The **********'s thoughts on Hornsby a while back, 2/06/09 to be exact.......
<font size="5"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Well, he didn't kill anyone, so he's got a cleaner rap sheet than some NFL players.</span></font>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">I do find the story about the girl's father being a booster to be an interesting one, and it wouldn't surprise me if it were true, especially considering the fact that Meyer has let much less slide during his time at UF. It would probably be interesting to see the credit card bill and see what was charged on it before and after the girl's death. That would give you a good indication if the booster story had some credence. Regardless, it really doesn't matter to me what he did if his ability outweighs any off field distractions. So far the credit card issue is the only issue I've heard of for him, and given his apparent talent, that's not enough for me to say I don't want the guy.</span> <br style="font-weight: bold;"> <br style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">If he comes to Ole Miss and off field issues continue to pop up, then I'd re-evaluate. See, I'm not one of those that likes to pretend a football team is something it's not. They aren't choir boys, and it's not a competition of whose team's players are the best citizens. It's a competition to see who can win. Therefore, it's a real simple equation:</span> <br style="font-weight: bold;"> <br style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Talent/Contribution to team > off field distraction = stay on team</span> <br style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Talent/Contribution to team < off field distraction = kick him of</span> <br style="font-weight: bold;"> <br style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">You're probably right. Still, even if he did flat out steal the card and use it, I can't say that it makes a difference in whether or not I would take him.</span> <br style="font-weight: bold;"> <br style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Is it disgusting to do something like that? Sure. Is he a really good football player? We think so. Is it going to be a distraction to our team? Probably not. So come on down. That's my view.</span> <br style="font-weight: bold;"> <br style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">If I was an MSU fan, I wouldn't have wanted Mike Brown booted from the team last year, and I would've hoped the school would've shown lenience in allowing him to stay on the team, because his value far outweighed the fact that he shot a gun on campus.</span> <br style="font-weight: bold;"> <br style="font-weight: bold;"></font> <div style="font-weight: bold;"> <font size="5">I would say I'm more cynical than anything else. I know these guys aren't in school to get an education, for the most part. They're in school to try to make it to the league. If they choose to get an education in the process, good for them, but it's not my concern. My concern is how they perform on Saturday, not how they perform Monday-Friday.
So, of course when it comes to off field indiscretions I'm the same way. If it doesn't interfere with the team's ability to win games, or if it at least doesn't outweigh the player's positive contribution to the team, then keep him around. If he's a walk on, kick him off for skipping class. If he's Snead, well then he can commit an armed robbery or two, and as long as he can get out on work release, suit him up on Saturday. Maybe that's stretching it, but you get the idea.
I also realize dirty things go on in recruiting, so the last thing I want is for my team to be on an uneven playing field. I want us to play the same game everyone else does without going too far overboard to get in trouble.</font> </div><font size="5"><br style="font-weight: bold;"> <br style="font-weight: bold;"></font> <div style="font-weight: bold;"> <font size="5">That's a good question, and I can't say I have a specific line.
Right now, with the Kennedy situation, I'm fine with keeping him around, especially because nothing has been proven yet. If it turns out he's guilty, and he has to spend time in jail, then yea I think we probably will have to get rid of him, because I think that may be a little much to have to deal with for a coach.
That said, I really don't know that we'd be able to go out and get a better basketball coach for our job, which is why I'm more lenient with anything he does. The possibilities for replacements wouldn't be all that great. Plus, we're on the verge of what will probably be a very good basketball season next year if we can keep him around.
And the Hornsby situation should be more of an embarassment for Hornsby than it is for me or Ole Miss. He's already had to be punished for what he did, and he's had to start his career over by going to a Juco for a year and then working his way back, so I'm willing to give the guy a shot, especially because he's apparently a good football player at a position we need. Do you think that because he made the mistake of stealing a dead girl's credit card that he shouldn't be given a chance to play football ever again? I'd have a hard time saying that, because like I said, there are guys in the NFL with rap sheets that are worse. So if he's going to continue his career and get a second chance, why not help my team win while you're doing it?</font> </div>
