"Free Jimmy Wilson"
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That's the sentiment expressed by Griz cornerback Chris Clark. Or at least that's what his shirt said at a dance/party at The Other Side on Friday night. Not going to express any opinion on it. It is what it is. Here's the back.
That's the sentiment expressed by Griz cornerback Chris Clark. Or at least that's what his shirt said at a dance/party at The Other Side on Friday night. Not going to express any opinion on it. It is what it is. Here's the back.
Athletes need to recognize and respect their privilege
Montana Grizzlies athletes who come to school in Missoula on scholarships aren't here for free. Sure, it's free to them, but it's not free. Someone is paying for it. Whether it be through those spiffy Griz license plates, buying season tickets or simply donating straight to the GSA, there are people paying for the athletes' education.
There's a great article by Dan Thompson in today's Idaho State Journal on this issue.
If Jimmy Williams runs around town acting like an idiot and showing off his pistol, we get to be pissed. When he commits a terrible crime and has the press mention University of Montana and murder in the same sentence, we get to hate him. And when JD Quinn commits his third DUI after getting kicked out of his previous school for taking money he didn't earn, we have the right to be a little irked and start thinking that he may not be such great guy. Sure, Bobby got you here, but it's the fans who paid the way.
There's a great article by Dan Thompson in today's Idaho State Journal on this issue.
Coaches like to say their athletes aren't unique in regards to life experience and that they can't track their players whereabouts outside of practice. In this, coaches are correct.Scholarship or not, college kids are college kids and some will make stupid mistakes. However, when you're an athlete getting what's almost a $100,000 value (out of state tuition is about 22k per year) for free while other's have to pay that, we get to hold you to a higher standard. That's the deal.
''These are good, solid people coaching these teams,'' Montana coach Bobby Hauck said at the Big Sky meetings in July. ''There are good kids on these teams. I'm around enough of them on a daily basis to say these college football players are no different than anyone else on campus.''
Hauck is right about the first part, but he's only half right about the second. Yes, college football players are the same age as their classmates, prone to all the same whims and wiles.
But college athletes are also being paid, and therefore they are not like other students. They are the faces of their institutions, the same as a professor or a student body president would be. It comes with the money.
Players, then, cannot simply be defined by their actions on the field. Even moreso, they will be remembered for their transgressions away from competition. Get burned by a wide receiver and fans will forget. They won't forget a DUI so easily.
Perhaps the NFL's renewed emphasis on character will make players like Quinn realize a scholarship isn't a pass for stupidity, and that the next level won't tolerate such repeated idiocy. It doesn't take much to follow the law. Millions of people do so successfully and without incident their entire lives.
Coaches know all about privilege, and they preach it. But it shouldn't take a coach's speech to get athletes to understand the concept. Athletes simply need look at people sitting at the desks around them.
Then they will understand what privilege really means.
If Jimmy Williams runs around town acting like an idiot and showing off his pistol, we get to be pissed. When he commits a terrible crime and has the press mention University of Montana and murder in the same sentence, we get to hate him. And when JD Quinn commits his third DUI after getting kicked out of his previous school for taking money he didn't earn, we have the right to be a little irked and start thinking that he may not be such great guy. Sure, Bobby got you here, but it's the fans who paid the way.
Grandmother offers up another side of Jimmy Wilson murder
According to the Antelope Valley Press, Jimmy Wilson's grandmother, Gloria Wilson, believes that Jimmy Wilson acted in self defense when he shot and killed Kevin Smoot.
The grandmother of a University of Montana football player accused of shooting a Lancaster man to death said her grandson acted in self-defense.Gloria Wilson, the grandmother of James "Jimmy" Wilson, who is charged with the murder of Kevin Smoot, 29, said her grandson shot at Smoot after he came after Wilson with a gun.
"Kevin had a gun," she said. "James and Kevin tussled over the gun, then Kevin was shot."
The story also provides more details on the case and Jimmy's living situation.
She said her foster daughter had a tumultuous relationship with Smoot, in which they shared two children.
Wilson had gone over to his foster aunt's house about 10:30 p.m. June 2 after she called his grandmother several times about Smoot's abusive behavior, Gloria Wilson said.
Gloria's daughter told her that Smoot had urinated on her and was fighting her.
"They were two people that shouldn't have been together," she said.
Wilson planned to pick up his aunt at her residence in the 44900 block of 16th Street East in Lancaster and take her away from Smoot, she said. He told his grandmother, "Grandma, she don't have nobody but us."
"He didn't go over there to talk it over," Wilson's grandmother said.
Wilson told Smoot that "it's inhuman to urinate on a person."
Wilson was staying at his grandmother's house for the summer, she said. Wilson's grandmother paid for his housing costs while he majored in business at the University of Montana, where he was a Grizzlies cornerback and their seventh-leading returning tackler. He enrolled at the Missoula university after playing football at Point Loma High School in San Diego.
It's good to hear another side to this story. As I mentioned before, Qwenton Freeman's silence on this case only makes Wilson look more guilty. If Smoot did something as despicable as urinating on someone and he did have a gun, two witnesses could convince a jury this was self defense. It also makes me wonder if this case could possibly fall under "defense of another." Yeah... I heard that in an episode of The Practice.
Jimmy Wilson pleads not guilty
The AP is reporting that suspended Griz cornerback Jimmy Wilson plead not guilty at his arraignment in a Los Angeles County Courtroom on Monday. Wilson is being held on $2 million bail for allegedly shooting and killing Kevin Smoot, his aunt's boyfriend.
I'm not really sure how much rides on an arraignment hearing. I'm assuming not a whole lot based on the Wikipedia article.
If Jimmy Wilson really is not guilty, which could be the case, don't you think Qwenton Freeman would've given his side of the story? Freeman keeping lips pressed tight makes Wilson look just as guilty as if he'd cooperated with the police.
I'm not really sure how much rides on an arraignment hearing. I'm assuming not a whole lot based on the Wikipedia article.
Arraignment is a common law term for the formal reading of a criminal complaint, in the presence of the defendant, to inform him of the charges against him. In response to arraignment, the accused is expected to enter a plea.After reading on a bit it looks like you have to plead no guilty if you want a trial. Otherwise it goes to an evidentiary hearing to determine the punishment.
If Jimmy Wilson really is not guilty, which could be the case, don't you think Qwenton Freeman would've given his side of the story? Freeman keeping lips pressed tight makes Wilson look just as guilty as if he'd cooperated with the police.
Qwenton Freeman was there and no one wants to talk about it
This keeps getting worse. I would say 'wow, this is what it must be like to be a Bengals fan' but none of them them were suspected of shooting someone in the chest -- or eye, depending on the story. Turns out fellow Griz cornerback Qwenton Freeman was there when Jimmy did what he did. The Missoulian reports that LAPD investigators have flown up from Los Angeles to follow up on some leads and talk to Griz football players. It hasn't gone so well.
The players are now -- like just about always-- under a gag order forbidding them from speaking to the media. They must be so used to keeping their mouthes shut that they can't open them when they need to. No guys, this isn't Fritz Neighbor asking you whether or not Cole Bergquist has the number one spot on the QB depth chart locked up. It's the LAPD asking if you can help them figure out who killed someone's dad. Turns out Freeman could be taken into custody if he continues to be uncooperative. Good.
Freeman (right) is originally from Pasadena, but his mother lives in Lancaster, near where the murder took place. He first played ball at a community college, then was going to play at U-Dub but couldn't meet the academic requirements. Next was the University of Arizona, where he practiced but never made the squad. However, there is one interesting nugget of information from his tenure there I don't think many Griz fans knew.
Of course the administration is doing as their players have done and holding up in their office like they were hiding from a nuclear attack.
“Basically, we were just looking for cooperation from the players, especially if someone witnessed the incident,” [Sgt. Steve Rubino] said. “It just appeared that the players didn't really want to comment too much.
“It left a bad taste in our mouth that the players wouldn't cooperate with us. If it was on the other foot and their teammate got killed, they would be really forthcoming,” said Rubino, who returned to Los Angeles on Wednesday night. “Someone got murdered here and we're just looking for some cooperation. If it was one of their players, my phone would be ringing off the hook.”
The players are now -- like just about always-- under a gag order forbidding them from speaking to the media. They must be so used to keeping their mouthes shut that they can't open them when they need to. No guys, this isn't Fritz Neighbor asking you whether or not Cole Bergquist has the number one spot on the QB depth chart locked up. It's the LAPD asking if you can help them figure out who killed someone's dad. Turns out Freeman could be taken into custody if he continues to be uncooperative. Good.Freeman (right) is originally from Pasadena, but his mother lives in Lancaster, near where the murder took place. He first played ball at a community college, then was going to play at U-Dub but couldn't meet the academic requirements. Next was the University of Arizona, where he practiced but never made the squad. However, there is one interesting nugget of information from his tenure there I don't think many Griz fans knew.
In April 2006, Freeman was arrested for assault and criminal trespassing, both misdemeanors, by the University of Arizona Police Department.Isn't this fun? Us Griz fans were bickering over the move to I-A because there wasn't much to talk about besides all the Cat stuff. Well now we have something to call our own. Gee, this is swell.
Although details on the offenses were not available late Thursday, Freeman was convicted on the assault charge in Pima County Consolidated Justice Courts and was subsequently sentenced to a diversion program under the University of Arizona's supervision.
A diversion program is similar to community service. There was never any disposition in the trespassing case, according to records.
Because he did not complete the required community service, Freeman has two active warrants for his arrest out of Pima County, Ariz.
Of course the administration is doing as their players have done and holding up in their office like they were hiding from a nuclear attack.
UM football coach Bobby Hauck and athletic director Jim O'Day did not return repeated phone calls from the newspaper Thursday. Hauck has declined all requests for interviews since the allegations against Wilson surfaced, directing media inquiries to UM executive vice president Jim Foley.I don't know why but this conjures up images of George Costanza holding out in his extra large handicap bathroom. Someone needs to say something because if this type of information keeps filtering out through the press, it's only going to get worse. It appears as though the administration thinks they can keep the news from coming out through the media. Not going to happen. If Griz fans keep learning more discouraging news from strong reporting instead of honest coaches and administrators, this is going to leave a pretty nasty stain on the program. Plus, look at how it worked out for George.
Foley said he would not comment on Freeman's status on the football team, or about UM football players' unwillingness to cooperate with the Los Angeles homicide investigators. Nor would he discuss the standards of conduct to which UM holds its student-athletes.
“Officially, we're not going to comment on an ongoing criminal matter that's in the California criminal courts. Period,” Foley said.
Jimmy Wilson "no stranger" to the police
When someone decides they're going to drive over to another guys house, shoot them, and then be on his way; it's likely said person has been a bit irrational before. It looks like this is the case with Griz cornerback Jimmy Wilson, who's reported to have partaken in quite a bit of violent shenanigans.
From The Missoulian:
Welsh went on to say he had no knowledge of calls being made by the police department to the UM athletic department. However, this doesn't mean calls weren't made my individual citizens. With the amount of rumors I've heard on Wilson's idiotic, violent and "thuggish" antics, it's extremely unlikely the athletic department had no knowledge of his poor character.
I'm not sure whether Guffey, Foley or O'Day would know but Hauck would have to. Why would this person lie and if Hauck honestly had no knowledge of Wilson's actions, why wouldn't he come out and say so? The wall around the garden of Griz football might save them in this situation because no one has any idea what anyone knew or when they knew it. However, maybe the lack of wall would've led to an investigation on previous incidents. Maybe Jimmy getting kicked out of school was what he needed to snap out of it. Maybe Kevin Smoot wouldn't have gotten shot. It's a lot of maybes but I'll take a few maybes over a couple kids without a dad.
From The Missoulian:
James “Jimmy” Leon Wilson, 20, had numerous run-ins with police in Missoula through the years, though none of the incidents resulted in criminal charges, said Missoula Police Sgt. Travis Welsh, who assisted California authorities with the recent homicide investigation.
“He's no stranger to us,” Welsh said.
...
Welsh said Missoula police have fielded numerous complaints about Wilson's behavior in town through the years, while another detective acknowledged questioning Wilson in at least one assault case.
“There's been past contact,” said Missoula Police Detective Guy Baker.
Police would not elaborate on those instances because Wilson was never charged with a criminal offense in Missoula County.
Over the years, complaints of violence also were brought to officials in UM's athletic department by local residents who contacted the Missoulian in the wake of Wilson's arrest. All asked to remain anonymous in news stories, for fear of retribution.
Among the complainants is a Missoula man who says Wilson threatened him with a gun during an altercation in October 2005, and a Missoula woman who says her son was assaulted downtown in April 2006 by a group of men that included Wilson.
The man said he reported the incident to police and to UM football coach Bobby Hauck, but was told nothing could be done.
In that incident, Wilson allegedly chased the man onto the freeway after an altercation, then stood outside the car and threatened him. The man said Wilson lifted his T-shirt to reveal a pistol tucked into his pants.
Police investigated the downtown assault as a potential felony case, but in May 2006 the victim told authorities he didn't want the investigation to go any further, Welsh said.
According to family members of the victim, he called a halt to the investigation because he feared retribution.
On Tuesday, Bobby Hauck referred all questions to UM associate athletic director Dave Guffey, who directed inquiries to UM executive vice president Jim Foley.
In response to the Missoulian's questions about how the athletic department responded to local residents' complaints, Foley would only reference the murder charges filed in Los Angeles County.
Welsh went on to say he had no knowledge of calls being made by the police department to the UM athletic department. However, this doesn't mean calls weren't made my individual citizens. With the amount of rumors I've heard on Wilson's idiotic, violent and "thuggish" antics, it's extremely unlikely the athletic department had no knowledge of his poor character.
I'm not sure whether Guffey, Foley or O'Day would know but Hauck would have to. Why would this person lie and if Hauck honestly had no knowledge of Wilson's actions, why wouldn't he come out and say so? The wall around the garden of Griz football might save them in this situation because no one has any idea what anyone knew or when they knew it. However, maybe the lack of wall would've led to an investigation on previous incidents. Maybe Jimmy getting kicked out of school was what he needed to snap out of it. Maybe Kevin Smoot wouldn't have gotten shot. It's a lot of maybes but I'll take a few maybes over a couple kids without a dad.
Jimmy Wilson arrested for murder
I don't know what to say. I'm sick of writing about this stuff. It gets real old trying to comment on drug charges and murder. It's too much. I don't know how to react to more stuff like this.From the Great Falls Tribune:
A University of Montana football player is being held in a California jail facing murder charges and will be arraigned in court today, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff Department deputy.What is going on? We're Montana. Is there anything else we can do to make the universities in this state look worse? Really. I don't think you could do much more damage in an offseason. This recent incident isn't as closely tied to the school and area as the MSU one but that doesn't make it better. I really can't land an opinion on this other than that it's horrible.
University Executive Vice President Jim Foley confirmed that starting cornerback James "Jimmy" Leon Wilson, 20, is in the hands of the California court system and the school's athletic department and administrators were attempting to learn more about the case Wednesday night.
...
Wilson is accused of shooting and killing Kevin Smoot, 29, at Smoot's home on June 2, authorities said. Smoot was shot in the upper torso while he stood in the driveway of his house. He died at the scene, deputies said.
Wilson allegedly fled the scene after the shooting, deputies said.
Authorities said Wilson was involved in an altercation with Smoot and his girlfriend, who is related to Wilson, Los Angeles County authorities said. Wilson, accompanied by his attorney, turned himself in to authorities Tuesday in Lancaster, Calif., about an hour northeast of Los Angeles, deputies said.
The victim's mother, Leslie Smoot, told a Palmdale, Calif., newspaper that her son had two young children with his 27-year-old girlfriend. She did not know the relationship between Wilson and the woman. She learned of Wilson's arrest Wednesday after she buried her son, the newspaper said.
Montana Grizzlies Football Challenged by Chad Johnson-esque Sac State Receiver
"Who will cover 85 in 2005?" That was the title of a checklist created by Chad Johnson, wide reciever for the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL. Elon Paige did the same. 
Paige, a second year 6'4" 190 lb receiver for Sacramento State, posted his list on the mass media pulpit that is his ownMyspace Blog (link is down, Elon decided to make his blog private, guess it was too much attention) Here is an excerpt and his list of "future victims" for the Griz:
Paige does come from a great pedigree as his father Stephone Paige played nine seasons with Kansas City Chiefs and brother, Stephone II, played two seasons for Hornets.
I'll give Paige the benefit of the doubt, maybe he is always open but never gets thrown to. Confidence(see his post about it) is great for a young receiver, but this may be a step too far. Even so, he's a player I'll keep my eye on.
Paige, a second year 6'4" 190 lb receiver for Sacramento State, posted his list on the mass media pulpit that is his own
Therr are three things in life that are certain: death, taxes, and that 19 will always be open.I did my best to find numbers on this guy but I really don't think there are any. From what I found, he got in two games last year and didn't do a thing. He may or may not have returned a kickoff for 10 yards while getting blown out by Cal, but that information varies between two sites. In high school, Paige was named All Delta League after catching 17 passes for 301 yards for Laguna Creek High School of Clovis, California.
This is the exclusive list of future victims for 2006 (playmakers in bold):
...
University of Montana
S ..17 Van Cooper Jr. 6-2 215 Sr.
S ..27 Matt Lesbock 5-11 190 Sr.
CB ..18 Jimmy Wilson 6-0 180 Jr.
CB ..13 Tuff Harris 6-0 195 Sr.
Paige does come from a great pedigree as his father Stephone Paige played nine seasons with Kansas City Chiefs and brother, Stephone II, played two seasons for Hornets.
I'll give Paige the benefit of the doubt, maybe he is always open but never gets thrown to. Confidence
