Bama/Oats/Miller

[willie warrior]

Miller did nothing wrong

Of course he did nothing wrong amongst the Roll Tide crowd. At worst he was helping a bud out but made a dubious decision. Nothing to see here as Drebbin would say.

[Uncle Rico]

Of course he did nothing wrong amongst the Roll Tide crowd. At worst he was helping a bud out but made a dubious decision. Nothing to see here as Drebbin would say.

Correct

[MuggsyB]

Has the president of Alabama said a single thing about the death of this woman?  I'm having a really difficult time that this is apparently going to just blow over.  If Miller was a fringe player do you really think there would be no suspension until a complete investigation was finished?  Again, Oats, Miller, the rest of the Bama players, the AD, President, and essentially the entire Tuscaloosa community knew about this story for a full month.  They knew that details would come out about Miller's potential involvement. 

The mother of this young woman who was murdered is furious and I don't blame her.  Her grandchild is motherless at 5 yrs old.  Has there been any protests or screaming from the rooftops about wtf is going on there?  This isn't to say that Miller is guilty or did anything legally wrong but there has to be a complete investigation if nothing else.  Kids are suspended for missing class or breaking curfew aren't they?  There is no rational person, knowing the facts that we know presently, that would not say Miller exercised extremely poor judgment.  It's simply not plausible that Miller brought his friend his gun unknowingly.  Oats is also responsible for horrific judgment and asinine statements in the past week. 

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Has the president of Alabama said a single thing about the death of this woman?  I'm having a really difficult time that this is apparently going to just blow over.  If Miller was a fringe player do you really think there would be no suspension until a complete investigation was finished?  Again, Oats, Miller, the rest of the Bama players, the AD, President, and essentially the entire Tuscaloosa community knew about this story for a full month.  They knew that details would come out about Miller's potential involvement. 

The mother of this young woman who was murdered is furious and I don't blame her.  Her grandchild is motherless at 5 yrs old.  Has there been any protests or screaming from the rooftops about wtf is going on there?  This isn't to say that Miller is guilty or did anything legally wrong but there has to be a complete investigation if nothing else.  Kids are suspended for missing class or breaking curfew aren't they?  There is no rational person, knowing the facts that we know presently, that would not say Miller exercised extremely poor judgment.  It's simply not plausible that Miller brought his friend his gun unknowingly.  Oats is also responsible for horrific judgment and asinine statements in the past week.

The university and Oats have handled it horrendously.  Tone-deaf and callous.  Seems obvious to me that Miller's importance on a top 3 team and Final Four contender is significantly driving these decisions (I'm not referring to any legal implications). 

We'll see if he gets hit with a civil suit post-draft. 

[MuggsyB]

The university and Oats have handled it horrendously.  Tone-deaf and callous.  Seems obvious to me that Miller's importance on a top 3 team and Final Four contender is significantly driving these decisions (I'm not referring to any legal implications). 


We'll see if he gets hit with a civil suit post-draft.

I could see that happening VBMG.  But meanwhile, and I'm not privy to what is specifically happening on campus there, it's beyond bizarre to me that I've read almost nothing as far as community and student body outrage in Tuscaloosa.  I do recall what happened in Durham with those LaCrosse players as an example.  It's just fking weird.

[The Sultan]

I mean, I think it is fairly easy to understand why there aren't protests. The player whose gun it was and his friend who shot the victim have both been arrested and the player has been dismissed from the team. Despite the initial "WTF" moment after everyone learned of Miller's involvement, it seems like Miller has been cooperative and actually didn't know about the gun left in his backseat.

But the lack of statements from the President's office is strange. And the University's continuing to throw Oats out there to do something that is clearly not a skill of his is a problem.

What they should have done is suspend Miller as soon as they knew of his involvement. Once the story came out about his cooperation, I have no problem with him continuing to play. (If of course his story holds up.) But throwing him out on the road before the whole story came out was an awful thing to do even if he wanted to play.

But I feel that Oats needs more guidance on the PR side of things. Why do they put him out there? And the University administration needs to step up and do something here. Right now it looks like they have no idea what to do in the crisis communications area and are just flying by the seat of their pants.

[94Warrior]

What is Brandon miller guilty of ?

A case could easily be made to charge Miller with Accessory to Murder.

Guilt or innocence would be determined at a later date.

[The Sultan]

A case could easily be made to charge Miller with Accessory to Murder.

Guilt or innocence would be determined at a later date.

But the district attorney already claimed that couldn't be done under Alabama law. I really don't want DAs out there filing fringe charges only to say "guilt or innocence can be determined at a later date." They need to follow the law.

[MuggsyB]

I mean, I think it is fairly easy to understand why there aren't protests. The player whose gun it was and his friend who shot the victim have both been arrested and the player has been dismissed from the team. Despite the initial "WTF" moment after everyone learned of Miller's involvement, it seems like Miller has been cooperative and actually didn't know about the gun left in his backseat.

But the lack of statements from the President's office is strange. And the University's continuing to throw Oats out there to do something that is clearly not a skill of his is a problem.

What they should have done is suspend Miller as soon as they knew of his involvement. Once the story came out about his cooperation, I have no problem with him continuing to play. (If of course his story holds up.) But throwing him out on the road before the whole story came out was an awful thing to do even if he wanted to play.

But I feel that Oats needs more guidance on the PR side of things. Why do they put him out there? And the University administration needs to step up and do something here. Right now it looks like they have no idea what to do in the crisis communications area and are just flying by the seat of their pants.

I get what you're saying but we know for a fact Miller brought a gun to a friend (at 1am) that was used to kill a 23yr old woman.  We also know that his car had bullet holes in them.  Again, Alabama's disciplinary decisions are separate from the potential legal issues and police investigations.  When you say he "didn't know about the gun in tbe backseat" are we supposed to just accept it at face value?  How is that possible?  Didn't his friend specifically tell him to bring him his gun at 1am? 

Miller's lawyer claims he didn't see the gun in the car.  Is that actually the same thing as not knowing there was a gun in the car?  The legal statement from his attorney doesn't exactly exonerate Miller from wrongdoing in my judgment.  I cannot wrap my head around Alabama doing literally nothing.  Wouldn't you simply state we are conducting a thorough investigation of what happened that evening and until we find out the complete story, with help from authorities and local police, we have no choice but to suspend Miller? 

[MuggsyB]

But the district attorney already claimed that couldn't be done under Alabama law. I really don't want DAs out there filing fringe charges only to say "guilt or innocence can be determined at a later date." They need to follow the law.

Could there be corruption among the DA's office and local police department in Tuscaloosa covering for Alabama? 

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Could there be corruption among the DA's office and local police department in Tuscaloosa covering for Alabama?

Never.

[The Sultan]

No I don't think we should take Miller's words at face value. But if the police are exonerating him after he was cooperative, that seems to be acceptable unless something else comes out. And yes, as I said above, he should have been suspended until that police exoneration occurred.  Apparently he said he didn't read the texts about the gun because he was driving at the time.

Now if all the above is true, why should Alabama continue with a suspension? It doesn't seem like he violated a team rule or the athletic code of conduct.

I think Miller has been failed by the adults in the room. They should have kept him off the court at South Carolina and should have told him to stop the "pat down" act during intros. Oats may not have known about it, but someone else clearly should have.

[The Sultan]

Could there be corruption among the DA's office and local police department in Tuscaloosa covering for Alabama? 

Could be. I don't know. In the absence of evidence of corruption, I will trust they know Alabama law better than Scoopers do.

[MuggsyB]

No I don't think we should take Miller's words at face value. But if the police are exonerating him after he was cooperative, that seems to be acceptable unless something else comes out. And yes, as I said above, he should have been suspended until that police exoneration occurred.  Apparently he said he didn't read the texts about the gun because he was driving at the time.

Now if all the above is true, why should Alabama continue with a suspension? It doesn't seem like he violated a team rule or the athletic code of conduct.

I think Miller has been failed by the adults in the room. They should have kept him off the court at South Carolina and should have told him to stop the "pat down" act during intros. Oats may not have known about it, but someone else clearly should have.

He didn't read the texts about the gun is pretty difficult for me to believe. 

[94Warrior]

But the district attorney already claimed that couldn't be done under Alabama law. I really don't want DAs out there filing fringe charges only to say "guilt or innocence can be determined at a later date." They need to follow the law.

Bringing the murder weapon to the murder scene is hardly a fringe charge.  And there appears to be ample evidence to bring charges, regardless of what District Attorney Billy Bob says.

According to the Bill of Rights, Guilt or innocence is always determined at a later date. 

[The Sultan]

Bringing the murder weapon to the murder scene is hardly a fringe charge.  And there appears to be ample evidence to bring charges, regardless of what District Attorney Billy Bob says.

According to the Bill of Rights, Guilt or innocence is always determined at a later date. 

He had to know the gun was going to be used in a crime. He claims that he didn't know the gun was in the car, didn't hand it to Miles or the shooter, and had no idea they were going to commit a crime. He gave the police access to his phone and to his car, and they apparently came to the same conclusion.

I don't want DAs charging people with crimes unless they have the evidence to convict.

[wadesworld]

He may not have done anything against the laws, but if he had no knowledge of the gun being in the car the lawyer's statement would have been much different.  His lawyer never once said he didn't know the gun was in the car.  If he didn't know the gun was in the car, that would've been stated over and over and over again by the lawyer.  Instead it was all lawyer speak about not knowing the intent of Miles, not seeing or handling it, and not knowing the situation he was heading into.  In fact, the statement doesn't even say he didn't see the text Miles sent asking him to bring the gun, it just says that while he was already on his way to pick up Miles, Miles texted him to bring his gun.  Which would lead you to ask, if Miller didn't know where the gun was wouldn't the response be, "Where is the gun?" before continuing on to pick Miles up?

It essentially said Brandon did not take part in the situation and touched the gun in any way, has cooperated since the event, but did not say he was unaware of the gun being in the car.

[MuggsyB]

He may not have done anything against the laws, but if he had no knowledge of the gun being in the car the lawyer's statement would have been much different.  His lawyer never once said he didn't know the gun was in the car.  If he didn't know the gun was in the car, that would've been stated over and over and over again by the lawyer.  Instead it was all lawyer speak about not knowing the intent of Miles, not seeing or handling it, and not knowing the situation he was heading into.  In fact, the statement doesn't even say he didn't see the text Miles sent asking him to bring the gun, it just says that while he was already on his way to pick up Miles, Miles texted him to bring his gun.  Which would lead you to ask, if Miller didn't know where the gun was wouldn't the response be, "Where is the gun?" before continuing on to pick Miles up?

It essentially said Brandon did not take part in the situation and touched the gun in any way, has cooperated since the event, but did not say he was unaware of the gun being in the car.

Ty.  This is similar to my understanding of what happened but I haven't read extensively about it. 

[Pakuni]

According to the Bill of Rights, Guilt or innocence is always determined at a later date.

And according to standard codes of legal ethics, prosecutors should not file charges in cases when they do not believe they have the evidence to win a conviction. The criminal justice system isn't "charge them all and let a jury sort it out."

[94Warrior]

And according to standard codes of legal ethics, prosecutors should not file charges in cases when they do not believe they have the evidence to win a conviction. The criminal justice system isn't "charge them all and let a jury sort it out."

He was texted to bring the gun, he brought the gun, a young mother was shot dead.  That hardly qualifies as "charge them all and let the jury sort it out".

If 2 Marquette players were involved, one expelled from school (acknowledging some wrongdoing), and the other (conference POY and future lottery pick) with no consequences, I would hope we'd all be asking questions.  I know I would.

[The Sultan]

He was texted to bring the gun, he brought the gun, a young mother was shot dead.  That hardly qualifies as "charge them all and let the jury sort it out", but what do I know?

If 2 Marquette players were involved, one expelled from school (acknowledging some wrongdoing), and the other with no consequences, I would hope we'd all be asking questions.  I know I would.

Darius Miles was not just "expelled from school." He was arrested for capital murder because he provided the gun that the shooter used.

That's the point. The person that actually provided the shooter with the gun HAS been arrested and charged.

[Pakuni]

He was texted to bring the gun, he brought the gun, a young mother was shot dead.  That hardly qualifies as "charge them all and let the jury sort it out".

So, what are you charging him with?
It's not a crime to bring someone their legally owned gun.

[cheebs09]

I'm not sure at this point what you can suspend him for. It doesn't sound like he will be charged with anything. He's cooperating.

That doesn't mean he shouldn't have been suspended right when it happened to let the process play out. The school has know about this awhile. However, at this point, it doesn't seem like there's a cause to suspend.

[94Warrior]

So, what are you charging him with?

Accessory to murder.  You don't have to agree with me, but if he hadn't brought the murder weapon to the scene - a young boy would still have a mother.

Players have been suspended for far less.  Alabama has handed this horribly.

And, I don't know the laws in Alabama, but in most states it is illegal to have a loaded gun in a car.  At the very least, he broke the law, which ultimately led to a murder.

[The Sultan]

Accessory to murder.  You don't have to agree with me, but if he hadn't brought the murder weapon to the scene - a young boy would still have a mother.

Players have been suspended for far less.  Alabama has handed this horribly.

The DA specifically said they can't charge him with that. Yes, a young boy lost a mother. But two people have been arrested for that crime.