Topic: Inman Suspended for Season Opener for DUI.

[ZackUSAF82]

HUNTINGTON -- Marshall University football player John Inman has been suspended for the season opener following his arrest on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence, Thundering Herd head coach Mark Snyder said.

Inman, a sophomore offensive lineman from Knoxville, Tenn., was involved in a motor vehicle accident Sunday at Seventh Avenue and Marion Court, according to a Huntington Police Department arrest report.

The police report said Inman failed a sobriety test and had an intoximeter result of .173. The legal limit in West Virginia is .08.

"I am disappointed in John," Snyder said. "Anytime one of our student-athletes makes a poor decision, it is very discouraging. This is a matter that we take very seriously and are addressing it in an appropriate way. Unfortunately for John and the Marshall football family, he will be suspended for our opening game against William and Mary."

Marshall opens the season at home Sept. 1 against William & Mary.

Inman played a reserve role in eight games last season and appeared to have secured the starting right guard spot during spring practice.

Link: http://www.herald-dispatch.com/2005/June/11/MUspot.htm

[DJdaHERDfan]

I can't wait for Snyder to get the idiots under control.

These days of running wild are coming to an abrupt end.


When all these players are under one roof(dorms), Snyder and company will have a tight grip on the team.

[Mako]

DJ, you just made one of the dumber posts I've seen in a while.  OK.  He shouldn't have been drinking and driving.  Fair enough.  He made a mistake and he will be punished both from the legal system and from Coach Snyder.  I wish I could be like you and be able to say I've never had one too many and then gotten behind the wheel.  Of course, if you did, I guess that would make you just as much of an "idiot" as Inman now wouldn't it?

[Herdrunner]

You may be right but every one of us who has gotten behind a wheel after a few drinks knew what was in store for us if we got caught. I would probably be just a little more careful and responsible about that decision if I was getting a free education out of the deal.

[Huffnagel]

DJ, you just made one of the dumber posts I've seen in a while. OK. He shouldn't have been drinking and driving. Fair enough. He made a mistake and he will be punished both from the legal system and from Coach Snyder. I wish I could be like you and be able to say I've never had one too many and then gotten behind the wheel. Of course, if you did, I guess that would make you just as much of an "idiot" as Inman now wouldn't it?

Just because we may have done it ourselves, doesn't make it any better. It just makes us lucky that we didn't KILL someone while we did it! In my opinion, this is a very serious crime and should not be taken lightly. If these boys are going to grow up to be men, then they need to understand the responsibility that goes along with it!

And I wonder if you told a parent or family member that had a family member killed by a drunk driver if they would think that it wasn't too big of a deal because thay may have done it once before.

[Anonymous]

Haven't we all done something between 18-22 that was stupid? I know I did plenty. Kids should be given a 2nd chance, IF and only IF, they can handle themselves and there aren't other issues that we, the general public, don't know about.  

Serious offenses, such as what Vick did at VT should be taken care of in the way they were. However, after a "reflection" period, they should be allowed to continue their academic and football careers.

[DJdaHERDfan]

When a program has lost control of its student athletes, the student athletes can run amuck and act like idiots because there is no supervision.

Just because they are bigger than most grown men doesn't mean they are grown men.
They are literally immature teenagers that need proper guidance.

And them, like my kids, like anyone's kids, will act like like "IDIOTS" if there is not a watchful eye on their behavior.

My step-son is 21 years old, married, has a 3 week old daughter. And without mom and dad still watching over him, he still can make idiotic decisions that could be damaging to his life/career.

If my son was one of these players who have been getting into trouble, I would be on the phone and demanding to speak to the man in charge of keeping an eye on my "idiot".

[OhYeaahMU]

While I agree that kids are kids and WILL make mistakes (we all have), drinking and driving is SERIOUS.  Work a night in the ER and you will think anyone who drinks and gets behind a wheel (and rides ATVs without a helmet or rides without a seat belt for that matter) must be one dumb fool.

[HerdNBluefield79]

I am guilty of being behind the wheel with a few drinks on me - I was not so smart. Plain and simple.

It is a serious offense, and should be taken seriously - out of concern for the player as well as the potential of others being killed or having their lives ruined.

Way back, I read an article that in LA or some large California city - they take DUI offenders and make them go to the Morgue....quite a sobering experience - no pun intended.

18-22 I was there only a few years back - and you think you're invincible....which leads to wreckless decisions.

I'm glad that Inman is okay and no one was hurt - hopefully, he learned a valuable lesson and that the rest of the team will realize that Snyder means business and he doesn't tolerate shame being brought on his alma mater/program.

[Mako]

Here's a challenge for anyone who wants to take it up.  Put together 100 18-22 year old males.  Keep every single one of them out of trouble for 4-5 years.  Good luck.

[ZackUSAF82]

Here's a challenge for anyone who wants to take it up. Put together 100 18-22 year old males. Keep every single one of them out of trouble for 4-5 years. Good luck.

Hey, it's not my fault you chose to go officer in the military... If you would have gone enlisted, you would only have to deal with 10 or so... But no, you had to choose the officer route, so now you are stuck with bailing all your Army brothers out of jail every Friday/Saturday night... Stop being so bitter!

 :o

Sorry couldn't resist buddy.

[Blade]

I don't particularly like the sound of this thread.  What it "sounds" like to me is that many of you don't believe Pruett disciplined the players.  Just because one coach decides to keep disciplinary actions private among the team and the other exposes it, doesn't mean that the program has gone awry.

EVERY program has hiccups with their student athletes.  Marshall is no different.  If all off-season, off-field activities were exposed across the country (I did this once before with links), we would be far from the leader in out-of-control players.

Those that believe there should be perfection in our student-athletes are but one thing - hipocrites.  

Regardless of the severity of DUI (I don't see it any different than any other distraction on the road that causes death of innocent people, ie cell phones, eating, reading, putting on makeup, driving 30 miles under/over the speed limit), it is not necessarily a premeditated crime such as rape, murder, etc (though it is treated as such).

He screwed up.  He is paying the price.  Let's not drag Pruett or his great run into the dirt because of it.  Geesh.  I only wish I was half as good as some profess to be on these boards.

[Mako]

Geesh. I only wish I was half as good as some profess to be on these boards.

Not me.  I wouldn't have nearly as much fun.  :x

[DJdaHERDfan]

I just wish I could be as good as you. :o


Never bashed Pruett. But I do know that the man did let things get too loose from the last half of the season until he left.

[mr_ash_1995]

Coach Snyder did the right thing in suspending him...I don't think INMAN had been in trouble in the past...Hopefully, this is a wake-up call!!!

On a different note,  how was INMAN's play in the spring? :smile:

[ShawHerd]

The kid screwed up. If he has any intelligence he will learn from his mistake. He'll receive plenty of punishment before all this is over and   what we would do to punish him is irrelevant. He will be punished by the law, by Snyder and perhaps his parents will add their touch.

I think we are wrong to sit in judgement. If Snyder wanted to punish this kid effectively make him show up for exercise at 5:00am. Everyday he'll have to think about what he did. I'm not a believer in negative punishment but rather one that has a purpose and a chance to rehabilitate.

For the most part these are kids making life changing mistakes and shouldn't be classified as criminals. Not only do these kids have responsibilities but so does the football program.

[carolinaherdfan]

The kid screwed up.  

I think we are wrong to sit in judgement. I'm not a believer in negative punishment but rather one that has a purpose and a chance to rehabilitate.

For the most part these are kids making life changing mistakes and shouldn't be classified as criminals. Not only do these kids have responsibilities but so does the football program.

I think Shawherd, has framed this discussion into a proper perspective.

Carolina,