Scarbinsky Demands Justice (And he can go fudge himself)

[The Six]

Suspending him for the opener against Arkansas would strike the right balance. It would send a strong message about learning from your mistakes and letting down your teammates, and senior defensive back Jonathon Mincy - who was arrested for misdemeanor pot possession two weeks earlier - should miss that game, too.

Just as important as the decision Malzahn makes will be when he makes it and how he makes it known. If he keeps Marshall’s status for the Arkansas game a secret until kickoff, he’ll come across as cynical and more concerned with winning than doing the right thing.

If he plays Marshall against Arkansas but suspends him for a later, lesser game, he’ll look like Mike Shula 2.0.

If he doesn’t suspend him at all, which he could justify based on Auburn's drug policy, he’ll be taking the easy way out.

The best thing for Malzahn, Marshall and the Auburn program would be a swift and strong decision that leaves no room for misunderstanding about where the coach stands on what he expects from his best and brightest players.

This is the biggest disciplinary decision Malzahn has faced as the Auburn head coach. What he does will say a lot about him, no matter how little he says about it.

Now, I admit I think what Nick Marshall did was stupid, selfish, and immature and that it should be punished. But I want Gus and co. making that call. And for Scarbinsky and the rest of the media to sit up here and demand this while DUIs are being handed out like to UAT players like beer at an X Gate, uh uh. fudge a whole bunch of that self-righteous shoot right in the cornhole.

Nick Marshall may or may not get sit for a game or few. He may have to run a few laps. But that ain't for al.com to demand from Auburn. Not when they won't demand jack fudgeing squat shoot from Sabear and the Bammerstone of Crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[War Eagle!!!]

Mincy should sit a game and Marshall shouldn't. An arrest is not the same as a citation. How the fuck are you going to start sitting people for getting citations?

[GH2001]

Mincy should sit a game and Marshall shouldn't. An arrest is not the same as a citation. How the fuck are you going to start sitting people for getting citations?

THIS...all of it. ^^

[Townhallsavoy]

Mincy should sit a game and Marshall shouldn't. An arrest is not the same as a citation. How the fuck are you going to start sitting people for getting citations?

Exactly.  As I've heard discussed elsewhere, who issues a citation for 8-9 grams of weed?  I think that was erroneously reporting.  Residue?  Sure.  Citation.  8-9 grams? 

BUT, the issue here isn't the consequence but the behavior.  Both players are in trouble for possession of and (most likely) consuming marijuana.  It is clearly against team, school, and conference rules.  These were also two players who were supposed to be leaders on the team.  Both players have experienced tremendous adversity on the field (Mincy in 2012) and off the field (Marshall at Georgia). 

I think they both should sit the first game of the season. Sends a HUGE message.  It's a freaking SEC West game.  Players will take Malzahn seriously - much more so than before especially young guys coming in - if they see that Malzahn is willing to sacrifice his job security for the sake of leading young guys in the right direction.  Not to mention, I'm fairly certain we can still win against Arkansas and holy shit the lulz if we beat Bielema without our starting quarterback on the field. 

[jmar]

Exactly.  As I've heard discussed elsewhere, who issues a citation for 8-9 grams of weed?  I think that was erroneously reporting.  Residue?  Sure.  Citation.  8-9 grams? 

BUT, the issue here isn't the consequence but the behavior.  Both players are in trouble for possession of and (most likely) consuming marijuana.  It is clearly against team, school, and conference rules.  These were also two players who were supposed to be leaders on the team.  Both players have experienced tremendous adversity on the field (Mincy in 2012) and off the field (Marshall at Georgia). 

I think they both should sit the first game of the season. Sends a HUGE message.  It's a freaking SEC West game.  Players will take Malzahn seriously - much more so than before especially young guys coming in - if they see that Malzahn is willing to sacrifice his job security for the sake of leading young guys in the right direction.  Not to mention, I'm fairly certain we can still win against Arkansas and holy shit the lulz if we beat Bielema without our starting quarterback on the field.

Ordinarily I would agree here but there is no "teaching moment" or healing when the media is free to cast dispersions throughout the season. And what if Nick puts up record numbers and it should come down to being invited to New York along with Petty, Mariota, Winston etc.? The media will then be forced to rally in order to protect our integrity and all that we hold dear as a people.

The punishment began when Marshall was issued the citation making everyone aware that Auburn's starting QB smokes herb behind darkened glass. This is not going to be put to rest no matter what Malzahn chooses to do. I know I'm getting the cart before the horse depending on Marshall's accuracy and us winning the SEC West but we know how this rinse/repeat garbage plays out. I think Gus played it right yesterday in his opening statements.     
   

[The Prowler]

Ordinarily I would agree here but there is no "teaching moment" or healing when the media is free to cast dispersions throughout the season. And what if Nick puts up record numbers and it should come down to being invited to New York along with Petty, Mariota, Winston etc.? The media will then be forced to rally in order to protect our integrity and all that we hold dear as a people.

The punishment began when Marshall was issued the citation making everyone aware that Auburn's starting QB smokes herb behind darkened glass. This is not going to be put to rest no matter what Malzahn chooses to do. I know I'm getting the cart before the horse depending on Marshall's accuracy and us winning the SEC West but we know how this rinse/repeat garbage plays out. I think Gus played it right yesterday in his opening statements.     
 

If Marshall and Winston are in the Heisman race at the end, then the media & the Downtown Athletic Club will be forced to choose between a rapist/crabclaw & soda fountain thief or a weed carrier.

[jmar]

If Marshall and Winston are in the Heisman race at the end, then the media & the Downtown Athletic Club will be forced to choose between a rapist and weed carrier.

Let's not forget the crab claw incident either. Boy 's a seafood thief!

[Snaggletiger]

Auburn's own written policy on marijuana use doesn't require him to sit on the first offense.

And this line right here from Skrabchinski...

 ...he’ll come across as cynical and more concerned with winning than doing the right thing.

First off, numb nuttz, you don't get to decide what "the right thing" is.  What sends a stronger message to your team, not playing for one game or running stairs every day til you puke, going to counseling etc.?  Second, I'm just guessing here but since Gus Malzahn and Lord Saybinz and Mark Richt and Will Muschamp and every other corch in the SEC and around the country were hired to win...or be fired...I'm guessing he's more concerned with winning.  However, you can actually focus on both. 
 

[Snaggletiger]

So, Mr. Skrabchinski has the keen ability of talking out both sides of his mouth.  On the same day he calls out Malzahn, demanding he sit Nick Marshall, he writes another piece telling the world that method of discipline clearly doesn't work.  Hmmm....  from those wacky dot  I am a gay twerker that has no balls!!!!  I also have no idea how to use the quote function to post stories, so I annoy the piss out of others.  I like male genatalia in and around my mouth. over at the a-l.


Nick Saban has a problem. So does Gus Malzahn.

It's a similar problem, and it's the kind of thing that can turn a championship program into yesterday's news and a challenger into a one-hit wonder.

It's a discipline problem. Whatever they're doing to change the behavior of their more undisciplined players for the better, it's not working.

A year ago, Alabama defensive back Geno Smith was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Part of the discipline Saban imposed on Smith as a consequence of his crime was a one-game suspension.

That didn't stop linebacker Dillon Lee from getting arrested for DUI in April or defensive lineman Jarran Reed from getting arrested for the same offense early Sunday morning.

Saban's message on that very serious subject clearly hasn't gotten through to every player on the roster.

Ditto for Malzahn's message to his Auburn players about smoking marijuana, which is still illegal throughout the SEC footprint and against school and NCAA rules.

A year ago, Auburn defensive back Demetruce McNeal was arrested for misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Malzahn kicked him off the team.

That didn't stop fellow defensive back Jonathon Mincy from getting arrested on a similar charge two weeks ago or quarterback Nick Marshall from getting cited Friday in Reynolds, Ga., for misdemeanor marijuana possession.

It would be a bit extreme to wonder whether Auburn has a drug problem or if Alabama has a drinking problem. College football players are college students, and some college students smoke marijuana and some drink and drive. So do some adults.

Doesn't make it right. Makes it selfish and stupid and far too common.

It's not naive to wonder whether Auburn and Alabama have a discipline problem. If players at each program continue to commit the same offenses, despite the punishment handed down by their head coaches, they do.

History tells us that dynasties tend to crumble from within. Alabama seems a long way from crumbling, but it's disturbing that the off-field problems that plagued the program after winning back-to-back national titles in 2011 and 2012 have continued.

Recent history shows us that Gene Chizik lost control of the Auburn program after its magical 2010 season. It's Malzahn's job to keep that history from repeating itself, and Marshall's citation in particular is a bad sign.

The returning starter at quarterback is more than the most visible player in the program and a potential Heisman contender. He's only at Auburn thanks to the second chance Malzahn provided after Mark Richt kicked him off the team at Georgia and he did the standard penance at a junior college.

This mistake would be a big, fat strike two.

Taking away Marshall's privilege of attending SEC Media Days was a good start, but it can't and no doubt won't be his only punishment. The rest of the story will be the real story. If he and Mincy don't sit out Auburn's opener against Arkansas, what kind of message is Malzahn sending to the other players? The same question goes for Saban if Lee and Reed don't get sidelined for Alabama's first game against West Virginia.

At least.

Both programs have gone beyond isolated incidents to patterns of bad behavior. What are Malzahn and Saban going to do about it? Hopefully, it'll be something more effective than they've done so far.

[AUChizad]

Both programs have gone beyond isolated incidents to patterns of bad behavior. What are Malzahn and Saban going to do about it? Hopefully, it'll be something more effective than they've done so far.

And that chart isn't even accurate. Bama has 7.

Kamara, Hart, Tenpenny, Reed, Drake, Brown, and Lee.

Auburn had Mincy & a citation for Marshall. I think the 2 that I've seen is because they're counting Bessent, who was only a recruit at the time, and whose charges were dropped.

So really we're talking 1 arrest vs. 7. But yeah, it's basically the same. Virtually indistinguishable.

[Snaggletiger]

I feel a Twitter battle brewing.

[Buzz Killington]

If he plays Marshall against Arkansas but suspends him for a later, lesser game, he’ll look like Mike Shula 2.0.

Hello DJ Hall.