FSU Suspends Linebacker Harris Indefinitely
Credit FSU for acting swiftly here.
about 1 year ago
Bud Elliott
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due process
Due process has to play out. If he pleads guilty or is convicted of a felony charge, it gets pulled automatically. Otherwise, it’s traditionally be a three strike thing. Problem is, privacy laws keep us from knowing much about other strikes – anyone recall if he’s previously been suspended any?
by Wild@Heart Nole on Jun 23, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions
"We’re suspending Maurice Harris, indefinitely, beginning today until the matter has been resolved," FSU head coach Bobby Bowden said.
I don’t buy it…
Bob didn’t say that.
Who here really thinks Bobby Bowden knows who Maurice Harris is? show of hands
'Gentlemen, it is better to have died a small boy than to fumble this football.' John Heisman
Bobby: "They call me the space cowboy...."
“..they call me the gangster of love, they call me MAURICE! That Maurice? Oh..he’s a linebacker? You don’t say.”
Not an alcoholic, just an FSU grad.
by onebarrelrum on Jun 23, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions
So the quote is fabricated?
I can see him saying something like… “We’re suspending ole #… hmm, doggonit, what’s his number? Oh well, anyway, one of our boys got in trouble today and he’s suspended till we figure out what’s going on”
Side note (if my hunch is correct and the above quote is the real one) – Bowden “figuring out what’s going on” could take a while.
'Gentlemen, it is better to have died a small boy than to fumble this football.' John Heisman
ESPN's Heather Dinich writes column very similar to mine:
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/acc/0-6-224/Smiley-s-story.html
Smiley’s story
June 23, 2009 1:15 PM
Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich
So …
I was ready to rip. I was ready to come down hard on Florida State for yet ANOTHER arrest and suspension. And I probably should. But for some reason, this one sounds more ridiculous than it does a capital crime. Especially since strength and conditioning coach Todd Stroud was zipping around on the motorcycle in question the day this whole mess happened.
According to police, Stroud said he borrowed the bike/moped from linebacker Maurice Harris, a.k.a “Smiley.”
Here’s the deal:
Harris was arrested and charged with two felonies and one misdemeanor on Monday. The only thing police are charging him of stealing right now is a parking boot — an immobilization device used when drivers have oustanding tickets or traffic violations. It’s a felony because those things cost at least $300. (How on earth did Smiley get that off?) He was also charged with possession of a vehicle with altered numbers, another felony, and a nonmoving traffic violation because the paper tag didn’t match the vehicle.
Here’s the story:
According to Major Jim Russell of the Florida State University Police Department, on June 17, university parking services put an immobilization device on a motorcycle on the FSU campus.
On June 18, parking services noticed the motorcycle and the boot were gone.
On Monday afternoon, parking services noticed the motorcycle parked near Gate A the stadium, and notified the police.
An officer contacted Stroud, who told police he had borrowed the motorcycle from Harris earlier in the day. Stroud brought Harris in to talk to the officer, but police said Harris refused to talk to him and denied knowing anything about the boot.
Harris was then charged.
Here’s the problem:
We don’t know if the motorcycle belongs to Harris. Police are still working on that one.
Here’s the big picture:
Harris isn’t exactly the player you picture when you think Florida State linebacker. He’s only played in six career games, and he’s had more injuries than NC State’s entire team. His suspension isn’t a huge loss. But it’s more bad pub for a football program that needs as many lawyers as it does receivers right now.
Even if this bike does belong to Harris (it has since been impounded), he’s gotten himself into a jam that now includes two felonies.
Instead of celebrating the recent commitments of top wide receiver De’Joshua Johnson, on the ESPNU 150 watch list, and Pahokee, Fla. prospect Merrill Noel, we’re looking back at the mistakes made in the 2007 recruiting with players like Harris, Cameron Wade and Will Furlong, who recently transferred and lambasted offensive line coach Rick Trickett in the process.
Harris’ arrest comes less than a week after offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher praised the turnaround his receivers have made this offseason. It seems like every time the Noles take a step forward, someone else steps out of line.
“They’re maturing, they’re growing up, their grades are getting better,” Fisher said. “They’re learning how to make decisions right now. They made bad decisions and they’re understanding the consequences of them. They’re trying to think down the road, big-picture thinking is what we’re trying to put into their head. It’s getting better.”
Fisher is trying desperately to build something and lay the foundation for when he takes over, but the recruiting mistakes of the past are weighing his efforts — and the entire program —down.
yeah. I shouldn't be angry. At least the "these aren't fisher's guys getting in most of this trouble" message got out.
Amato… discipline czar… ?
Meh
I think you’re making a large leap there. To me that’s kind of an obvious thing to look at, at this point, since FSU is trying to filter out all of the “garbage.” And the common College Football argument with coaches is always “who’s kids are they / you gotta give him 4 years to get his guys / etc.”
"May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't." - General George S. Patton
I don't think Dinich would take the time to do her research like that.
No biggie. The message got out.
Well back in the day when I used to post there, I would always link Seminole fans back
to articles on this site…I remember finding this site looking for info on the Jimbo to Auburn rumors.
I don't think it's that large of a leap.
I agree with you FSUn. This looks like moderate plagiarization.
However, she did throw some additional facts and ideas in her story, so I would guess she clicked around the internet and pieced together a few different articles. I suppose that’s some form of journalism.
I like this quote: “But it’s more bad pub for a football program that needs as many lawyers as it does receivers right now.”
Sorry- i've confused the two threads and posted the question twice.
I’m sure Stroud regrets that decision- but that is really odd.
I don’t think its that odd for a coach to borrow a player’s vehicle. The problem here is why Harris has a motorcycle with the VIN scratched off and invalid tag, and that he would lend said motorcycle to a coach
"No, like I said, Woo peed on my rug" - The Dude
Yea, but if your coach ask you to borrow your scooter, what are you going to say?
1. OK, but park it hidden somewhere inside the stadium.
2. OK, but if you get pulled over, you’re on your own and I don’t know you.
3. OK, but take only the back roads.
4. I’m out of ideas for now.
>-----:----:------>Spear 'em then Scalp 'em
well
glad to see that she notes it is the recruiting mistakes of the past…
Not an alcoholic, just an FSU grad.
Let's pray the bike doesn't belong to anyone else...
What if it’s Ponder’s bike…yikes…
I have six locks on my door all in a row. When I go out, I only lock every other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three.
Elayne Boosler
I got my bike stolen last year on campus.
I think I found my first suspect.
Just wants to beat the Gators
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