Maybe the UT/UF headlines should have read...........

[volfan2024]

Tennessee gets smoked by Gators thanks to big hits by Marcus Thomas.

 

[OrangeSquare]

I don't go as far along to say that they "cheated" by letting him play, but I am bothered, as should everyone involved in college football and the SEC, that this player failed two drug tests in July and August, and that he was suspended the first game for the first failing test, and that they wait until this game, and before the UK game to suspend him another game.

I know it's "indeffinately", but does that change next week when Bama comes in, or does Meyer think they can handle Bama, and waits until LSU rolls in.

It's certainly a black-eye on Meyer's Eddie Haskel image.

 

[volfan2024]

I don't go as far along to say that they "cheated" by letting him play, but I am bothered, as should everyone involved in college football and the SEC, that this player failed two drug tests in July and August, and that he was suspended the first game for the first failing test, and that they wait until this game, and before the UK game to suspend him another game.

I know it's "indeffinately", but does that change next week when Bama comes in, or does Meyer think they can handle Bama, and waits until LSU rolls in.

It's certainly a black-eye on Meyer's Eddie Haskel image.

My neighbor is in the N/G and they can get checked once a month and you can get booted out ........FOR GOOD!

 

[bigdaddy]

Tennessee gets smoked by Gators thanks to big hits by Marcus Thomas.

Keep your finger on the carb hole Marcus

 

[SWIL]

Thomas and Gators Blaze up the Vols Late Night
Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

 

[lawgator1]

The scenario you suggest OrangeSquare is that the July test result came back and Thomas was suspended for first game pursuant to policy but that then the result from the August test came back before the UT game and that it was after the UT game that Thomas' suspension came into effect.

If in fact that is what happened, then I agree with you that it reflects very poorly on Meyer and his staff involved in such matters. I would not like it and I'd want an explanation because it would suggest winning being too important to follow the institution's rules. I still haven't seen information yet on the timing, however, and that's important.

Even if so, you cannot say UT got "cheated" because the rule on positiive drug tests is a rule of UF's own making. The rule was not intended to shield other schools from players being on our team who smoked doobage. Another university does not have standing to complain it was entitled to something, i.e. Thomas not playing, because the rule is not to benefit other schools. So if the scenario you suggest proves ot be accurate, then you can complain that Meyer is soft on disciplining the best players, but you can't claim that UT was somehow entitled to have the guy disqualified for the game.

Hatvol will agree with me on this if he is around.

 

[hohenfelsvol]

I agree too. It stings but it is what it is.

 

[volfan2024]

IMO,the longer it takes to issue a statement, the more it starts to smell.

 

[OrangeSquare]

Even if so, you cannot say UT got "cheated" because the rule on positiive drug tests is a rule of UF's own making.

So if the scenario you suggest proves ot be accurate, then you can complain that Meyer is soft on disciplining the best players, but you can't claim that UT was somehow entitled to have the guy disqualified for the game.

Ummm, isn't that pretty much what I said?

I said I didn't agree with the crowd that said Tennessee got cheated, but that I was troubled by the fact this guy failed a test so long ago, and was allowed to play. I then went on to say that this will tarnish Meyer's perfect-boy image.

I never have said Tennessee got cheated by the player playing. There was a whole thread dedicated to it, but I didn't post in it, because I didn't believe it. I just think it's a punk thing for Meyer and Florida to do. Kinda like hiring a former Tennessee QB just before facing the Vols for the first time. :whistling:

 

[no1g8r]

IMO,the longer it takes to issue a statement, the more it starts to smell.

Well, since Marcus Thomas appealed the ruling on Tuesday, the lab is retesting the sample (from what I understand) and analyzing whether or not positive readings that far apart could have been from the same usage episode. Given how long it appeared to take between the test and the result the first time, it could be a while until the results are known.

Some coaches would give the player the "benefit of the doubt" during the appeal and let him play until the results come in, so I give Meyer some credit for going with the probabilities on this one and suspending him immediately.

I would also like to know the answer to the question of when Meyer first knew of the test results. LG's post pretty much sums up my feelings on that one.

SHORT VERSION: I wouldn't be too quick to indict UF based on the length of time until the next official statement. They've said what needs to be said and have done what needs to be done (the suspension) until the follow-up test results come in.

Anything further stated would just be fan appeasement on a topic whose finer details should be an internal matter.