BON has an article about 2017 signee TE Reese Leitao who was arrested for and admitted to selling Xanax at his school. "However, there’s still a chance that Leitao could keep his scholarship at Texas, albeit a small one, according to Leitao’s attorney Allen Smallwood."[More @ BON] ---------------
I wish the young man well but this was a pretty serious mistake. I will be very surprised if he gets to keep his scholly but stranger things have happened.
See ya Reese. Doing something like that shows a severe lack of intelligence and poor decision making skills. Yeah, I know, he's a kid, and kids make mistakes. But that's just stupid. And you can't fix stupid.
^^^^^ This. Is he sorry for what he did, or is he sorry he got caught? Some slack for the former; jail for the later.
He may be a good kid how made a dumb mistake, but this scholarship he had to play football for UT was a huge privilege. He can still redeem himself. Elsewhere.
Got to disagree DS. Not directly to you, but to the numerous people that continue to use the term "Good Kid" when describing a kid that is not a "Good kid". I raised two "Good Kids". Neither one saw the inside of a jail cell...or sold dope...or was charged with assault...or was charged with theft. A bad decision by a "Good kid" might be failing to show up on time, not properly study for a test or sass the old man. "Good kids" don't run a xanax dope operation.
Oh I have serious doubts about the "good kid" thing too. Regardless, he is not entitled to a 2nd chance to play for the University of Texas. 2nd chance at life, sure. At representing my school, no. Please no.
Maybe go to Juco for a year or two. If he keeps his nose clean, then maybe. But he'll end up at OU or Alabama anyway.
I agree with the notion that he needs to get his second chance somewhere else. I've known lots of "good kids" that did some really stupid "non-good" things. But losing the offer to your first choice is a good consequence for me.
Hell, he needed the Xanax after realizing how little a TE actually DOES in a Texas offensive scheme...once he found out, insanity kicked in and he had no awareness of what he was doing with the much-needed medication...
We may never know, but I would really LIKE to know: Is this the first time he did this, or was it an ongoing thing he had been involved with for a while? Based on the amount of cash he had on his person, it's hard to believe this is something he just decided to start doing that day. That alone leads to believe that he was well established in the business. If he had 6 pills and $75 bucks in his pocket, I would feel a lot better about him and his prospects for wearing Burnt Orange. Nothing about this makes me optimistic about the young man, as much as I would like to be.
This. Totally agree. I've seen way to much of what I call a false equivalency these days where people try to attach the "everybody makes mistakes" to their action or someone who they are trying to enable or cover for. Yes, everybody makes mistakes but as you say, there are mistakes and there are actions that indicative of severe character flaws. We have to know the difference. It's not that we can't forgive, love and guide those who fail but at the same time we can't ignore the damage caused; and in this instance the reputation of the university is apparently something we all care about. Just look at our reactions when a Sooner or Aggy does something like this. We should hold ourselves to the standards to which we speak.
That's a much better lawyerly excuse than "jock itch made me whip out my junk in front of some tutors".
The kid made a mistake, albeit a BIG ONE, but it is not terminal. With all the problems that have passed through our program, and kids that were run off, Herman does not need headaches like this. I hope the young man gets his **** together, leaves the drugs behind, and has a productive life. Unfortunately, that "productive life" does not include The University of Texas unless he qualifies as a student, not student-athlete.
If he really wants to redeem himself...walk on for the first year and prove himself. Any school interested in him should say come prove you've learned your lesson by paying your own way and earning a scholarship the hard way.
The kid was just born too late. Schnellenberger, Erickson, Osborne, Beamer, Lavell Edwards, are all out of coaching. He needs to hustle to get in front of Todd "those 56 resumes I sent out last week don't mean I'm leaving" Graham and that douche at State Penn. If, however, he goes the other route and decides slime is really his thing, Jimbo Fisher is still at FSU.
yeah that's the kind of thing that makes sense to me. even if it's 2 years. if the family has the financial wherewithal, offer him a chance to walk on and earn his scholarship back though his academics, hard work, and demonstrated repentance. a kid who really wants to be a "good kid" could hack that.
I don't really see the difference. His dad is a college basketball coach so should have plenty of money to pay for 1 year + at UT. How would the kid's day to day life be any different if his dad is footing the full bill vs UT paying a good portion? Now if you are talking about him getting a part time job or having to get a certain GPA or something, then there might be a difference. But, "walking on" and "paying his own way" for a year probably doesn't look any different than playing with a full scholarship.
i see your point. financially, it might not affect him. you're right. but that wasn't why i liked the idea. I think everyone on the team knows who the scholarship players are and who the walk-on players are. I would think there is some scarlet letter effect among the players. Not that walk-ons are bad, but when coach offers the walk-on a scholarship, they've really proven something. It's a big deal in team meetings when coaches do that. Earning a D1 scholarship at a major program is a big deal. I assume it would be for this kid if he had to work for it for a year or two.
What the over/under that once he's released by Herman, Big Game Bob is willing to give him a second chance at OU and the charges are suddenly and miraculously reduced to a misdemeanor in by the Oklahoma Judge?
It's more about earning that scholarship through hard work, academic achievement and most importantly for this gentleman good citizenship.
Isn't there a hearing on the matter before the Judge today? My guess will be to see if there is a plea arrangement and if not, then set the trial date.
