jamar smith update

[tornado]

MMob, I am more than a bit puzzled why nobody
(not the enforcement agencies, not Bruce Weber or the Illini,
and not even the families of those injured or going to jail)
ever once seemed to move at all on trying to find out where
the liquor came from. Nobody seemed to check into how and
why all those underage athletes were partying on a weeknight,
when not only was school in session, but the players were
WARNED by the coaching staff to stay in and stay off the
roads because a snow storm was coming.

Maybe some people don't care, but the events as they
affected Jamar, Carlwell, the team, and the community
ultimately are fallout of whose party it was, whose apartment it
was in, and who supplied or bought the booze.

I smell a coverup and I smell a wash here. Could the
apartment been one of the coach's or some other important person?
Could the liquor have been supplied by someone that Weber
absolutely doesn't want their identity connected with all this?

Has anyone got an explanation why all this was covered up?

[MacabreMob]

MMob, I am more than a bit puzzled why nobody
(not the enforcement agencies, not Bruce Weber or the Illini,
and not even the families of those injured or going to jail)
ever once seemed to move at all on trying to find out where
the liquor came from. Nobody seemed to check into how and
why all those underage athletes were partying on a weeknight,
when not only was school in session, but the players were
WARNED by the coaching staff to stay in and stay off the
roads because a snow storm was coming.

Maybe some people don't care, but the events as they
affected Jamar, Carlwell, the team, and the community
ultimately are fallout of whose party it was, whose apartment it
was in, and who supplied or bought the booze.

I smell a coverup and I smell a wash here. Could the
apartment been one of the coach's or some other important person?
Could the liquor have been supplied by someone that Weber
absolutely doesn't want their identity connected with all this?

Has anyone got an explanation why all this was covered up?

I agree with you completely T.

I think it is a direct reflection on the type of program being run down at UIUC.

But for fear this turns into a personal attack on me (or Bradley fans being anti-Illini), I'd rather their words/actions (and lack thereof) speak for themselves.

[MacabreMob]

I am just going to play Devil's Advocate here...not saying I want him, but would we be bashing Jamar if Jim Les thought he truly had a change of heart and character (like Matt Salley did) and wanted to be a Brave?

We've had guys with some serious baggage (most recently Matt Salley), and taken the stance that the BU 'family' atmosphere would take these guys and put them in a position to succeed (which I agree with). I just don't think we should put this guy under the bus when, if/when Illinois sends him on his way he doesn't look to the hometown school for assistance. It might happen. Hopefully it doesn't.

BB - I musta missed the scoop on Salley (or maybe conveniently forgot about it ), but I honestly don't know what you are talking about. Could you PM or email me the info you are referring to?

[VromanFan]

I am just going to play Devil's Advocate here...not saying I want him, but would we be bashing Jamar if Jim Les thought he truly had a change of heart and character (like Matt Salley did) and wanted to be a Brave?

We've had guys with some serious baggage (most recently Matt Salley), and taken the stance that the BU 'family' atmosphere would take these guys and put them in a position to succeed (which I agree with). I just don't think we should put this guy under the bus when, if/when Illinois sends him on his way he doesn't look to the hometown school for assistance. It might happen. Hopefully it doesn't.

I'll draw a bright line here. I don't want Bradley University giving athletic schlorships to convicted felons. Period.

Just my two cents.

[BradleyBrave]

I am just going to play Devil's Advocate here...not saying I want him, but would we be bashing Jamar if Jim Les thought he truly had a change of heart and character (like Matt Salley did) and wanted to be a Brave?

We've had guys with some serious baggage (most recently Matt Salley), and taken the stance that the BU 'family' atmosphere would take these guys and put them in a position to succeed (which I agree with). I just don't think we should put this guy under the bus when, if/when Illinois sends him on his way he doesn't look to the hometown school for assistance. It might happen. Hopefully it doesn't.

I'll draw a bright line here. I don't want Bradley University giving athletic schlorships to convicted felons. Period.

Just my two cents.

I agree. Methinks if Jamar is jettisoned from U of I, he'll find a soft landing at DePaul, ISU, or SIU.

[VromanFan]

I am just going to play Devil's Advocate here...not saying I want him, but would we be bashing Jamar if Jim Les thought he truly had a change of heart and character (like Matt Salley did) and wanted to be a Brave?

We've had guys with some serious baggage (most recently Matt Salley), and taken the stance that the BU 'family' atmosphere would take these guys and put them in a position to succeed (which I agree with). I just don't think we should put this guy under the bus when, if/when Illinois sends him on his way he doesn't look to the hometown school for assistance. It might happen. Hopefully it doesn't.

I'll draw a bright line here. I don't want Bradley University giving athletic schlorships to convicted felons. Period.

Just my two cents.

I agree. Methinks if Jamar is jettisoned from U of I, he'll find a soft landing at DePaul, ISU, or SIU.

I mentioned this on the other board...but I think the U of I people didn't feel the question was relevant

Can you think of any example of a school keeping a student/athlete on scholarship after they've been convicted of a felony that they committed while a student?

You know I can't think of one. Even Pierre Pierce doesn't fall into that category.

You know there's folks out there soft selling the issue so much. Its more than a tiny little mistake. Its a big deal. That's what a felony is. And if U of I is even thinking about letting him play they better be prepared to defend their decision and get ready to take a ton of flak for it.

[Da Coach]

I didn't notice if this has been posted yet, but here is Bruce Weber's response....

http://ciproud.com/content/fulltext/?cid=2554

"I can't rally comment on (Jamar's) situation, I have to get together with my A.D. and the Chancellor and see what they think. And that probably won't happen for another week or so."

Wayne McClain said..
"I'm going on record and saying I know Jamar is a very good kid who made a bad decision," said assistant coach Wayne McClain, who accompanied Weber to O'Brien Field. "He's gotta keep working and continue to prove he's the person that everyone thought he was (before the accident)."

So they are waiting to decide what action to take regarding Jamar Smith. I personally find this stance by Weber and McClain astounding. It's not like he needs to wait to see how things play out, or to see if Jamar is really guilty of anything. He was sentenced to jail time for a commission of a felony (aggravated DUI, leaving the screne of an accident), not to mention numerous team rules violations!. He is the head coach, for crying out loud, show some leadership and discipline! What is this crap about having to discuss things with the AD and chancellor? Why does he have to see what they think before he shows some balls and announce a disciplinary action like dismissal from the team? Unbelieveable!

I suspect what BW really wants to do is wait until some of the attention dies down, then designate some meaningless punishment like suspending Jamar over the summer when they don't play any games. Watch for statements like "He's suffered enough with his injuries and the injuries to Carlwell, and his jail sentence".
Then Weber will want to see what kind of team he has next year before he decides what kind of suspension he will apply for next season. Maybe he might need Jamar back at the 2-guard spot?

http://ciproud.com/content/fulltext/?cid=2554

[VromanFan]

I didn't notice if this has been posted yet, but here is Bruce Weber's response....

http://ciproud.com/content/fulltext/?cid=2554

"I can't rally comment on (Jamar's) situation, I have to get together with my A.D. and the Chancellor and see what they think. And that probably won't happen for another week or so."

Wayne McClain said..
"I'm going on record and saying I know Jamar is a very good kid who made a bad decision," said assistant coach Wayne McClain, who accompanied Weber to O'Brien Field. "He's gotta keep working and continue to prove he's the person that everyone thought he was (before the accident)."

So they are waiting to decide what action to take regarding Jamar Smith. I personally find this stance by Weber and McClain astounding. It's not like he needs to wait to see how things play out, or to see if Jamar is really guilty of anything. He was sentenced to jail time for a commission of a felony (aggravated DUI, leaving the screne of an accident), not to mention numerous team rules violations!. He is the head coach, for crying out loud, show some leadership and discipline! What is this crap about having to discuss things with the AD and chancellor? Why does he have to see what they think before he shows some balls and announce a disciplinary action like dismissal from the team? Unbelieveable!

I suspect what BW really wants to do is wait until some of the attention dies down, then designate some meaningless punishment like suspending Jamar over the summer when they don't play any games. Watch for statements like "He's suffered enough with his injuries and the injuries to Carlwell, and his jail sentence".
Then Weber will want to see what kind of team he has next year before he decides what kind of suspension he will apply for next season. Maybe he might need Jamar back at the 2-guard spot?

http://ciproud.com/content/fulltext/?cid=2554

DC,
Do you think McClain, Weber and company are concerned about how future recruits in the Peoria area are viewing this situation? Do you think that was a consideration in anyone's minds in deciding not to kick this kid off the team when the crime was committed...or when he was convicted of a felony...

Sadly, I think its possible.

[tornado]

Watch for statements like "He's suffered enough with his injuries and the injuries to Carlwell, and his jail sentence".
Then Weber will want to see what kind of team he has next year before he decides what kind of suspension he will apply for next season. Maybe he might need Jamar back at the 2-guard spot?

http://ciproud.com/content/fulltext/?cid=2554

I have already seen some talking heads on message boards saying exactly this.

If "being designated a felon for the rest of your life" is sufficient penalty for every felony, then I guess we don't need any jail.

Then of course how many numbskulls have you seen posting this kind of idiocy,
"what Jamar did was a victimless crime, in the end there's nobody really hurt..."

I wonder if Jamar robbed a bank, got caught and the money returned, then should he be let off free, since nobody got hurt?

Anyway, everyone knows Illinois will need experience at the shooting guard position next year,
so Weber is trying to position himself so he can say he had no choice but to keep Jamar, since
it was his AD and Chancellor who told him to do so.

[Stryker]

I can't believe that anyone can say that Jamar's crime doesn't really matter because it didn't hurt somebody. He frickin wrecked his car, got a DUI, and left his teammate for dead! The only kind of victimless crime is not a crime or it is breaking a "parent" law, like being required to wear a seatbelt.

[Illini Fan]

As I've seen pointed out here, and not anywhere else, Jamar has yet to be disciplined by Bruce Weber. As far as I can find, Jamar was said to have "voluntarily" left the team late last season, but I cannot find anywhere that Bruce Weber suspended him.
So, as an Illini fan, I want the best for Jamar, but the longer this drags out, the worse it is for the team. I would hope the coach makes a decision soon, now that the legal issues have played out.

[Braves4Life]

As I've seen pointed out here, and not anywhere else, Jamar has yet to be disciplined by Bruce Weber. As far as I can find, Jamar was said to have "voluntarily" left the team late last season, but I cannot find anywhere that Bruce Weber suspended him.
So, as an Illini fan, I want the best for Jamar, but the longer this drags out, the worse it is for the team. I would hope the coach makes a decision soon, now that the legal issues have played out.

It seems to me that Jamar was already disciplined by the authorities. Is it a coaches role/responsibility to discipline a second time? I don't agree with anything this kid did but I think his punishment has already scarred him for life. How many on this board can say they never drink/drank and drive? How many can say they never did anything stupid and irresponsible while in college? The difference is that Jamar wrecked and was "caught". I know I did a lot of dumb things in my youth and was never caught. I'm actually quite thankful that I'm still alive

[ManMythLegend]

In this story Jamar says

"Since the accident I have become a better person.
My goals are to obtain my college degree, speak to teens and schools all over Champaign-Urbana
and Peoria about my experience so they can learn from my mistake"

http://illinoishomepage.net/content/fulltext/?cid=6157

But do young teens actually learn from such an example? I really doubt it.
Or do they see a guy who partied, was horribly irresponsible, nearly killed someone, tried to run away and hide, and yet was welcomed back on his team, was virtually undisciplined by the Illini, kept his scholarship, is going to play next year, and ends up overall with a very light punishment?
Do young people essentially see that he did exactly what he's telling people not to do and essentially got away with it.

It's like rehabbed druggie ex-jocks and stars (like Conseco & Schwarzenegger) telling kids not to drink and do drugs,
when what the kids actually see is how famous and wealthy those guys got by doing erxactly what they now say not to do?

The reason he plans on doing this is because it counts towards the 100 hours of community service he needs to perform and it makes him look like a 'good guy'. He's not fooling anyone, he could have killed a teammate, himself, and possibly completely innocent people. IF that had happened, I don't think there would be anyone stepping in saying that he was a 'good kid that made a bad decision'. My .02 cents.

[it's boogie time]

I really can't see the University of Illinois renewing the scholarship of a convicted felon. That's a big hurdle to clear. I'd be interested to see if they even can since there is a code of conduct that has to be followed.

[tornado]

Never underestimate the desperation of Bruce Weber.

Recall that he brought Jamar back and played him in the Illinois-Bradley game barely more than week after the kid had sufferted a very severe high ankle sprain.
Weber did whatever he had to do to beat Bradley, and essentially tanked the entire rest of the season in doing so.

Turns out that playing against Bradley set Jamar back so much that he had to sit out again several games, and was never the same after than, hitting a dismal 9-58 (15%) of his 3-pointers during the Big Ten season.
His overall FG shooting was 22.8%, compared to 47% in the games before the Big Ten season.