Suspended Cardinal Ritter player mom interview
- Thread starter bhunt95
- Start date
Very simple. Mom should move to another state. Then her son can play Game 1. Don't let these rule-following fools take away his future.
Its hard to feel for anyone in this situation honestly. The only thing that does feel a little excessive is the 8 game suspension for the kid for next year his Senior Year. The reg season is just 9 games. He's basically being suspended an entire season for something that yes he was wrong but the ADULTS in the situation are the true criminals.
I would suspended him next year maybe a game or 2 but yea you're basically giving the kid a year suspension on top of this.
So is the Eight game suspension from CR or MSHSAA? If CR if he transfers to another MO school would it be the orginal 1 game?
Also I heard "lawyer" language in the interview. "Do harm" and other quotes. My guess they have consulted an attorney.
I agree with BP. Make the kid sit out a game like he was supposed to start this season. I doubt if he implemented the plan to wear a different jersey or the subsequent coverup. He and the entire team have been deservedly punished for losing the rest of their season including what could have been a state championship run.
The coaching staff has been fired - that is a plus. Hard to believe administration didn’t know of the problem before October. Interesting that the mom still had faith in the fired coach...
The coaching staff has been fired - that is a plus. Hard to believe administration didn’t know of the problem before October. Interesting that the mom still had faith in the fired coach...
Well, it's been pointed out to us many times that the way to get noticed by colleges if to attend the camps that the recruiters visit, so it shouldn't matter if he plays the first 8 games of next year's season or not, right? And, I don't know why this lady isn't blaming the coaches, as they put her son in that position AND you can't tell me he didn't know it was wrong. Does it suck for this kid? Yes Punishment most always sucks when you're experiencing it....
Well that’s pretty much the penalty for playing under a false identity. You break the rules you pay the price
The team has been suspended for the season. Hats off to the Diocese for making that decision. I agree it was the adults who made the decision in this mess, not the kids. The staff has been let go. It is time for all to move forward and start the healing process. There are some great people and kids at CR and no more punishment should be handed out to the kids involved next year. IMO, if the adults say no you are suspended, CR would not be in this mess.
I was thinking the same thing, like there are many ways to get recruited now so that wont be impossible. But the Punishment for THIS YEAR is adequate to me. AD and entire Coaching Staff = Fired. Team Undefeated and #1 in Class? = Season Cancelled.
The entire team and staff knew the wrong doing was happening and said nothing. With this logic then just suspend the entire team next year too.
Rules say 365
Why is it so hard to understand this?
Yea I saw this in the other thread the other day that its a MSHSAA Rule. The difference is thought that he didnt play under a False Identity until week 9 this year, just week 1. I do think he should sit out the first game next year seeing he never served his original suspension. This is a big mess. Cardinal Ritter has only been to state twice 2008/2018 and never won it.
This finally looked like their chance and they screw it up. Just dumb.
365 would mean that he sits out week 1 correct? 365 from violation date??
Boy I hate to form an opinion on any of this, because you don't know everything. But I have to question why the mom thinks they still need coach Gregory after all of this? To me is sounds like she is still putting some faith into somebody that maybe she shouldn't....
Was the 8 game suspension announced as being for next year or was it for the next 8 varsity contests? BIG DIFFERENCE.
When announced I don't think CR had announced cancellation of the season. Therefore the suspensions would have consisted of the last 2 regular season games, as many as 3 district games and as many as 4 state games. But then that would be 9 games so would he have been eligible for the state championship game?
I think the 8 games were chosen because of the up to 365 day rule for assumed identity (he played in seven games) plus the one game he was supposed to serve at the start of this year.
Does anyone have a reference to exactly how the suspension was worded?
A couple of "huh?" statements here.
"Is this the correct punishment?" Allen asked, "Is this punishment given to every school in every neighborhood."
They may not be the first team to pull this stunt, but the first I know of who got caught.
Allen also said she does not place blame on the coaches. She said she will continue the relationship she has with them, and that she wants them to continue to have a positive impact on her son and his future athletic growth.
Then who is to blame then?
"Is this the correct punishment?" Allen asked, "Is this punishment given to every school in every neighborhood."
They may not be the first team to pull this stunt, but the first I know of who got caught.
Allen also said she does not place blame on the coaches. She said she will continue the relationship she has with them, and that she wants them to continue to have a positive impact on her son and his future athletic growth.
Then who is to blame then?
Im a retired steel worker!! I think I've earned some sitting time!!
I do think the suspension is a bit long. Coaches should all be done, totally agree. I think the bottom line is the coaches told the kid "this is what we are going to do", and he went along with it. I'm sure if you are over the age of 35 or so you were like me in you played for strict disciplinarian coaches whose word wasn't to be questioned. If coach told you to do something, you did it.
The way I read it, he was suspended immediately when he assumed identity but continued to play for the next six weeks. Total = 7, 1 game false identity, 6 games played when suspended. Add the one game he should have served at start of this season and Total is 8.
Whatever the MSHSAA book says is what it should be. You start straying from that, you open a can of worms.
No because since he never served his suspension he also was not eligible for every game he played in this year.
Probably a good life lesson for everyone involved
Yep well cant dispute this. Like I said I cant actually feel anything for anyone involved. One of the dumbest scandals Ive ever seen.
It happened in CC about 30 years ago at a private school at the district meet. AD found out, the coach was fired, team removed from the state meet and the kid that ran under a different name, left the school I believe.
1. Don't punch opposing players to earn a suspension in the first place.
2. Don't change your jersey and your name to circumvent the suspension YOU earned.
No I don't feel bad for him or any of the adults involved. This is a great life lesson in personal accountability. If the kid is good enough, go to summer recruiting camps and get noticed. Mookie Cooper didn't play his senior year, had ZERO impact on his ability to go to Ohio State next year.
Article here by the STL Post from yesterday is basically saying a lot of the same things everyone in MoSports is saying https://www.stltoday.com/sports/col...cle_39f9697b-2743-58b6-94d7-59bd1d5681bc.html
Article:
What’s been surprising during this past few days is the justifications ... the excuses... and explanations for Gregory’s actions.
Other teams cheat, too.
The fight was last year, why should it affect this year’s team?
What’s the big deal — Jackson is on the team.
Coaches push the limits — Bill Belichick was fined for illegally videotaping opponents, and he’s considered the greatest coach ever.
“What the coach did was wrong, even if you feel like you can get away with it,” said Vincent Rucker Sr., whose son is a sophomore in the Ritter football program. “But I just want to say, I played in high school, and I played (youth football). Things that he did, I’ve seen. I’m not trying to make an excuse for him, but I’ve seen things like that. I’ve seen a coach actually go to jail and bail a kid out so he could play in a big game. This was in St. Louis.
“This whole situation is just heartbreaking for the kids.”
And that’s the main point. It’s heartbreaking for the kids. The Ritter football players who just want to play football, try to win state and maybe even earn a scholarship.
What’s also heartbreaking? The mixed messages they’re sorting out about doing the right thing.
=====
Most uneasy thing for me is pretty much everyone that is interviewed about this is basically defending it? Defending the coach? Pretending its ok to Lie?
Article:
What’s been surprising during this past few days is the justifications ... the excuses... and explanations for Gregory’s actions.
Other teams cheat, too.
The fight was last year, why should it affect this year’s team?
What’s the big deal — Jackson is on the team.
Coaches push the limits — Bill Belichick was fined for illegally videotaping opponents, and he’s considered the greatest coach ever.
“What the coach did was wrong, even if you feel like you can get away with it,” said Vincent Rucker Sr., whose son is a sophomore in the Ritter football program. “But I just want to say, I played in high school, and I played (youth football). Things that he did, I’ve seen. I’m not trying to make an excuse for him, but I’ve seen things like that. I’ve seen a coach actually go to jail and bail a kid out so he could play in a big game. This was in St. Louis.
“This whole situation is just heartbreaking for the kids.”
And that’s the main point. It’s heartbreaking for the kids. The Ritter football players who just want to play football, try to win state and maybe even earn a scholarship.
What’s also heartbreaking? The mixed messages they’re sorting out about doing the right thing.
=====
Most uneasy thing for me is pretty much everyone that is interviewed about this is basically defending it? Defending the coach? Pretending its ok to Lie?
Off topic,
I felt Mookie was the best player from the State since Zeke Elliott. I think the guy is going to be special at OSU
I LIKE the spirit of the CR coaching staff, because they were COMMITTED to winning. Raider rule #1: Cheating is encouraged. Raider rule #2, see rule #1.
I was in pro football to win, to have the Raiders dominate, to have the Raiders global. Likewise, Cardinal Ritter was on the cusp of greatness, maybe the greatest team in the HISTORY of class 2 football. That's forever. Just win baby!
He'd be special anywhere. Wish the elite St. Louis talent would flock to Mizzou. No idea why BO can't close on the big name kids in his backyard.
If the coach just simply said "My ego and obsession to win gave me tunnel vision and I did something stupid. Tried to bend the rules in order to win. Ive been humbled (fired) and Im trying to reevaluate my motives and values as a head football coach"
aka just say the truth he would get much more respect lol. Apparently just saying the Truth is difficult for everyone involved.
