VT hall of shame. Please help.

Well yea, I'm class of 2012 hokie, and have folowed the hokies for quite a long time... and im not going to pretend to not notice how many problems the hokies have had over the past five years, but i will say that every team has problems, but it has become such a huge news story when a hokie is arrested, or charged. hokie players are more under the spotlight than any other college team when it comes to legal troubles.

Yes, the team has produced quite a few criminals- but if this kid played for any other college, it wouldnt make the front page of sportsline.

I think that the blame is shared by all involved.  I would hope that VT is taking a close look at the people that it is recruiting, but the fans also have to take some responsibility as well.  When coaches get fired for having a couple of bad seasons, it is not surprising that they might be willing to take a risk on a really talented kid.  Coaches get in far more trouble for losing games than they do for having a few discipline issues.

That brings me to my second point, which is that the fans have to demand greater accountability from their teams.  I find it incredibly sad to hear how many Falcons fans can't wait to welcome Vick back to the team after he gets out of prison.  If people continue to support thugs, criminals and players that lack character, then they should not be surprised when their team ends up full of such players.

It is true that these kinds of things happen a lot of places, but that does not make it acceptable.  Having athletic ability should not provide a kid with a free pass from the expectation that he act like a decent human being.  The decline of the student athlete as responsible citizen is really just a microcosm of the lowered expectations for our larger society.  We should expect more from our teams and from the players.

Williams was mentioned prominently in a July 14, 2006 New York Times article by Pete Thamel. [1], [2] [3] based on allegations by Auburn sociology professor James Gundlach of inappropriate independent study courses being offered by fellow professor and then-department chair Thomas Petee. Gundlach found Petee had managed 250 independent study courses in the 2004-2005 academic year including some by athletes, specifically noting 18 football players (only 7.5% of the students taking such courses from Petee). The University's internal investigation of the situation resulted in new policies limiting the number of independent study courses managed by a professor and in the resignation of Petee.[4]

For his part, Williams was highlighted as having taken only two classes in the spring of 2005 (having already completed his collegiate eligibility and preparing for the NFL draft) both independent study courses under the supervision of Petee.

So, the other 17 players taking the courses were no big deal either?  If they had to change policies then they were doing something wrong.  Auburn also  had problems with Bowden as coach.  I tought they were suspended from postseason play for 2 years, right?  My only point is this (and I'm quite certain my facts are straight on this one), every college has its share of student athletes with questionable character that are allowed to attend on  scholarship based on athletic abilbity and the amount of money they can help generate for the school  through sports.  You bashed VT and then threw  in the comment about Tuberville and how to run a program implying he does no wrong.  These kids are often recruited and given a chance to  show they can be counted  on to be responsible adults.  Sometimes they fail and I'd bet almost every coach would kick the player off the team after learning of violations such as the one in this article.   Furthermore, more of the blame for the Falcons woes in drafting players who end up in trouble  should be placed on the front office.  Another post mentioned Eugene Robinson.LOL.  He had hours earlier won  the Bart Starr Award for high moral character.  Now that is funny.  Maybe the city of ATL and its surrounding areas are so filled with criminals that players cannot help but become entangled in that lifestyle.  I hear all Auburns fans are criminals, but I have no facts on that one.