Mayo?

[Otule's Glass Eye]

This was the last straw for me.

[4everwarriors]

This is on Buzz. He hands out the schollies. Been really successful with the chances he's taken. This one keeps bitin' him in the ass.

[ecompt]

Suspended for a semester.  Suspended for a half.  Suspended for a game.  Sent home over the summer.  If you include the summer as a "semester" because most of the team is on campus for a majority of the summer taking classes and practicing, that's 7 semesters (including this fall).  He was suspended or sent home for the entirety 2 of those 7, and got other suspensions in 2 of the other 5 semesters.  It's embarrassing.  I'm not saying I am a better human being than any other person, but I can tell you for damn sure that I would not be academically ineligible if I was getting a free education for playing a sport, especially given all of the academic support the basketball team receives, and I would not be breaking team rules (whatever they may be) if I was getting a free education for playing a sport.  Todd has done it 4 times now.  That is entirely unacceptable.  Good riddance if you ask me.  I don't care if it was minor and I don't care if he helps the team.  I don't care if it means NIT.  If it was his first time then absolutely give him another chance.  The 4th time?  No thanks.  There's more to life about basketball, and TODD needs to realize that.  He doesn't and he's not only hurting himself, but he's hurting the TEAM.  My worries are being realized.

I'd rather lose with JJJ and Deonte than win with this selfish oaf. Cut him loose.

[Mutaman]

This is on Buzz. He hands out the schollies. Been really successful with the chances he's taken. This one keeps bitin' him in the ass.

True. But Buzz could have pulled an Urban Meyer and looked this other way and no one would have even known known Mayo was late for practice. Buzz is who he is.

[Mutaman]

True. But Buzz could have pulled an Urban Meyer and looked this other way and no one would have even known known Mayo was late for practice. Buzz is who he is.

Speaking of Urban Meyer...... at least the day was a complete waste.

[keefe]

Speaking of Urban Meyer...... at least the day was a complete waste.

Actually the day turned out rather well. Rather well, indeed. I shall sleep well tonight.

[Bartender]

Man Royce nailed it. Mayo shouldn't be sitting a whole game for being late. Would have won with him. Buzz failed the whole following

[ChicosBailBonds]

Man Royce nailed it. Mayo shouldn't be sitting a whole game for being late. Would have won with him. Buzz failed the whole following

Want to bet he won't be late any more?

[MUSF]

Man Royce nailed it. Mayo shouldn't be sitting a whole game for being late. Would have won with him. Buzz failed the whole following

At what point does accountability matter? Todd Mayo is a grown man that should probably start acting like one pretty soon. This is bigger than winning a game against UW. You've got a lot of talented young freshmen on this team and they are always watching.

[wadesworld]

Want to bet he won't be late any more?

Yes.

Man Royce nailed it. Mayo shouldn't be sitting a whole game for being late. Would have won with him. Buzz failed the whole following

Maybe if this is the first time something like this happened it'd be more of a "written warning" type situation.  No more "written warnings" for Todd (at least I hope...).

[77ncaachamps]

When you recruit punks, that's what happens...

Punks who play in the League > Players who can't make an NBADL roster.


Last I checked, college's "Greatest Coach" per Dekker has only three former players on an NBA roster: Harris, Leuer, Stiemsma.

The college of Punks have Butler, Buycks, Crowder, Matthews, Novak, and Wade.

I'll go with Punks erryday, ya heard?

[NersEllenson]

If you don't enforce team rules regardless of when they are broken, then you have no team rules and the coach loses all control

Agree.  I admire Buzz that he stands true to his principles, and those principles in part are about trying to instill maturity into young men.

Being late for practice, in my view, is way down the list as far as conduct detrimental to the team.  Todd made a mistake, yet none of us know the circumstances around the mistake - could be as simple as he overslept...wanted to catch a quick snooze...and set his alarm wrong for AM instead of PM, etc.

I'm just blown away at how many people think you just drop the kid - he too could have easily just quit on MU and transferred to a good number of schools that wanted him - and he chose to (in my opinion) take the road less traveled, and gut it out at MU.  This wasn't like him skipping a class, breaking curfew, etc. - which by the way are things that go on frequently in a lot of high major programs.

[forgetful]

Agree.  I admire Buzz that he stands true to his principles, and those principles in part are about trying to instill maturity into young men.

Being late for practice, in my view, is way down the list as far as conduct detrimental to the team.  Todd made a mistake, yet none of us know the circumstances around the mistake - could be as simple as he overslept...wanted to catch a quick snooze...and set his alarm wrong for AM instead of PM, etc.

I'm just blown away at how many people think you just drop the kid - he too could have easily just quit on MU and transferred to a good number of schools that wanted him - and he chose to (in my opinion) take the road less traveled, and gut it out at MU.  This wasn't like him skipping a class, breaking curfew, etc. - which by the way are things that go on frequently in a lot of high major programs.

If this was the workplace instead of college basketball and an individual has made as many mistakes as Todd has, do you think the punishment would have been as lenient as this for showing up to work late.

Todd would have been fired in the real world.  Here he missed one game.  Seems like an adequate way to teach him responsibility when failure will not ruin his life (whereas getting fired, depending on the job may indeed be life changing).

[ChicosBailBonds]

Agree.  I admire Buzz that he stands true to his principles, and those principles in part are about trying to instill maturity into young men.

Being late for practice, in my view, is way down the list as far as conduct detrimental to the team.  Todd made a mistake, yet none of us know the circumstances around the mistake - could be as simple as he overslept...wanted to catch a quick snooze...and set his alarm wrong for AM instead of PM, etc.

I'm just blown away at how many people think you just drop the kid - he too could have easily just quit on MU and transferred to a good number of schools that wanted him - and he chose to (in my opinion) take the road less traveled, and gut it out at MU.  This wasn't like him skipping a class, breaking curfew, etc. - which by the way are things that go on frequently in a lot of high major programs.

I don't know if this is the case, but have you considered that maybe with previous transgressions (which Todd has had more than his share), the tolerance level is zero or close to it?

Here's the other aspect of it.  I'd bet my house that he has said over and over and over again these are the rules, there are consequences to breaking them.  If you do X, then there is a consequence.  I'm sure he had everyone on his team nod, say yes coach, I understand coach, etc, etc.  Everyone else is able to not break those rules. 

I admire Buzz for not playing favorites on this (I'm assuming that is the case).  We can all say the punishment doesn't fit the crime, on the other hand if the punishment is known to all players prior to the crime being committed (I'm speaking metaphorically, not a true crime) then I have ZERO issue with this.  I suspect, that is the case.  They all know the rules, they all know the consequences, they all managed to adhere to the rules...but one.

[NersEllenson]

I don't know if this is the case, but have you considered that maybe with previous transgressions (which Todd has had more than his share), the tolerance level is zero or close to it?

Here's the other aspect of it.  I'd bet my house that he has said over and over and over again these are the rules, there are consequences to breaking them.  If you do X, then there is a consequence.  I'm sure he had everyone on his team nod, say yes coach, I understand coach, etc, etc.  Everyone else is able to not break those rules. 

I admire Buzz for not playing favorites on this (I'm assuming that is the case).  We can all say the punishment doesn't fit the crime, on the other hand if the punishment is known to all players prior to the crime being committed (I'm speaking metaphorically, not a true crime) then I have ZERO issue with this.  I suspect, that is the case.  They all know the rules, they all know the consequences, they all managed to adhere to the rules...but one.

I don't have a problem with Buzz suspending Todd for the game - the rules are the rules.  Sure, disappointed that Todd was late to a practice of all weeks - Badger week - but even given his other troubles at MU, self-inflicted too - I'm not for saying the hell with the kid.  Todd could have bailed on MU and Buzz too - plenty of schools wanted him...including Aki trying to get him to Memphis.  Some times a change of scenery and a fresh start are good for a player - Todd didn't choose that path, which in my view would have been the easier option. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

Ners, I appreciate that point of view and it's a logical one at that.

The frustration, which I'm sure you also recognize, is that not only has this become a pattern event over three years, but Todd is a junior, he's 22 or 23 years old, and it is Badger week.  The benefit of the doubt probably passed a while ago for some and when you factor in age, tenure in the program, and the importance of playing a top 10 team against one of your biggest rivals (a game in which he excelled in the past), well some people probably are tired of it.  Not sure I can blame them.  Todd certainly could have left.  Memphis sounds like a place where historically rules aren't quite held to the same level of importance.  I hope yesterday's episode finally makes an impact.  I can't imagine where one more episode would be tolerated by his coach, or his teammates that must adhere to the same rules.

[MU82]

When my son was 19, he worked at Costco. Grunt work: chasing down carts, stocking shelves, etc. But as grunt jobs go, it was a good one for a great company, and it paid him $11.50 per hour even back then (2007). He even would have received healthcare and other benefits if he stayed there 6 months and worked enough hours.

He was late once and they told him that wasn't acceptable. He was late a second time and they put him on probation. He was late a third time and they fired him.

Each of the first two times, he was late by less than 10 minutes. The third time, as he whined, "I was only 2 minutes late, and they fired me!"

No, they didn't fire you for only being 2 minutes late. They fired you for being a repeat offender after you had been warned about the consequences.

At some point, there has to be a cumulative effect. I imagine that point is fast-approaching for Mr. Todd Mayo. He'd better shape up or Costco will fire him.

[4everwarriors]

Mayo might be better off at Sam's Club, hey?

[Lennys Tap]

Buzz's job, as he sees it, is to turn boys into men. When these boys come from less than ideal backgrounds the challenge is that much more difficult. He owes a great deal more to Todd's Mom than a Cosco or any other employer. He'll continue with the tough love, and if he concludes that enough's enough he won't make that decision lightly. Those who don't get the idea that such a responsibility is bigger than one game (or several games) just don't get it.

[wadesworld]

Buzz's job, as he sees it, is to turn boys into men. When these boys come from less than ideal backgrounds the challenge is that much more difficult. He owes a great deal more to Todd's Mom than a Cosco or any other employer. He'll continue with the tough love, and if he concludes that enough's enough he won't make that decision lightly. Those who don't get the idea that such a responsibility is bigger than one game (or several games) just don't get it.

I think Todd would be OK with his brother making $20 million if Buzz manned up and said enough is enough.

[Desert_warrior]

Think part of the reason may serve as a message to the rest of the team?

[MUSF]

I think Todd would be OK with his brother making $20 million if Buzz manned up and said enough is enough.

Marcus Vick anyone?

[brewcity77]

I don't have a problem with Buzz suspending Todd for the game - the rules are the rules.  Sure, disappointed that Todd was late to a practice of all weeks - Badger week - but even given his other troubles at MU, self-inflicted too - I'm not for saying the hell with the kid.  Todd could have bailed on MU and Buzz too - plenty of schools wanted him...including Aki trying to get him to Memphis.  Some times a change of scenery and a fresh start are good for a player - Todd didn't choose that path, which in my view would have been the easier option. 

+1

I am not ready to throw the kid under the bus. He's made mistakes. He's made multiple mistakes. Can any of us say as a teen/early-twentysomething we didn't do the same? Ners makes a great point that Todd worked to stay on this team. If he continues to work and being late to practice is the worst offense, well, it sucks it's hardly a fatal flaw.

And clearly with all this snow, hell has frozen over...Ners and I agreeing! 

[Lennys Tap]

I think Todd would be OK with his brother making $20 million if Buzz manned up and said enough is enough.

If you really think OJ's money will turn Todd into a man I hope you're not a parent. And if you think Buzz lacks the testosterone to ax Mayo I think you're missing the point.

[rocket surgeon]

Kick him off team

the death penalty?  anyway,  pardon me if i missed something, but is being late for practice the official reason or "team rule" that was broken?  just wondering.  otherwise. regardless of which team rule he broke, i believe todd has been given many chances.  about time he starts to man-up a little before he enters the real world