Crime and Punishment, Football Style
posted by Scott Hood on Tuesday, February 19, 2008
So, how should Steve Spurrier handle this latest situation involving wide receiver Dion Lecorn?
Lecorn, as you probably know, was arrested Sunday night for simple possession of marijuana by police officers in Cayce. He was jailed overnight and released Monday on a personal recognizance bond.
Lecorn, who had 27 receptions last season as a freshman (that’s two more catches than Kenny McKinley had as a freshman in 2005), and Matt Clements, another USC wide receiver who redshirted last season, have been suspended indefinitely from “all team activities.”
Rather than dealing with Lecorn exclusively, Spurrier needs to sit the entire football team down and lay down the law. First, he should tell them any player who commits any misdemeanor or felony crime from this point forward will, at minimum, be suspended for the full 2008 season.
Second, he needs to make the entire team run the stadium steps at 6 a.m. for Lecorn’s misdeeds. Better yet, make the team run while Lecorn watches from the stands.
That should take care of it.
In my opinion, one key fact mitigates in favor of Lecorn – he told the truth to Cayce police officers when they approached him and the two people he was with – WR Matt Clements and his high school friend, John Casselberry. He admitted he had been smoking marijuana.
But it’s also important to keep Lecorn’s alleged crime in perspective. Yes, it was stupid, but it was hardly the worst crime ever committed by a South Carolina football player. In fact, it probably doesn’t even come close.
Remember, the charge of simple possession of marijuana is a misdemeanor under South Carolina law.
Does it warrant permanent dismissal from the team? No.
Does it warrant a one or two game suspension? Yes.
Since Lecorn appears to be a first-time offender, I’m sure he’ll apply for PTI when he appears in court sometime in the near future and that should take care of the matter.
I will take this opportunity, though, renew my contention that Spurrier should ban his players from going to Five Points, a rule former head coach Jim Carlen had for his players during his tenure from 1975-1981.
The fewer places the players can get themselves into trouble, the better.
While far from a joking matter, Lecorn’s alleged crime is fairly mild compared to some of the other activities his fellow SEC football players have engaged in this week.
In case you haven’t seen it, Tennessee punter Britton Colquitt was suspended for five games and had his scholarship stripped after he was arrested over the weekend for DUI and leaving the scene of a crime.
However, this is far from the first alcohol related arrest for Colquitt, whose older siblings have tormented the Gamecocks over the years with their supreme punting skills.
It’s apparent from reviewing the literature that Colquitt has a serious drinking problem.
How bad has it gotten at Tennessee? Respected columnist John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel published a piece Monday advocating the firing of head coach Phil Fulmer, even after a 10-win season.
Does Fulmer care about Colquitt’s personal weakness when it comes to the consumption of alcoholic beverages? I doubt it. As long as he keeps landing those punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line, he’ll remain with the team.
Also, Alabama defensive end Jeremy Elder was suspended indefinitely by Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban (who’s not known as a strict disciplinarian) on Monday after he was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, a felony.
Elder allegedly robbed two fellow Alabama students of $26.00 at gunpoint late Sunday night.
Am I justifying Lecorn’s actions by pointing to other bad behavior of other SEC football players? No. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Nothing can justify possessing an illegal drug.
Common sense, being what it is, dictates DUI and armed robbery are far more serious crimes than simple possession of an illegal drug. Colquitt and Elder displayed a shocking disregard for their fellow human beings.
In my opinion, both players should be kicked off their respective teams. But, since winning trumps everything, they probably won’t.
Adams was 100 percent correct when he wrote this: “When a football program is winning big, virtually everything is forgiven.”
Lecorn’s crime? He was stupid and, unfortunately for him, stupidity sometimes has a steep price.
As a result, he’ll probably watch the nationally televised season opener against N.C. State from the sidelines, joining DT Kenrick Ellis (violation of university rules), OT Jamon Meredith (NCAA mandated two game suspension for granting him a medical hardship for 2004 season) and, possibly, RB Mike Davis (academics).
Beyond that? Who knows.
But a one-game suspension for Lecorn would constitute a punishment that fits his crime.
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I’m going to put on my head coaching visor for a moment.
So, how should Steve Spurrier handle this latest situation involving wide receiver Dion Lecorn?
Lecorn, as you probably know, was arrested Sunday night for simple possession of marijuana by police officers in Cayce. He was jailed overnight and released Monday on a personal recognizance bond.
Lecorn, who had 27 receptions last season as a freshman (that’s two more catches than Kenny McKinley had as a freshman in 2005), and Matt Clements, another USC wide receiver who redshirted last season, have been suspended indefinitely from “all team activities.”
Rather than dealing with Lecorn exclusively, Spurrier needs to sit the entire football team down and lay down the law. First, he should tell them any player who commits any misdemeanor or felony crime from this point forward will, at minimum, be suspended for the full 2008 season.
Second, he needs to make the entire team run the stadium steps at 6 a.m. for Lecorn’s misdeeds. Better yet, make the team run while Lecorn watches from the stands.
That should take care of it.
In my opinion, one key fact mitigates in favor of Lecorn – he told the truth to Cayce police officers when they approached him and the two people he was with – WR Matt Clements and his high school friend, John Casselberry. He admitted he had been smoking marijuana.
But it’s also important to keep Lecorn’s alleged crime in perspective. Yes, it was stupid, but it was hardly the worst crime ever committed by a South Carolina football player. In fact, it probably doesn’t even come close.
Remember, the charge of simple possession of marijuana is a misdemeanor under South Carolina law.
Does it warrant permanent dismissal from the team? No.
Does it warrant a one or two game suspension? Yes.
Since Lecorn appears to be a first-time offender, I’m sure he’ll apply for PTI when he appears in court sometime in the near future and that should take care of the matter.
I will take this opportunity, though, renew my contention that Spurrier should ban his players from going to Five Points, a rule former head coach Jim Carlen had for his players during his tenure from 1975-1981.
The fewer places the players can get themselves into trouble, the better.
While far from a joking matter, Lecorn’s alleged crime is fairly mild compared to some of the other activities his fellow SEC football players have engaged in this week.
In case you haven’t seen it, Tennessee punter Britton Colquitt was suspended for five games and had his scholarship stripped after he was arrested over the weekend for DUI and leaving the scene of a crime.
However, this is far from the first alcohol related arrest for Colquitt, whose older siblings have tormented the Gamecocks over the years with their supreme punting skills.
It’s apparent from reviewing the literature that Colquitt has a serious drinking problem.
How bad has it gotten at Tennessee? Respected columnist John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel published a piece Monday advocating the firing of head coach Phil Fulmer, even after a 10-win season.
Does Fulmer care about Colquitt’s personal weakness when it comes to the consumption of alcoholic beverages? I doubt it. As long as he keeps landing those punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line, he’ll remain with the team.
Also, Alabama defensive end Jeremy Elder was suspended indefinitely by Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban (who’s not known as a strict disciplinarian) on Monday after he was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, a felony.
Elder allegedly robbed two fellow Alabama students of $26.00 at gunpoint late Sunday night.
Am I justifying Lecorn’s actions by pointing to other bad behavior of other SEC football players? No. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Nothing can justify possessing an illegal drug.
Common sense, being what it is, dictates DUI and armed robbery are far more serious crimes than simple possession of an illegal drug. Colquitt and Elder displayed a shocking disregard for their fellow human beings.
In my opinion, both players should be kicked off their respective teams. But, since winning trumps everything, they probably won’t.
Adams was 100 percent correct when he wrote this: “When a football program is winning big, virtually everything is forgiven.”
Lecorn’s crime? He was stupid and, unfortunately for him, stupidity sometimes has a steep price.
As a result, he’ll probably watch the nationally televised season opener against N.C. State from the sidelines, joining DT Kenrick Ellis (violation of university rules), OT Jamon Meredith (NCAA mandated two game suspension for granting him a medical hardship for 2004 season) and, possibly, RB Mike Davis (academics).
Beyond that? Who knows.
But a one-game suspension for Lecorn would constitute a punishment that fits his crime.
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.