be "MU recruit" for the next 3 weeks, or until MU gets enough commitments that it's obvious clark isn't coming.

Let's be honest, most college basketball fans would have a tough time naming MU's starters, much less MU's verbal commitments.

This is a big deal to us, but it's not a big deal to most people in the country.

[tower912]

At the moment, most MARQUETTE fans would have trouble naming MU's starters.   

[StillAWarrior]

At the moment, most MARQUETTE fans would have trouble naming MU's starters.   

At the moment, Buzz Williams would have trouble naming MU's starters.

[mu-rara]

Buzz had to balance his classes with JUCO players.  I hope that will not be the case in the future.  Jimmy Butler worked out OK.  



There were plenty of degenerates at Marquette when I was there.  Teenage boys are that way.  Not necesarily performing illegal acts, but I sure wouldn't want my daughter dating them.   Most of those same degenerates grew up.  

MY POINT:  Monterale Clark should be prosecuted to the fullest.  A long time in jail if convicted.  Cut off his b*lls.

Blanket banning of JUCO players is reactionary.  

[MUfan12]

MY POINT:  Monterale Clark should be prosecuted top the fullest.  A long time in jail if convicted.  Cut off his b*lls.

Blanket banning of JUCO players is reactionary. 

Thank you. This stereotyping of JUCO players really gets under my skin. Each one we've had at MU recently has been fine, no problems at all. Take Jamil Lott for example- he's doing more good than almost all of us here I bet. After MU, he went back to Minneapolis to help counsel young men who have been in trouble, and he wants to get into social work. Talk about living MU's mission.

[MuMark]

"  I hope Buzz is able to help the kid grow, just as I hope the same for the two at UW."


I would say you have a better chance of winning the lottery then Clark has of playing basketball for Marquette.


ps. The 2 UW kids are already gone. If they do any growing it will be at another university.