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You know, it's great to be "the first" at something. There's a certain amount of cachet that can go along with it. The first to the moon. The first president. The first guy to rush for 2000 yards in the NFL. Well, of course there's a flip side to being the first.
Evidently Jaybo Shaw is pushing to be first in numerous categories.
FIRST QB COMMITTED
The Flowery Branch QB was the first QB to commit to Paul Johnson. In the Triple Option, a QB is the heart-and-soul, the coup-de-gras, the cat's pajamas. The system works when you have a QB who knows and can execute the system. Jaybo runs the system. So Jaybo Shaw was the first QB who decided to hitch his wagon to Paul Johnson at GT.
FIRST RECRUIT COMMITTED
Taking it a step further, Shaw was actually the first guy at any position to verbally commit to PJ after his arrival. Others followed, by Jaybo will forever be known as the first guy to sign up for what Paul Johnson was selling.
"FIRST TO BEAT UGAg"
When meeting with Paul Johnson, Jaybo bodly proclaimed that he would be the first QB for Paul Johnson that beat UGAg. What bravado. What cahones. Hey, we all like a little mean streak and aggressiveness, right? After all, everyone (eyes rolling in back of head) loved Reggie Ball's bravado of the "we won't lose another game all year" variety. I'm all for confidence and goals, but let's not get ahead of ourselves........... especially since it hasn't happened.
FIRST TO GET ARRESTED..
..... whoops...... how did that happen? Here's a more detailed story and the other names involved. Under-age drinking. I know none of us ever expected one of our wholesome boys to go and get caught up in all that kind'a mess. So now Jaybo becomes the first recruit of Paul Johnson's to get arrested. Now THAT'S a first that I'm not sure I wanted on my name tag. I wonder how many arrests PJ had to deal with at Navy. I honestly don't have a clue, but my guess is it's pretty darn near zero. Of course they were learning the fine art of bustin' heads at Navy and putting their lives on the line.
Many of you will be of the "boys will be boys" opinion. Many of you will call the whole thing overblown. Some of you may even be somehow proud - although it's no "Matt Stafford" kind of deal unless there are pictures of him holding kegs over his head. For me, it's sad for the kid, but it is what it is. It's been reported. He'll pay the price in numerous ways - personally, legally, parentally, head-coach-ish-ly - others I'm sure.
My only opinion is that recruits have to be a little bit smarter about how they conduct themself now that they're moving to a more public "arena". Old-timers that are held up as the paragons, legends and figureheads of sports-dom are often legendary for the their off-the-field behaviour as well. It's just now with the internet, digital cameras and the like - it's going to get more publicity than ever before. Maybe Jaybo can consult with Matt Leinart about the pitfalls trying to be careful about behavior (and throw in some future wisdom about how to do it while being a father at the same time). I don't bring up this story to highlight it. I bring it up because it's news, it's relavent to GT sports, and it's a bit of a relatively minor cautionary tale to other recruits / players......................... key lesson - nothing good happens after midnight (Jaybo was arrested at 12:30 am)
If any of you have ever checked out http://www.edsbs.com/, it's a profane but entertaining college football site. They keep a "big board" of all off-season arrests, award points, and declare a winner prior to each season. All I'm saying is that these kids represent more than just themselves and everything they do is now fodder for public consumption (good or bad). Lucky for Jaybo, his FIRST day at GT won't be until the fall, which means GT doesn't break onto the EDSBS big board. Where's Reuben Houston when you need him?
Evidently Jaybo Shaw is pushing to be first in numerous categories.
FIRST QB COMMITTED
The Flowery Branch QB was the first QB to commit to Paul Johnson. In the Triple Option, a QB is the heart-and-soul, the coup-de-gras, the cat's pajamas. The system works when you have a QB who knows and can execute the system. Jaybo runs the system. So Jaybo Shaw was the first QB who decided to hitch his wagon to Paul Johnson at GT.
FIRST RECRUIT COMMITTED
Taking it a step further, Shaw was actually the first guy at any position to verbally commit to PJ after his arrival. Others followed, by Jaybo will forever be known as the first guy to sign up for what Paul Johnson was selling.
"FIRST TO BEAT UGAg"
When meeting with Paul Johnson, Jaybo bodly proclaimed that he would be the first QB for Paul Johnson that beat UGAg. What bravado. What cahones. Hey, we all like a little mean streak and aggressiveness, right? After all, everyone (eyes rolling in back of head) loved Reggie Ball's bravado of the "we won't lose another game all year" variety. I'm all for confidence and goals, but let's not get ahead of ourselves........... especially since it hasn't happened.
FIRST TO GET ARRESTED..
..... whoops...... how did that happen? Here's a more detailed story and the other names involved. Under-age drinking. I know none of us ever expected one of our wholesome boys to go and get caught up in all that kind'a mess. So now Jaybo becomes the first recruit of Paul Johnson's to get arrested. Now THAT'S a first that I'm not sure I wanted on my name tag. I wonder how many arrests PJ had to deal with at Navy. I honestly don't have a clue, but my guess is it's pretty darn near zero. Of course they were learning the fine art of bustin' heads at Navy and putting their lives on the line.
Many of you will be of the "boys will be boys" opinion. Many of you will call the whole thing overblown. Some of you may even be somehow proud - although it's no "Matt Stafford" kind of deal unless there are pictures of him holding kegs over his head. For me, it's sad for the kid, but it is what it is. It's been reported. He'll pay the price in numerous ways - personally, legally, parentally, head-coach-ish-ly - others I'm sure.
My only opinion is that recruits have to be a little bit smarter about how they conduct themself now that they're moving to a more public "arena". Old-timers that are held up as the paragons, legends and figureheads of sports-dom are often legendary for the their off-the-field behaviour as well. It's just now with the internet, digital cameras and the like - it's going to get more publicity than ever before. Maybe Jaybo can consult with Matt Leinart about the pitfalls trying to be careful about behavior (and throw in some future wisdom about how to do it while being a father at the same time). I don't bring up this story to highlight it. I bring it up because it's news, it's relavent to GT sports, and it's a bit of a relatively minor cautionary tale to other recruits / players......................... key lesson - nothing good happens after midnight (Jaybo was arrested at 12:30 am)
If any of you have ever checked out http://www.edsbs.com/, it's a profane but entertaining college football site. They keep a "big board" of all off-season arrests, award points, and declare a winner prior to each season. All I'm saying is that these kids represent more than just themselves and everything they do is now fodder for public consumption (good or bad). Lucky for Jaybo, his FIRST day at GT won't be until the fall, which means GT doesn't break onto the EDSBS big board. Where's Reuben Houston when you need him?
9 comments:
Good post on the issue. While it isn't a huge deal, it isn't good either. The kid was at a high school party that sounds like many parties that I'm sure many of went to in high school. I was at a couple of them that got busted, but I never heard of anyone getting arrested other than those throwing the party. Seems a little harsh by the cops. Any party I was at, the people that could need sneak away just had their parents called and that was about it.
I did love a post about the ajc.com story from some UGA fan that said this showed we were now practicing "thuggery". Are you kidding me? I'm sure none of their players are drinking underage. Right, Matthew Stafford? We should hold ourselves to a higher standard than the mutts, but I found that post particuarly funny this morning.
It wasn't too long ago that the drinking age was 18. I participate in underage drinking ALL THE TIME, and I know many, many students at Tech that do. It is inconceivable that a person won't participate in underage at some point in their collegiate career. It is unfortunate that some get caught. I am sure Jaybo has learned to run faster next time he catches wind of the cops.
A 21 year-old drinking law is completely retarded and barbaric. You mention the kids at Navy. If they can fight and die (using serious death-inflicting machines) at 18 then it only emphasizes how much of a joke the 21 year old drinking law is. It is not an issue for cops at all but just between the parents and the children involved, to make arrests on this is totally unjust.
I just don't think this is the kind of publicity we need. Drinking is immoral not to mention extremely dangerous.
To atone I think we should remove the reference to whiskey from the rambling wreck song. Or maybe better, just do away with the song altogether (filled with hate, irresponsibility, profanity, gambling).
And we will certainly do away with the Budweiser song at FB games.
Spring Football practice claimed another life in FL. Eliminate that, and summer workouts, and the SAs will be much safer.
Let's all stay in bed an extra hour tomorrow to support "Safe" Day.
"Some of you may even be somehow proud - although it's no 'Matt Stafford' kind of deal unless there are pictures of him holding kegs over his head."
Yeah, because not being arrested for underage drinking is much, much worse than actually being arrested for it. Genius.
No, but having pictures of you spooning another man and lifting a keg over your head IS worse. Genius
Nah, because those won't mean anything when he's got a signing bonus in a year or two, and Jaybo will have that on his record forever.
We're talking about representing yourself, your family and your school. Neither kid did something to be proud of..... arrest or not. Stafford became a laughing stock on the 'net, and that will follow him around. It's possible it will follow Jaybo too. However, the pictures of Stafford make it highly unlikely to go away for him.
What happened to Jaybo won't follow him forever. Do you honestly think that the chances of him getting a good job after college will be marred by getting arrested for underage drinking his SENIOR year in highschool? Geez people... He isn't even under Paul Johnson's watch yet. He's just a signee. He's not PJ's responsibility until he officially graduates and is on campus.
There is a big difference between an irresponsible 17-18 year old getting drunk and an 18 year old who has been through intense disciplined training to fight a war. Don't even put them in the same basket. Those kids that "should be old enough to drink because they can fight a war" are making irresponsible decisions that often result in innocent people dying. The ones who have trained for war have learned responsibility and preparedness for what they are about to do. I drank underage and I see it as dumb now. I am also from a military family so I know of what I speak.
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