The arrest of Joe Clermond for possession of marijuana is frustrating and mainly stupid. The fact is, I think Clermond will have to be suspended for at least two games. Mainly because his behavior was incredibly stupid, selfish and irresponsible.
On a personal/political level, I stand with former Pitt great Mark Stepnoski on legalization of marijuana. I find this offense at the level of underage drinking or violating an open container law on my personal scale of where it ranks in offenses by college athletes. I’m not a big fan of the drug war and that’s the extent I’ll editorialize on the issue.
The fact is, though, that Clermond was arrested and charged with possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana. A minor misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days and a $500 fine. The “good news” for Clermond is that the charges don’t include anything about paraphernalia — which is actually a more serious misdemeanor. He broke the law and was caught.
He’s also a scholarship player at Pitt representing the school and the football team. He was one of the players to go to Big East Media Days. An expected team captain and leader on the defense. He has dinged his own future — with a character flag. In other words, he has to carry and behave as more than simply a college kid.
It might seem unfair to Clermond to be held to a higher standard, but it’s not like he was unaware of the way things are.
There’s a good chance the charges could be dropped if someone else takes the blame for the stuff. That doesn’t matter. Clermond was there with it present. He bears responsibility to the team, and I don’t see how Coach Wannstedt doesn’t suspend him for at least one game or two.
JC- ouch. That is college life. How many times have we sat in our dorm drank beer and puff the dragon while playing john madden, bill wash or coach k. Wrong place and definitely the wrong time. But this doesnt mean anything about his character or persons- this is just him growin up and learning from life expereinces.
Personally, I hope that DW and Buddy run him into the ground and make him throw up. Now,if he is guilty i beleive in suspension, 1 or 2 games, but more importantly the captain badge should be stripped. He needs to earn that badge back. Start him back onthe scout team and make him earn his way to the starting line up.
Also, this could be a blessing with the first two games being joke games that we can get some of the freshman on the field getting valuable experience b/c MSU is going to be a tough game
And how come we’re not waiting until someone comes forward and claims the weed? According to the Trib article, some kid from WVU had the weed in his pocket and Joe seems to be getting charged with the blunt found in the car. This makes no fucking sense. If he was smoking, fine, charge him, but if he was just there, why is he getting charged at all? He rolls blunts for others to smoke?
I’ll be surprised if the charge isn’t dropped, actually. I think his hearing is Monday, though, so we’ll know soon enough.
Collapsed while jogging. RIP…
What i’m more suprised about is ESPN had time to report it in-between their asscar and arena league coverage. I didn’t know they still covered college sports.
I’m glad you *know* what I’d think about a given situation before it happens.
Lets see here…caught invading an apartment, stealing shit and sending kids to a hospital….or, walking away from a car when someone else in the car has weed….hmmm…
I know that’ll be a tough distinction for someone from that shithole, considering you don’t understand “felony” vs “misdemeanor.”
And honestly, although a little dope isn’t a big deal to me, getting arrested in general does set a bad example for the kids. He should be suspended. This isn’t West Virginia. We shouldn’t tolerate kids being irresponsible. Hopefully Clermond will response properly. Maybe the kid still needs to grow up – and Wanny should be somewhat responsible for that growing up.
