Glenn Winston is back on the team

This one is a really tough call for me. Originally the word was that he was getting out August 13th. Then we find out today that not only was he let out a few days earlier, but was at practice on day one. Although it’s not like one of the media reporters wasn’t going to look up and see “G. Winston” on his helmet and not put two and two together. I guess it seems like a really quick turn-around. I also would have preferred to hear Dantonio talk briefly about the situation, about what Glenn has done to earn this opportunity to rejoin the team, instead of just directing the media to a prepared statement written by some PR flack.

My general feeling about the situation is here. Obviously, his debt to society has been paid, etc. etc., but my reflex is to be very cautious on this type of stuff. Obviously, Dantonio is no Bobby Williams, but I’m much more interested in keeping a clean program than in the marginal benefit Winston would provide on kickoff returns (and a possibly greater benefit at running back). It’s not the best practice to make examples of people — especially when they’re 19 years old — but at least here it doesn’t seem unwarranted to do so:

Another man who claimed Winston hit him was later diagnosed with a broken jaw. Witnesses said that man and Sturges both were acting as peace makers during the incident.

Winston and White initially denied any involvement in fighting when questioned by police.

Ugh.

I take a spirited — though admittedly indefensible — stance on this, because I generally support the idea of MSU being a home for the wayward miscreant.

Nevertheless, I think we can objectively conclude the following two items:

1. Glenn Winston is better — size, strength, speed — than anyone else MSU has in the backfield.
2. Are you simple? Read the first one again.

Winston had been involved in the initial altercation, tempers flared, and he threw a few punches. However, he was not on the scene during the initial fight, from the reports I’ve read. He apparently came with the carload of players that showed up after White started the fisticuffs by punching a hockey player after an argument. Another hockey player then got the better of White in a one-on-one fight, so he went to get a carload of his teammates, who were not involved in the initial incident.

There may have been alcohol involved, but Winston had no reason to get involved with this crap after the fact. White’s teammates should have refused to go to the party and escalate the situation, including Winston. They went there looking for trouble and people were seriously injured. It’s the apparent premeditation (coming to the scene from somewhere else looking to cause trouble) that crosses the line for me. He’s paid his debt to society but being on the MSU football team is not a right, it is a privelage. He should be able to stay at the school but I see no reason to reinstate him to the football team.

As far as I am concerned, I don’t believe either (Feagin or Winston) should be playing football, but the two situations don’t compare. I don’t think collegiate players need to be role models, but being able to get away with this behavior is absurd to me.

Put me on the side that is fine with him being back. He got into a fight a really stupid one but a fight. This talk that he is getting away with anything is over the line I think. 4 months in pirson and he was suspendend for half of last year also. He has kept up his grades threwout and stayed eligable. I like that he is getting a 2nd chance. If anything else gone I think it should be the end of Winston.

…about Winston playing this year, which Rexrode pointed out in the LSJ, he isn’t necessarily going to be doing. I definitely agree with giving him a second chance after the incident, if he keeps his nose clean. I wasn’t in favor of him getting out of jail in October and suiting up the next week, but with him out now, that changes it some for me.

http://www.greenandwhite.com/article/20090811/GW01/908110325&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

That’s a link to Rexrode’s story on the fight and Winston’s return, which is much more complete. It details Dantonio’s reaction, according ot the police report:

When police interviewed Dantonio in December, he expressed anger at the incident, which came just a few hours after MSU’s 45-7 loss to Ohio State.

He told them the players’ punishments included a week suspension from the program, no suiting up for the Michigan and Wisconsin games, and three weeks of confinement to the football building, the academic building or their dorm rooms.

According to the report, he said one of the players was off the team permanently considering other incidents as well, and that if any of the players “did not tell the absolute truth to the police department while they were doing their investigation, that they would be done with the MSU football program.”

The thing I’d highlight is that Dantonio is giving Winston a second chance, but notice that the other player Rexrode mentions but doesn’t name doesn’t get a third one. Presumably, that’s Charles Burrell, who was a somewhat heralded (3*) safety recruit from Detroit who’d previously been in the news for getting arrested after fleeing the campus police on foot and is no longer on the roster. Even though he didn’t get charged for the fight, he got bounced for his participation in this incident (and maybe other stuff we don’t know about).