Wisconsin Football Program Indiscretions?

[SmokeTownHawk]

While this is absolutely true, the court of public opinion could see things very differently. Just to be accused of something like this these days leaves a stain. Particularly with womens' rights groups that may view this as another example of a male athlete getting away with sexual assault of a female which has been in the news at many college campuses and major cities of professional franchises quite a bit lately.

I don't know a whole lot about this case but we're talking about a large college campus where there are going to be a lot of people with a lot of different views. And with sensitivity being at an all time high the university may look at this and say, "not worth the trouble".

Yeah, that's certainly a part of it. There's also a sizable portion of the population that believes if you're accused of a crime you're automatically guilty, especially if it's not a white-collar crime or the defendant is of a lower economic class.

 

[StanziUSA]

Very interesting post. I live in Wisconsin and had never really thought about the fact that I cannot remember reading any newspaper articles about Badger athletes' legal issues. I do think they run a clean program, so I am not jumping to any conclusions. In no way are you wrong for posting your thoughts. You have been clear that you are not accusing WI of anything.

I live here too. Just heard of one last year. Two WRs accused of sexual assault one was clean as of yesterday

 

[revkev73]

Let's not fool ourselves, organizations that make hundreds of millions of dollars each year have ways to make sure the money keeps rolling in. Lots of people depend upon this income and for colleges it is important that their "product-players" which, by the way, is officially "unpaid" needs to keep producing to protect all of those high paying jobs at the organization: AD office, coaches, EO police, yada, yada. Everyone who wants to keep the machine rolling knows what "needs to be done" wink, wink, but all within the "rules." The best become "machines" at this, and the culture is changed into doing what it takes rather than doing what it "right." The ends justifies the means 101. The press and those who cover the machine also know what to say and what not to say if they want to stay around. I guess I don't hear of much "investigative reporting" by the press (insiders) that hang around the big money machines in college athletics or have I missed it? Of course, it has moved down to high school and grade school and agents on the street, it has to with that much on the line. How does this "soft" corruption keep on going when so many who are involved know better, at least deep inside? Well, "everyone else is doing it" and we need to keep up with it so "be creative" folks. How could it be any other way, billions of cash, and little oversight or interest in "solving" the dishonesty?

I remember many years ago when playing college BB on a low level team which didn't have much money or give scholarships. Our best player was given a pass on many of the "team rules" that the rest of us had to abide by. One of the players complained to the coach about this double standard: missed classes, practices, poor effort by the "star" with no repercussions. The coach said, "Sure it is a double standard, life isn't fair, get used to it, that's the way it is, don't kid yourself." Lots of lessons to learn in college outside the classroom. That honest teaching moment has been helpful to me for many years.

 

[ATLHawkeye]

It's been long established (at least the perception) that the ICPD is no friend of the Hawkeyes. Does anybody know why? Could it be the IC elected officials that pull the strings?

 

[kicker22]

The Wisconsin Football program absolutely would welcome him back with open arms, right now this is a issue with the university. The university expelled him during the process and he filed a countersuit against the university (which he ultimately dropped). That’s where the hair is, if the university reinstates him he will be back on the football team instantly.

As for Iowa, yes I would absolutely take him. Let’s remember here he was found not guilty on all charges. That doesn’t mean there is some sort of stain over him now, he was found not guilty by a jury in less than 45 minutes.

Agree about being not guilty per jury in under 45 minutes. My thought is based on what went on with the university, regardless of where he stands with the football team, I'm surprised he'd even consider returning to Madison after what went on. If something similar happened to me and things got to the point where I filed a countersuit against the university there's no chance I'd consider any thought of being reinstated and would be looking elsewhere.

 

[NikeHawk21]

Agree about being not guilty per jury in under 45 minutes. My thought is based on what went on with the university, regardless of where he stands with the football team, I'm surprised he'd even consider returning to Madison after what went on. If something similar happened to me and things got to the point where I filed a countersuit against the university there's no chance I'd consider any thought of being reinstated and would be looking elsewhere.

Agreed. I mentioned that (Surprising he’d want to return to UW) in an earlier post in this thread.

 

[kicker22]

Lets just say the opportunity would ever present itself. Would you be interested in having him on the Iowa team?

I find it hard to believe that the Badgers would bring him back, but you never know.

I don't know enough about the situation other than he was found not guilty by a jury in under 45 minutes. There's definitely some potential character concerns, but if he was on a tight leash with absolutely no room for a slip up I think I'd welcome him in Iowa City. While I have no problem with him getting a second chance, we aren't Nebraska, so in the event there'd even be a slip up I'd consider it a wasted opportunity and want him gone.

 

[Ree4]

Barry Alvarez casts a huge shadow and has a lot of power in Madison. There's more happening there that what we see and hear about.

 

[Ree4]

God out
Guns out
Free speech only if you speak like them
All white people racist
Guilty until proven inocent
Borders open
College free - bye football
Socialism

And people were afraid their constitutional rights were going to be taken away and freedoms lost.

Lol, this shit again... keep regurgitating the talking points you hear.

 

[Jonrn]

The case against Cephus never should have even made it to trial. The District Attorney was the one who pushed it there. The jury found Cephus not guilty on both charges in less than 45 minutes of deliberation.

Also note that Cephus has applied for immediate reinstatement at the university this week with hopes of re-joining the team.

Honestly I have no idea why he would want to play at Madison as the University completely bailed on him. It will be interesting to see what the University does. It could be a shitstorm if they don’t allow him back, but there is a lot more too it than that I suspect. At one point he was countersuing the university but had to drop the case prior to his trial.

Really an amazing story and props to Cephus for fighting it, when there was probably 86 plea bargains offered to him like there is to any young black male.

I’m sympathetic to sexual assault victims like anyone is, but it cannot come at the expense of young men’s lives. This could have ruined his life. I fear my young daughter getting assaulted, but I also fear just as much for my 2 year old son who is black getting accused of sexual assault or any crime because on campus men are assumed to be guilty no matter what and in society black men are always assumed to be guilty.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

God out
Guns out
Free speech only if you speak like them
All white people racist
Guilty until proven inocent
Borders open
College free - bye football
Socialism

And people were afraid their constitutional rights were going to be taken away and freedoms lost.

Suppress the majority to appease the minority.

 

[kicker22]

Really an amazing story and props to Cephus for fighting it, when there was probably 86 plea bargains offered to him like there is to any young black male.

I’m sympathetic to sexual assault victims like anyone is, but it cannot come at the expense of young men’s lives. This could have ruined his life. I fear my young daughter getting assaulted, but I also fear just as much for my 2 year old son who is black getting accused of sexual assault or any crime because on campus men are assumed to be guilty no matter what and in society black men are always assumed to be guilty.

I think this is the exact argument that was going through my head when I said I'd welcome him in black and gold. A jury found him not guilty, so regardless of what the court of public opinion has to say he went into that hearing to prove just innocence (as defined by the law) and could have pleaded to a lesser charge.

Unfortunately something happened that may or may not have been a crime. As someone who believes in the legal system he was found not guilty, so based on that finding, I think he deserves a second chance in Madison or somewhere else. That said what he does with that second chance should be on him. IF I were him and got that second chance, I'd spend the rest of my collegiate career being a choir boy and doing everything in my power not to blow that opportunity.

 

[Ree4]

I think this is the exact argument that was going through my head when I said I'd welcome him in black and gold. A jury found him not guilty, so regardless of what the court of public opinion has to say he went into that hearing to prove just innocence (as defined by the law) and could have pleaded to a lesser charge.

Unfortunately something happened that may or may not have been a crime. As someone who believes in the legal system he was found not guilty, so based on that finding, I think he deserves a second chance in Madison or somewhere else. That said what he does with that second chance should be on him. IF I were him and got that second chance, I'd spend the rest of my collegiate career being a choir boy and doing everything in my power not to blow that opportunity.

The court of public opinion is what's at play here, not the court of law. Obviously he was found not guilty, but so was OJ. Of course the two cases were completely different and the court system isn't perfect, but a not-guilty verdict won't stop people from believing what they want to. Unfortunately many people jump to any conclusion they want based on little information, or inaccurate information.

 

[RobHowe]

I wonder if these guys were model citizens while in college:

https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/...cle_41c54650-6f5a-580d-bb53-8884755a84e8.html

http://archive.jsonline.com/sports/...all-arrested-again-b99704902z1-375348371.html

https://madison.com/wsj/sports/coll...cle_a1d9bc38-d14e-5799-8d24-f39663d1f511.html

https://www.si.com/college-football/2014/12/02/jack-ikegwuonu-arrested-wisconsin-badgers

 

[kicker22]

The court of public opinion is what's at play here, not the court of law. Obviously he was found not guilty, but so was OJ. Of course the two cases were completely different and the court system isn't perfect, but a not-guilty verdict won't stop people from believing what they want to. Unfortunately many people jump to any conclusion they want based on little information, or inaccurate information.

I agree 100%, but people are always going to bitch. If it's not about that then it's something else. I'm not saying nothing happened or that he's innocent, but based on the criteria laid out by the judge to the jurors, they made a finding based on the facts provided. IF a plea would have been accepted or there would have been a guilty verdict on a lesser charge, I'd be all in favor of his career being over, but IMO the court or public opinion is made up of those that think they're better than everyone else and feel the need to judge others. IMO he's already been judged and was found "not guilty" so my opinion isn't needed.

 

[okeefe4prez]

This could have ruined his life.

It probably already has. The guy was pretty good as a sophomore and could have easily bloomed into a marginal NFL candidate. But he's not a good enough player where he can get teams to turn a blind eye to it, so he probably has forfeited any chance he had at the League.

 

[okeefe4prez]

IMO he's already been judged and was found "not guilty" so my opinion isn't needed.

The issue is always the school conduct code. That's how a guy like Marcus Coker can get bounced out of school without even having charges brought. I assume his lawsuit was about the kangaroo court nature of those "trials" the schools put on.

 

[kicker22]

The issue is always the school conduct code. That's how a guy like Marcus Coker can get bounced out of school without even having charges brought. I assume his lawsuit was about the kangaroo court nature of those "trials" the schools put on.

I'm sure you're right about the issue being the school conduct code. It's just a shame that those code's apply differently to athletes and "regular" students.

 

[Northside Hawk]

Really an amazing story and props to Cephus for fighting it, when there was probably 86 plea bargains offered to him like there is to any young black male.

I’m sympathetic to sexual assault victims like anyone is, but it cannot come at the expense of young men’s lives. This could have ruined his life. I fear my young daughter getting assaulted, but I also fear just as much for my 2 year old son who is black getting accused of sexual assault or any crime because on campus men are assumed to be guilty no matter what and in society black men are always assumed to be guilty.

Our HS principal wanted to expel our oldest son, who is adopted, bi-racial, bi-polar and ADHD. When the social workers stood their ground, this gentleman, and I will use that term loosely, decided to fabricate his own story late in my son's sophomore year when money allegedly turned up missing in a students locker. This HS principal, masters degree and all, submitted a falsified report to local police, full of a general kangaroo court of gobbly gook that was all sound and fury, signifying nothing. He questioned a bunch of students but didn't bother to question the football coach, who was my son's biggest ally. He did question the track coach, another ally, but twisted his words. God bless my wife, who called bullshit on the report when we were called into the local police office.

My son went on to finish high school without further incident and ended up going to state his senior year for shotput and discus. The principal moved on about two years later and has since bounced to another job, where he supposedly has been promised the superintendent job. We could have bounced him for filing a false report to the police, had we pursued it.

Those of you who are involved in adoption and foster care who are doing it right (i.e. not for the money). God bless every one of you.

 

[Jonrn]

Our HS principal wanted to expel our oldest son, who is adopted, bi-racial, bi-polar and ADHD. When the social workers stood their ground, this gentleman, and I will use that term loosely, decided to fabricate his own story late in my son's sophomore year when money allegedly turned up missing in a students locker. This HS principal, masters degree and all, submitted a falsified report to local police, full of a general kangaroo court of gobbly gook that was all sound and fury, signifying nothing. He questioned a bunch of students but didn't bother to question the football coach, who was my son's biggest ally. He did question the track coach, another ally, but twisted his words. God bless my wife, who called bullshit on the report when we were called into the local police office.

My son went on to finish high school without further incident and ended up going to state his senior year for shotput and discus. The principal moved on about two years later and has since bounced to another job, where he supposedly has been promised the superintendent job. We could have bounced him for filing a false report to the police, had we pursued it.

Those of you who are involved in adoption and foster care who are doing it right (i.e. not for the money). God bless every one of you.

I love my son and we didn’t adopt him to get congrats and pats on the back. However once you have a young black son, you become very conscious and very worried about false accusations. Like it or not, black men and boys in our society do not get the benefits in the criminal justice system and kangaroo college disciplinary committees white people do. I want to believe it isn’t true, but it is. I’m not a bleeding heart liberal either. I’m about as conservative politically as it gets.