WR Ray Small (official thread)

[Joe56]

There's a certain amount of "buy in" that's asked of almost all college athletes.

You buy in to your coach and your position coach, your school, the philosophy and your teammates. Even in my own rinky dink,over the hill, post prime high school years athletic experience, I bought in, as sorry as I was ;-)

The great ones at any school go "all in".
They bleed for us, for the legend of The Ohio State University, and for the good that the legend accomplishes on and off the field.The go all in for Coach Tress and his system which espouses the idea that football does not a man make entirely.

I hope Ray finds a place where he can buy in. Maybe it's still with us. I'm hopeful. But I'm saddenned by the lack of parenting. No parent should be telling a child (based on the stories) to fake an injury at any point, or that the rules don't apply etc. People tend to get disabused of those notions quite quickly.

 

[Zurp]

As of today, Ray Small is still a Buckeye,

Absolutely. I would like to see him "turn it around". Do what he can to get back on Tressel's good side, and do what he can to be back on the team against Michigan. Go to your classes, go to practices, team meetings, etc. Everything on time. Help out other players. Help out the coaching staff. He might get a chance to see some playing time against Michigan and the bowl game. Then, after working his ass off in the off-season, he's got a shot at being a starter, and a key contributer to this team next year.

I'm guessing that Ray's goal is to play in the NFL. I don't typically follow draft picks, but I'd bet a couple bucks that on-field contributions to your college team goes a long way in where a player is drafted and how much his initial contract is.

But whatever he decides - transfer or stay - I wish him, and all other future, current, and former Buckeyes, the best of luck.

 

[schwab]

"Here at Ohio State, they teach you to be a better man," Small said. "There, it's just all about football."

Time to listen to yourself, Ray.

 

[Mac]

Time to listen to yourself, Ray.

True that. Maybe this kid needs a little kick in the ass to get him together

 

[buckeyesin07]

front page on www.espn.com

Not only that, but their story conveniently left out the part about Small's dad telling him to fake an injury to be granted a medical redshirt. Typical.

 

[Rookie]

His father's comments sure aren't going to help him.

 

[sparcboxbuck]

His father's comments sure aren't going to help him.

'Tis a shame. When a kid comes in to the tOSU family we ALL want them to have great careers. It is an unfortunate thing that with a D1 program and 100+ kids on the team, there are going to be some that don't make it. I hate these stories.

Regardless of his father's comments, once a Buck always a Buck. I wish only that which is best for Ray and the team. If that means a transfer, so be it. If that means he gets on board and toes the line... so be it.

Regardful (yes, that's as opposed to regardless) of his father's comments, I think that any opportunity to get on board has left the dock.

 

[matcar]

Redacted

 

[JimsSweaterVest]

This father is a nutcase. Luckily for him, Tressel is a calm guy with a calculating demeanor. Woody might have had one of his legendary meltdowns at this.

Questioning Tressel's integrity in this way is unacceptable. Taking your dirty laundry out to the media is unacceptable. Blaming everyone else for your mistakes is unacceptable.

This makes me think of a good song:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRtbsEScch0]YouTube - So long,farewell[/ame]

 

[MaxBuck]

Whatever happens to Ray Small with respect to his relationship with tOSU, it will result from Ray's actions and not those of his father (regardless of how insulting and inflammatory daddy's comments may be).

 

[cjmik_75]

front page on www.espn.com

FN espin always there to front page something that puts tOSU in an undesireable light.

Where the hell were they when the Daryll Stonum DUI story hit a couple days ago?!?!?!? was it front page of espin.com?

On the flip side, this is apparently the final chapter in Ray's career in Columbus and I for one am not happy about it. I know he's been given several chances...I just hate to see anyone turn their back on a kid even if he has done the same to his team mates and coaches. It's not how I was raised and it's not I how I would have handled it.

That notwithstanding, the coaches may feel they are out of options and this is their last resort to get this kid's attention. I don't know. I'm not there to see the daily happenings so I trust Tress that this is the best way to handle it. SAD just SAD. This is a situation were both sides get hurt.


:osu:

 

[mdoss2202]

i was always under the impression that Ray lived w. the Ginn family when he was at Glenville... where did this father come from?

 

[Zander42]

i was always under the impression that Ray lived w. the Ginn family when he was at Glenville... where did this father come from?

That was Troy, I don't know if it happened with Ray as well.

 

[Buckrock]

i was always under the impression that Ray lived w. the Ginn family when he was at Glenville... where did this father come from?

Curtis Terry lived with the Ginn's for a while. He was homless at one point with family issues. I'm sure there may have been others. God bless TG Sr.

 

[utgrad73]

He's still a Buckeye. Let's hope he takes his lumps and returns with a new attitude. His father needs to shut the hell up and let his kid take responsibility for his actions.

I hope he returns and fights his way back into the lineup. He's talented.