ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Gophers consider background checks
Minnesota may look into criminal pasts of recruits
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Criminal background checks may one day be part of the recruiting process for freshman athletes at the University of Minnesota after the school signed a football player who had been charged in two armed robberies in the St. Louis area.
"It's something we've debated," said Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi. "I think people are leaning toward going down that path. But I'm a little nervous because we have a situation where we didn't find anything."
He was referring to the case of Robert McField, who was signed to a scholarship tender in February 2006 under former coach Glen Mason. McField has been dismissed from the team and is awaiting sentencing on felony charges connected to the 2005 robberies.
Last month, he pleaded guilty to two reduced counts of second-degree robbery and one count of armed criminal action. Prosecutors are expected to seek a 12-year prison sentence when he is sentenced in June.
McField, 19, practiced with the Gophers for two months last fall but did not play in games. University officials said he was suspended from the team Oct. 6, after a St. Louis County prosecutor called the university.
McField was dismissed from the team last month, after he pleaded guilty to the robberies.
Mitch Browning, a former Gophers assistant coach who recruited McField, said no one told him about McField's legal issues.
"His (high school) coaches gave no information, his counselors gave no information," Browning said. "I don't know how you prevent it. It's really an unfortunate situation."
Denise McField, Robert's mother, said she and her son did not tell anyone about the arrest during the recruiting process.
Entire article: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/ncaa/04/11/minnesota.backgroundcheck.ap/index.html
Minnesota may look into criminal pasts of recruits
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Criminal background checks may one day be part of the recruiting process for freshman athletes at the University of Minnesota after the school signed a football player who had been charged in two armed robberies in the St. Louis area.
"It's something we've debated," said Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi. "I think people are leaning toward going down that path. But I'm a little nervous because we have a situation where we didn't find anything."
He was referring to the case of Robert McField, who was signed to a scholarship tender in February 2006 under former coach Glen Mason. McField has been dismissed from the team and is awaiting sentencing on felony charges connected to the 2005 robberies.
Last month, he pleaded guilty to two reduced counts of second-degree robbery and one count of armed criminal action. Prosecutors are expected to seek a 12-year prison sentence when he is sentenced in June.
McField, 19, practiced with the Gophers for two months last fall but did not play in games. University officials said he was suspended from the team Oct. 6, after a St. Louis County prosecutor called the university.
McField was dismissed from the team last month, after he pleaded guilty to the robberies.
Mitch Browning, a former Gophers assistant coach who recruited McField, said no one told him about McField's legal issues.
"His (high school) coaches gave no information, his counselors gave no information," Browning said. "I don't know how you prevent it. It's really an unfortunate situation."
Denise McField, Robert's mother, said she and her son did not tell anyone about the arrest during the recruiting process.
Entire article: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/ncaa/04/11/minnesota.backgroundcheck.ap/index.html