What if someone had run a background check on Qwenton Freeman?
It's an interesting question. Because if someone did, they would've seen he had a warrant out for his arrest when he came here. The warrant was for not completing his community service after he was charged with misdemeanors for assault and criminal trespassing. Bobby Hauck wouldn't recruit a kid with a warrant out for his arrest, right?
First, let's start on UM's policy on background checks. This comes from a Montana Kaimin article after the Jimmy Wilson scandal:
Freeman was at the scene of every violent crime involving a Montana Grizzly within the past six months. He was there when Jimmy Wilson allegedly shot and killed Kevin Smoot, he was at the scene of these robberies and he was there when he allegedly hit one woman outside a bar and when he allegedly choked his girlfriend.
Going off of the affidavit, it looks like Freeman was one of the, if not thee, leader of the robberies. One of the most telling things: when one of victims escaped out the window during the robbery, Freeman slapped Jeramy Pate and called him a "bitch." It's scary thinking about what kind of action Freeman wanted Pate to take. Did he seriously want Pate to shoot him?
An even more disturbing thing to think about: what was Qwenton Freeman's influence on Jimmy Wilson? What was he putting into Wilson's ear in the time leading up to the murder? When Wilson hesitated to act after whatever happened between Smoot and Wilson's aunt, did Freeman slap him and call him names?
These type of things aren't pleasant to think about, but they must be weighed in all of this. When we know an athlete has some kind of criminal history, maybe it's best we do run some kind of background check. After all, these aren't normal students. They come to school for free and represent this university far more than any other individual student.
First, let's start on UM's policy on background checks. This comes from a Montana Kaimin article after the Jimmy Wilson scandal:
“Our president has made it very clear we will not be doing formal background checks and he was very public in his statement. From a compliance standpoint, our student athletes are to be treated like every other student – no better and no worse – during the admissions process.” - Associate Athletic Director Jean GeeThe most important what if is what if someone had run a formal background check on Freeman and the staff chose not to pick him up because they saw his warrant? Would any of this crime had happened?
Freeman was at the scene of every violent crime involving a Montana Grizzly within the past six months. He was there when Jimmy Wilson allegedly shot and killed Kevin Smoot, he was at the scene of these robberies and he was there when he allegedly hit one woman outside a bar and when he allegedly choked his girlfriend.
Going off of the affidavit, it looks like Freeman was one of the, if not thee, leader of the robberies. One of the most telling things: when one of victims escaped out the window during the robbery, Freeman slapped Jeramy Pate and called him a "bitch." It's scary thinking about what kind of action Freeman wanted Pate to take. Did he seriously want Pate to shoot him?
An even more disturbing thing to think about: what was Qwenton Freeman's influence on Jimmy Wilson? What was he putting into Wilson's ear in the time leading up to the murder? When Wilson hesitated to act after whatever happened between Smoot and Wilson's aunt, did Freeman slap him and call him names?
These type of things aren't pleasant to think about, but they must be weighed in all of this. When we know an athlete has some kind of criminal history, maybe it's best we do run some kind of background check. After all, these aren't normal students. They come to school for free and represent this university far more than any other individual student.
"An even more disturbing thing to think about: what was Qwenton Freeman's influence on Jimmy Wilson? What was he putting into Wilson's ear......did Freeman slap him and call him names?"
"These type of things aren't pleasant to think about, but they must be weighed in all of this."
Wrong. You are asking us to "weigh in" on pure speculation developed on "some guy's" blog.
The documented fact of Freeman's arrest warrant in AZ is mutually exclusive of any conjecture someone can make up off the top of their head.
We all know what the Police think about Freeman's involvement in the Smoot murder, but the reality is they have as little proof or evidence as you do. If they did, they would have brought him back to CA with them when they left.
I'm not saying I believe Freeman is a saint, but releasing useless suppositions about an ongoing criminal investigation onto teh intarwebs helps nothing nor proves anything.
However, if you want your blog to be as reputable as your common supermarket tabloid, then by all means continue.
I'm sorry but I can't see all of this and not wonder what the hell is going on when one guy is at the scene of multiple unrelated violent crimes. It is speculation. If you prefer to sit and read whatever his pumped out by the police or AP without thinking about what else might have happened, feel free. I have no problem with that. Honestly though, just as I can't convince anyone that this stuff only happens because of Freeman, you and no one else can really convince others this does happen without Freeman's presence. Maybe it doesn't "have to be weighed" but it's something to think about. If you don't want to think about it, don't.
On top of that, if those in charge realize that one single false step on the recruiting trail can damn near wreck the integrity of the program, maybe they'll be less inclined to take such risks
- Colin
to bring a young man into the competitive enviroment of college football will bring out the best and worst of that person. I beleive it is imperative to know the background of all athletes to establish a baseline of their behavior for future monitoring and mentoring.
EVERYBODY MAKES THEIR OWN DECISIONS. THOSE BOYS MADE A DECISION ON THEIR OWN TO DO WUT THEY WANTED TO DO. QWENTON DID NOT PUT A GUN TO THEIR HEAD AND SAY LETS GO ROBB THIS HOUSE. YOU PEOPLE NEED TO STOP PUTTING EVERYTHING ON QWENTON AND REALIZE THAT EVERYONE MAKES THEIR OWN DECISION. ITS STUPID OF YOU ALL TO SAY THAT IF THIS ONE PERSON WASNT HERE WOULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED? FOOLISH FOR YOU PEOPLE TO SAY THAT. BUT I DO ADMIT IT WAS A STUPID THING THAT THEY ALL DID AND JUS NOT RESPONSIBLE OR SMART AT ALL. BUT ONE PERSON COULDNT HAVE INFLUENCED 5 PEOPLE TO DO SUCH THING UNLESS THEY WANTED TO DO IT ALSO. THEY COULD SAY NO. THEY HAVE MOUTHS TO SPEAK UP AND SAY WHAT THEY FEEL IS RITE. AND THEY DIDNT SO ITS ALL OF THEM NOT JUS QWENTON. IT MAKES ME MAD TO READ THAT.
Sounds like Whitney has a personal issue with Qwenton...I agree all of them ultimately made thier own decisions BUT I also believe Qwenton had alot to do with it! For her to sit here and defend him absolutely makes me sick!! He has been invloved in not 1, not 2, not 3, oh wait not even 4 situations with the police, and every time he runs. He is a coward, he needs to step up and be a man since he wants to play MAN games with everyone elses lives!
I think background checks are great however they can give the wrong impression about people which can get rather annoying.