SIAP: Dantonio Finally Makes a Statement on Investigation
I am shocked this has not already been posted here, and sorry if it has and I missed, but Dantonio has finally made a statement on the turmoil inside the program:
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2017/02/28/mark-dantonio-makes-statement-on…
General negative and "I hate MSU" comment aside, this statement is way too little, too late, in my opinion. First, it's clearly "boilerplate PR" statement material here, saying virtually nothing. Second, to wait this long to say something given everything that's going, and then to say so little when doing so, is probably going to make folks madder than they already are (FYI: there are apparently a sizeable group of pissed parents and boosters attached to the program who thinks Dantonio should have said something long before this to "clear the air").
Maybe I'm wrong, and maybe he has been forbidden from saying anything by MSU higher-ups until now, but this looks to me to be patching holes in the Titanic with a tube of caulk...
February 28th, 2017 at 4:27 PM ^
You agreed with me twice! I'll take it!
February 28th, 2017 at 4:15 PM ^
I rarely agree with you Leo but in this case I do.
February 28th, 2017 at 5:23 PM ^
February 28th, 2017 at 5:46 PM ^
I don't disagree that the press should be wary of creating a false narraitive - they'll do that anyway.
I can appreciate why the LSJ goes dark, but it seems odd that the Detroit papers work their asses off when UM steps on it (Cissoko, stretch-gate, Gibbons).
February 28th, 2017 at 4:01 PM ^
As always, the correct response to a thread of this nature is, Fuck Michigan State....repeatedly.
February 28th, 2017 at 4:02 PM ^
much much worse. At least he doesn't say that critics of the program should be punched in the face like Kim Mulkey of Baylor. Whatda. . .
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/artic…
February 28th, 2017 at 4:02 PM ^
Since practice has started he needed to address this in some fashion. So they come up with a water sandwich statement so Dantonio can say he addressed the issue and won't be answering any additional questions at this time. Hardly a profile in courage approach.
The bigger question is why is this taking so long? Suggests the number of people that are directly or indirectly involved is more extensive that originally thought.
February 28th, 2017 at 4:07 PM ^
February 28th, 2017 at 4:05 PM ^
"The Huge One" Bill Simonson says that Dantonio should have handled the situation like Izzo would have.
Oh, you mean hide Adreian Payne's sexual assault by having him befriend a terminally ill cancer patient?
That whole school can get fucked.
February 28th, 2017 at 4:12 PM ^
Bill Simonson idolizes Izzo for some reason, as if Izzo can do no wrong.
February 28th, 2017 at 4:17 PM ^
Help me. I remember when I lived in the Tri-City area for a spell and he was the only guy I could get on the radio other than ESPN radio. It was vomit-inducing.
February 28th, 2017 at 4:27 PM ^
February 28th, 2017 at 5:00 PM ^
I'd consider true dogshit in the last couple months.... Simonson is pretty bad though.
February 28th, 2017 at 6:22 PM ^
He insists you call him "Huge" and he also thinks he's far more important than he is. I only dislike Valenti more because he makes SEVEN FIGURES to yell about Sparty and make fun of his radio partner who has had two strokes.
I have no doubt that Valenti is well-compensated for his endless diatribe of drivel, but "seven figures"? That can't be accurate. Please tell me that's not accurate.
Well, to be fair, Izzo can't do much wrong, unless he's playing against Middle Tennessee State {rimshot}.
February 28th, 2017 at 7:18 PM ^
February 28th, 2017 at 4:12 PM ^
Mark and Ingham County, that still nobody even knows what you are speaking of because absolutely nothing has happened yet in this case and it is looking questionable whether it ever will. That is some shady business over there.
February 28th, 2017 at 4:12 PM ^
I imagine this is what he meant .
.....and I’m doing everything necessary to help
(get my players back on the field)
throughout this difficult process.
February 28th, 2017 at 4:18 PM ^
February 28th, 2017 at 4:29 PM ^
If what is alleged is true, the players deserve to be thrown under the bus. It's better than "oh, they're just kids being kids." It would only be annoying to a player that wants to get away with crimes... wait, you might be on to something here.
February 28th, 2017 at 4:47 PM ^
ANY of that from what he said? Where is he throwing the players under the bus?
He said they've set forth expectations that they expect everyone to follow, and he's doing everything he can to help the parties involved.
It's pretty standard coach-speak during investigations. I'm sure Rich Rod and Hoke said the same things during their moments of stupidity.
Edit, my mistake. Left out the word "if" when I was reading.
February 28th, 2017 at 4:51 PM ^
February 28th, 2017 at 4:19 PM ^
Like a guy getting dropped off at practice striaght from the jail cell. Then there's the guy that they played, (I think against UM maybe not) who by all accounts should have been suspended, remain suspended or something of that nature. Sorry that I did not look this up to verify what I was trying remember just for accuracy. I will look it up and come back with an edit if I am way off base.
February 28th, 2017 at 4:57 PM ^
You are correct about the past. The difference now is the cloud of Nassar hangs over the university so Mike can't get away with kids running stairs as their punishment and telling the school president to get out of his face while he handles it internally.
February 28th, 2017 at 4:20 PM ^
February 28th, 2017 at 4:23 PM ^
Technically Faux, you didn't state the size and amount of said holes in the Titanic. I mean, are they pin hole to pencil size holes? A tube of caulk could plug those for sure unless there are like more than fifty. Mork is garbage who who kills for money. Wait, thats the Joker and he says everything burns at least 3 to 9 times hotter with gasoline.
February 28th, 2017 at 4:35 PM ^
I guarentee you it was either written or at the least, approved, by legal before sending out. In situations like this everybody involved is nervous as cats in saying something in writing that could potentially be used against the institution later in court.
February 28th, 2017 at 4:36 PM ^
Regarding the ongoing investigations taking place within our program, the allegations are something we’re extremely concerned about and taking very seriously. We took immediate action by suspending those involved as soon as we were notified of the situation.
No Mark. No you didn't. If the rumors are true that Curtis Blackwell was told of the alleged assault, and his advice was to not worry about it, etc., then what you said is a lie. You see, the MSU football program was "notified of the situation" the second that Blackwell was told of the details of the assault.
The point being that your program has not acted properly. That's the whole point of suspending Blackwell.
(All premised on the rumors of what went down being true, of course.)
February 28th, 2017 at 8:04 PM ^
February 28th, 2017 at 4:41 PM ^
No way the players face charges and get kicked off the team, especially after a 3-9 season.
i just do not see it coming, if it was it would have already happened.
I can see it now, Late on some friday afternoon, their gonna make a release on this saying no charges being pressed. Late friday is always the day for that scathing stuff to come out so it doesn;t get as much attention with people more focused on the weekend.
Just no way those 3 players get charged. Trust me as sad as I am to say it, those players will be on the field come September.
February 28th, 2017 at 5:26 PM ^
Even if there are no criminal charges, the Title IX investigation will continue. I don't think MSU will try to sweep it under the rug in their own investigation with the Nassar stuff looming as well.
Not if it was my sister.......GET SOME!!!!!.
February 28th, 2017 at 4:45 PM ^
I'll bet a dozen lemons Dantonio didn't write this.
That said, MSU's communications and legal people did a shit job and Dantonio should be embarassed to put his name on it. It's lazy, cover-your-ass language which does not give any confidence the university is handling this appropriately.
February 28th, 2017 at 4:48 PM ^
What "allegedly" happened anyways? Every thread that discusses the situation gets nuked before I can figure out what these guys and the coach actually are being accused of doing. All I know is that it's allegedly pretty bad and that it's so bad we're not suppose to make fun of MSU over it.
Can somebody please, in nice, non-offensive terms, summarize for me what in the heck the players and the suspended coach are being accused of doing exactly?
February 28th, 2017 at 4:58 PM ^
Allegedly, 1 girl - multiple younger guys on the team, some higher profile. Girl says no at some point. Guys continue.
Allegedly, went to Blackwell after the fact. Blackwell maybe didn't report it immediately. Blackwell suspended.
Investigation into the 3 guys ongoing.
February 28th, 2017 at 4:59 PM ^
Rumor was a player started having consensual sex with a girl. Then another player joined in. Then a 3rd player began filming it. Girl said that was enough, but one of the guys didn't stop.
Once it was clear the girl was going to the police, they alledgedly told Blackwell who sat on it.
Again all of this is internet rumormongering. Could be the truth, could be entirely false. Obviously Blackwell was somewhat involved because he was suspended, not sure if it was a coverup or what.
February 28th, 2017 at 5:15 PM ^
Both you and Alum96
February 28th, 2017 at 8:52 PM ^
I could repeat the various rumors (some of which are stated in this thread) that are gleaned from unconfirmed sources and sites similar to this one (and from anonymous "insiders"), but the reality is that there are no "allegations" or "accusations" until a formal Complaint is issued by Prosecutor, and sworn by law enforcement.
With a supporting affidavit of probable cause, an arraignment takes place in the District Court (in Michigan, the Court where felony charges are initiated for bond and preliminary hearing purposes prior to waiver of hearing or bindover after hearing to the felony trial court, or Circuit Court).
The most formal thing that has been stated thus far is the attorney for one or more of the anticipated alleged victims has said a couple of weeks ago that he/she expected criminal charges to be issued the following week. Instead, that week the Ingham County Prosecutor requested more evidence/investigation from police.
The prosecutor is probably being extra careful to cross t's and dot i's whatever her ultimate decision is on issuing. The Dr. Nassar scandal is exploding here in various ways. The Ingham County Prosecutor's Office during the past decade or so could possibly itself be implicated in wrongdoing in deciding not to issue charges regarding prior incidents involving MSU athletes.
At the time time of those decisions, the office was led by Stuart Dunnings III, now serving a 1-year jail sentence by virtue pleading guilty to a felony (misconduct in office) after being charged with 15 prostitution-related crimes
Various semi-official sources have stated the anticipated charges will be "serious", and various unofficial sources maintain that three implicated players will never see the field again at MSU. That's all you really have, for now, but it does not smell good for three players, and a staff member who by all accounts is Curtis Blackwell, Recruiting Analyst. Players' offenses are said to involve sexual assault(s), and Blackwell's offense(s) are said to involve destruction of evidence, or obstruction.
Why it cannot be talked about here without nuking, IMO, is more a function of preceived politcal correctness than anything substantive.
As the fictional Asst. Attorney General Wilford Brimley said to the newspaper attorney, the reporter, and the editor from the newspaper in "Absence of Malice", "there is going to be a statement released by this office…[about alleged wrongdoing involving the paper] , we can't make you print it, but it IS going to be in the papers."
All in due time.
February 28th, 2017 at 4:55 PM ^
I am surprised Lynn Henning didn't cosign this. Character and all...
February 28th, 2017 at 4:55 PM ^
February 28th, 2017 at 4:56 PM ^
No reason for me to click...I already know what he's going to say. It's likely the same boilerplate BS most coaches would say.
Nothing that he actually wrote and nothing to prove that he actually believes it. But he's got to say it anyway.
Amirite?
I did. Standard PR language and approved by their counsel. It's exactly what you would expect.
Wondering now what Sam and Marcus were referring to this morning about a decommit - only heard a portion; something to do with the locker room and someone deciding to leave the program.
February 28th, 2017 at 4:57 PM ^
3-9 weeks too late.
February 28th, 2017 at 5:16 PM ^
basketball coach I dislike more than the two in East Lansing. Having said that, this is in the hands of lawyers and crisis management types now, no way they are letting the football coach pen his own thoughts or choose when to deliver them.
February 28th, 2017 at 5:16 PM ^
Translation: the player's didn't execute.
February 28th, 2017 at 5:47 PM ^
is captaining a sinking ship.
February 28th, 2017 at 5:48 PM ^
It might just be me, but when all of this broke, the first opinion I typically am interested in is that of leadership, or in the case of football, the head coach. It just seems like any statement from Dantonio which is this delayed seems awkward and insufficient, but given how serious all this is, I would doubt that the school and the athletic department are going to allow him to do more than make a "vanilla statement", as someone put it. His frank feelings on the matter may very well never be known.
February 28th, 2017 at 6:25 PM ^
a corner. Totally mishandled.
Wait until the facts find there way out somehow ... probably covered up by local police, media, staff.
This should be eye opeing. Seems like a top leadership lack of control deviation.
I''m sure the SEC and Ohio are being consultied by the NCAA for loop holes.