Cardale Jones, tOSU QB: Going To Class Is pointless

[Tugg Speedman]

October 6, 2012
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8466428/ohio-state-buckeyes-cardale-jones-tweets-classes-pointless

Ohio State third-string quarterback Cardale Jones made his feelings about attending classes clear Friday on Twitter.

"Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play FOOTBALL, we ain't come to play SCHOOL classes are POINTLESS," he wrote.

The tweet and Jones' entire account have been deleted, but multiple media outlets captured Jones' words before they vanished.

Ohio State sent out a statement late Friday night regarding Jones' tweet and its policy on social media.

"We allow our student-athletes the opportunity to express themselves via the social mediums," the statement read. "What we do ask of them and communicate to them is the importance of being respectful, appropriate and aware that their communications can impact many people. We remind that others may have different views and opinions on what may and may not be appropriate, so always remember not to post or tweet anything that could embarrass themselves, their team, teammates, the university, their family or other groups, organizations or people."

[MerrittsMustache]

My favorite part of that story is that Jones had a 3.0 GPA. Honestly, how easy are the classes that he's taking?

[Groin_pull]

October 6, 2012
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8466428/ohio-state-buckeyes-cardale-jones-tweets-classes-pointless

Ohio State third-string quarterback Cardale Jones made his feelings about attending classes clear Friday on Twitter.

"Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play FOOTBALL, we ain't come to play SCHOOL classes are POINTLESS," he wrote.

The tweet and Jones' entire account have been deleted, but multiple media outlets captured Jones' words before they vanished.

Ohio State sent out a statement late Friday night regarding Jones' tweet and its policy on social media.

"We allow our student-athletes the opportunity to express themselves via the social mediums," the statement read. "What we do ask of them and communicate to them is the importance of being respectful, appropriate and aware that their communications can impact many people. We remind that others may have different views and opinions on what may and may not be appropriate, so always remember not to post or tweet anything that could embarrass themselves, their team, teammates, the university, their family or other groups, organizations or people."

But...but...but, I thought if you attend a Big 10 school you're an elite scholar. 

[reinko]

Andy Katzenmoyer is upset Cardale doesn't take his studies serious enough.

[MU82]

I hope people don't bash this kid too hard for being honest.

He merely said what hundreds -- or maybe even thousands -- of college athletes think but are afraid to say.

College football is little more than the NFL's cheap minor-league system.

The real dopey thing is that Zeke Elliott can't go to the NFL after two years in college. He so obviously is ready to begin making money in his chosen profession, which is what college is supposed to be for.

[MerrittsMustache]

The real dopey thing is that Zeke Elliott can't go to the NFL after two years in college. He so obviously is ready to begin making money in his chosen profession, which is what college is supposed to be for.

He should petition the NFL. What could go wrong for an OSU running back who tries that?

[CTWarrior]

I hope people don't bash this kid too hard for being honest.

He merely said what hundreds -- or maybe even thousands -- of college athletes think but are afraid to say.

College football is little more than the NFL's cheap minor-league system.

The real dopey thing is that Zeke Elliott can't go to the NFL after two years in college. He so obviously is ready to begin making money in his chosen profession, which is what college is supposed to be for.

Agree about Elliott.  Especially RBs.  A human being can only take so many hits, and if the guy is not intent on graduating from Ohio State he shouldn't have to absorb the next 300-400 hits for free.  

The vast majority of football players, even at football factory schools, are not going to earn a paycheck playing football.  It's not basketball where you have many options where you can make a living wage playing in Europe or somewhere if you don't make the NBA.  

The simple, basic deal with college athletics is that the student-athletes provide the university with a service by playing a sport, and in turn the university provides the student-athlete with an education.  Now the student should want and should be encouraged to avail him or herself of that opportunity for a useful education, not just some nonsense to keep them eligible.  

That's why the scandal at UNC to me strikes at the heart of college athletics and should be met with the severist of punishments.  It's one thing for a student-athlete to not take advantage of the opportunity, but its quite another for a university to actively discourage pursuit of a meaningful degree in order to meet its athletic goals.

[MUsoxfan]

33m+ people tuned into the game with another 80,000 paying an average of $800 to watch it in person. There are lots of people getting rich off of free labor. God forbid they don't want to go to class at these schools that exploit them without shame

[NavinRJohnson]

He's absolutely correct. Wish more would speak out in the same way and further expose the sham of college athletics.

[Sheriff]

My favorite part of that story is that Jones had a 3.0 GPA. Honestly, how easy are the classes that he's taking?

Maybe he has friends who take good notes.

[MU82]

Agree about Elliott.  Especially RBs.  A human being can only take so many hits, and if the guy is not intent on graduating from Ohio State he shouldn't have to absorb the next 300-400 hits for free.  

The vast majority of football players, even at football factory schools, are not going to earn a paycheck playing football.  It's not basketball where you have many options where you can make a living wage playing in Europe or somewhere if you don't make the NBA.  

The simple, basic deal with college athletics is that the student-athletes provide the university with a service by playing a sport, and in turn the university provides the student-athlete with an education.  Now the student should want and should be encouraged to avail him or herself of that opportunity for a useful education, not just some nonsense to keep them eligible.  

That's why the scandal at UNC to me strikes at the heart of college athletics and should be met with the severist of punishments.  It's one thing for a student-athlete to not take advantage of the opportunity, but its quite another for a university to actively discourage pursuit of a meaningful degree in order to meet its athletic goals.

Agree with every word of this, CTW.

[Skitch]

October 12, 2012? What a breaking news story.

[g0lden3agle]

October 12, 2012? What a breaking news story.

Kind of relevant considering he's gone from "3rd string quarterback" to "B10, Sugar Bowl, and National Champion quarterback" in the last 2 months or so.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Heck, im not a college athlete but I feel like going to class is pointless for some professors/classes.

[chapman]

Everyone gets a mulligan on what they said and did as a first semester freshman.

[rocket surgeon]

Waiting for maurice clarett To chime in with his 2 cent, wait, he probably ain't got 2 cent

[MerrittsMustache]

Kind of relevant considering he's gone from "3rd string quarterback" to "B10, Sugar Bowl, and National Champion quarterback" in the last 2 months or so.

...to 2015 NFL Draft pick (if he's smart enough to go now). His stock will never be higher, GMs will fall in love with his potential and there's not enough film out there for him to be ridiculed.

[JWags85]

His stock will never be higher, GMs will fall in love with his potential and there's not enough film out there for him to be ridiculed.

Exactly, as Mariota was being questioned by critics the last few weeks for the games he played on an injured knee and his performance not being better...

[Pakuni]

...to 2015 NFL Draft pick (if he's smart enough to go now). His stock will never be higher, GMs will fall in love with his potential and there's not enough film out there for him to be ridiculed.

Hmmm. I dunno about that.
If he returns to school and has a great season, he could go in the top 5, or even first overall (next year's QB draft class is looking horrid at this point).
While there isn't enough film on him out there right now, there's enough for NFL teams to see he has huge flaws in his passing game. While teams might love his potential, it's highly unlikely he goes in the first round unless he wows people at the Combine and in workouts.
The difference between being the first pick and going in the second round can be $20 million.

[MerrittsMustache]

Hmmm. I dunno about that.
If he returns to school and has a great season, he could go in the top 5, or even first overall (next year's QB draft class is looking horrid at this point).
While there isn't enough film on him out there right now, there's enough for NFL teams to see he has huge flaws in his passing game. While teams might love his potential, it's highly unlikely he goes in the first round unless he wows people at the Combine and in workouts.
The difference between being the first pick and going in the second round can be $20 million.

He's not going to be a 1st Round pick this season but he also might not even be the starter at OSU next season. The difference between being a 4th Round pick and a college back-up can be $5 million  

He more than likely would be drafted in the mid-rounds, potentially by a team like the Saints, Giants, Cardinals, etc who have their short-term QB in place and could give Jones 2-3 years to develop.

Apparently his announcement is coming up at 3 today.

[MU B2002]

He's not going to be a 1st Round pick this season but he also might not even be the starter at OSU next season. The difference between being a 4th Round pick and a college back-up can be $5 million  

He more than likely would be drafted in the mid-rounds, potentially by a team like the Saints, Giants, Cardinals, etc who have their short-term QB in place and could give Jones 2-3 years to develop.

Apparently his announcement is coming up at 3 today.

Also, another year in the OSU program may hurt more than it helps if he is viewed as just a product of their style of offense. (Which he will never run anywhere else.)  He may be at his most valuable as a raw talent.

[GGGG]

He's worth a mid-round pick.  If he is a Jamarcus like disaster, you can afford that given his potential upside.  I would think though that there are huge concerns about his ability to read defenses.  All he has ever done is do a simple, one read system.  (Mariotta is the same however.)

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

He's worth a mid-round pick.  If he is a Jamarcus like disaster, you can afford that given his potential upside.  I would think though that there are huge concerns about his ability to read defenses.  All he has ever done is do a simple, one read system.  (Mariotta is the same however.)

To be fair to Jamarcus, if you put him on a good team and let him play back-up for 2+ seasons, his story might have been completely different.

high draft pick + huge salary + expectations + poor performance + immaturity = Flameout.

If you can remove the high pick, high salary, expectations, and give him some successes in mini-camps and preseason, you can probably overcome any maturity issues and develop his skills (both physical and mental).

I'd def. take a flyer on Jones if he shows he has some physical tools at the combine. 

[Spotcheck Billy]

need to see a Wonderlick score before even considering

[Pakuni]

To be fair to Jamarcus, if you put him on a good team and let him play back-up for 2+ seasons, his story might have been completely different.

Maybe .... but highly unlikely.
JaMarcus' failure had much, much less to do with who drafted him (or where he was drafted) than his own laziness and personal issues.
Tim Couch, Cade McNown, Andre Ware, David Klingler, Akili Smith - even Ryan Leaf - all these busts got multiple opportunities in the NFL. Since he was cut by the Raiders, not one NFL team has taken a serious look at Russell. Doesn't that tell you all you really need to know here? Russell fell into a less-than-ideal situation, to be sure, but by far his biggest problem was himself.
It's implicit that every highly drafted QB (not named Andrew Luck) is going into a bad situation with immediate expectations of success. The good ones rise above that and drag the franchise with them. JaMarcus sunk the franchise even further.