WR Ray Small (official thread)

[Wingate1217]

It's very possible that privacy is involved when it comes to Ray's grades and attendance records. My daughter's in college, and I don't get to see her grades unless she shows them to me. However, her University does allow me to view her tuition bill and easily pay it online. :tongue2:

Yeah, I know the feeling.....

 

[3074326]

For those that don't know, this isn't a joke. That's the way it really is.

Yup. My parents have no idea how I'm doing in school. Fortunately, I'm a good kid and don't screw things up too bad. I could tell them I'm doing fine, going to class every day, and they could think everything was awesome. Then all of a sudden, they could get a letter in the mail saying that I've been placed on academic probation. They'd get pretty upset, and probably call OSU. If they had a public stage and believed me (and were crazy enough to make it public), they would stick up for me, no doubt about it.

Circumstances are obviously different here, but it sounds like Ray was saying one thing to his father, while Tressel actually knew another thing. From the most recent update, it sounds like Ray's dad might have gotten a little more information..

 

[scarletngray]

For those that don't know, this isn't a joke. That's the way it really is.

Yes, that's why it was so funny. Because it was sooooooo true!!

:osu:

 

[Gothmog8]

Isn't there a privacy issue here? It is my belief that an university employee is not legally allowed to discuss the status of the child with their parent even they wanted to. I know that the university no longer sends parents copies of their children's grades.

:osu:

Except in this case Ray Small is over 18 and I don't think the university and coaching staff view him as a "child'. If I remember right, my parents didn't have to know anything other than my academic progress. If I went onto academic probation, I think they could request grades.

 

[3074326]

They can request grades, but I don't think they'd get them. OSU won't give out grades in any circumstance, if I'm not mistaken.

I could be wrong.

We don't even know if Ray is/was on academic probation, do we? Skipping class doesn't = academic probation. I skip two classes a week, at least, and I'm not even close to probation.

 

[Gothmog8]

No skipping won't get you on probation unless the class requires attendence and takes roll. That could cause some problems, but I doubt that is what is going on. I think the skipping and lateness is more of a Tressel "rules" issue. But who knows what else could be wrong. Chronic lateness, skipping classes, poor play, maybe mouthing off - could put you in my doghouse too.

 

[Gothmog8]

I skip two classes a week, at least, and I'm not even close to probation.

Tsk Tsk. You're off the team.

 

[MaliBuckeye]

Talking to

They can request grades, but I don't think they'd get them. OSU won't give out grades in any circumstance, if I'm not mistaken.

I could be wrong.

Sometimes, my area of expertise actually comes into play here. And this time, it's not my vast knowledge of Middle Earth.

FERPA disallows the release of any "student records" to anyone without the student's written permission (or, on rare occasions, subpoena). The only catches- there are allowances for parents to be notified when alcohol or illegal drugs are involved, or if the parent can confirm that a student is a dependant by presenting tax records. There is some movement to also relax these restrictions for mental/emotional health issues following the Shin case and Va Tech.

Even in these last cases, most universities have protocol that governs when and what is released. For instance, not calling mom after the first alcohol incident unless there's an actual arrest or "harm to self".

So, depending on how JT and the staff view Ray's "record", there may be institutional and federal restrictions on talking directly to dad. It may also depend on the questions dad is asking.

And now, back to the shadows.

 

[osugrad21]

DDN

Ohio State suspends Small; father lashes out


By Rusty Miller
Associated Press

Thursday, November 06, 2008

COLUMBUS ? Before walking out of a brief, contentious meeting with reporters on Thursday, an irritated Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said receiver and punt returner Ray Small was suspended for one game "to start with" and that he had handled the situation correctly.
Tressel confirmed that Small, a 5-foot-11, 180-pounder from Cleveland, will not play when No. 12 Ohio State plays at Northwestern on Saturday. Team spokeswoman Shelly Poe said the suspension was due to a "repeated violation of team rules."
But Small's father, Ken Small, said he is mystified why his son is being suspended.
"They're intentionally trying to blow his career," Ken Small told The Associated Press by telephone from his home in suburban Columbus.
It has been no secret that Ray Small has continually been in and out of Tressel's doghouse for the past two seasons. His father said that the latest suspension stemmed from missing or being late for some classes and meetings. He also said part of his problems was parking tickets.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

Ohio State notebook: Tressel was in no mood for Small talk

Friday, November 7, 2008 3:08 AM
By Ken Gordon


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Two words can describe Ohio State coach Jim Tressel's meeting with reporters yesterday: short and Small. The suspension of receiver Ray Small was the dominant topic before Tressel cut off the interview session because it was not focused on OSU's game Saturday at Northwestern.
Small's father, Ken, said the suspension was for two games and was because Ray was wrongly accused of missing a class.
Tressel did not go into specifics but said only that Small will sit out the Northwestern game. He did not commit to it being for two games.
Asked whether Small had a chance to work his way back from the suspension, Tressel said, "Oh yeah, absolutely."
Cont...

 

[Poe McKnoe]

The Bull

It's unfortunate that it's come to this, but it seems there may be hope since it's a 1 game suspension and his dad has stated Ray's had problems in the classroom. He may have been billed as "the next Ted Ginn", but Ray has lacked the mental side of things more than the talent side of things. Part of that, no doubt, was Ted Ginn Sr.

Ask Sammy "The Bull" Maldonado how pleasant Jim Tressel's doghouse is when you are constantly making poor decisions on and off the field. Look back at the ESPN article during their Witch Hunt at Ohio State during the MoC saga.

Extra Credit - ESPN 11-12-2004

"You're getting a very good football player," he said. "But you're also getting a pain in the ass."
Cooper belly-laughed; he knew the type. Sammy, a B-student with 960 SATs, was a good kid, if a bit aloof. That didn't deter Cooper. A few weeks later, there was a press conference at Harrison High. Maldonado was going to become a Buckeye.

I want to compare the situations, but I don't want to say Ray Small is Maldonado. Tressel doesn't ask for the team to be honor students and serve the community every day, but he does ask that you attend the classes you are scheduled for, attend meetings, and practice hard. Hell, Tressel has shown that if you do those things, he'll be loyal and put you on the field.

I hope Ray (and his dad) can mend the fences with Ohio State. The one way NOT to get playing time is to complain about OSU to the ever willing media. Would Small be a huge loss? No, but it would be unfortunate.

Lesson learned (again): 'Pain in the ass' and Tressel don't mix.

 

[ScriptOhio]

It's unfortunate that it's come to this, but it seems there may be hope since it's a 1 game suspension and his dad has stated Ray's had problems in the classroom. He may have been billed as "the next Ted Ginn", but Ray has lacked the mental side of things more than the talent side of things. Part of that, no doubt, was Ted Ginn Sr.

Ask Sammy "The Bull" Maldonado how pleasant Jim Tressel's doghouse is when you are constantly making poor decisions on and off the field. Look back at the ESPN article during their Witch Hunt at Ohio State during the MoC saga.

Extra Credit - ESPN 11-12-2004


I want to compare the situations, but I don't want to say Ray Small is Maldonado. Tressel doesn't ask for the team to be honor students and serve the community every day, but he does ask that you attend the classes you are scheduled for, attend meetings, and practice hard. Hell, Tressel has shown that if you do those things, he'll be loyal and put you on the field.

I hope Ray (and his dad) can mend the fences with Ohio State. The one way NOT to get playing time is to complain about OSU to the ever willing media. Would Small be a huge loss? No, but it would be unfortunate.

Lesson learned (again): 'Pain in the ass' and Tressel don't mix.

Sammy Maldonado, now there is a "name from the past". Great article. Sammy had one of the more "unique" college transcripts:

"In six academic quarters at Ohio State, Maldonado had earned a decent number of credits (his 57 were the equivalent of about 40 at a semester school). He compiled a 2.3 GPA and had never lost his eligibility. But his coursework included four credits for playing football, three for Tressel's Coaching Football class, 10 for remedial reading, 10 for remedial math and three for Issues Affecting Student Athletes. Six other credits wouldn't transfer because he earned D's in two classes. Maldonado couldn't understand how he had earned only 17 transferable credits in two years."

Just maybe, if his father had been getting copies of Sammy's grades Rafael Maldonado might have gotten on Sammy's butt sooner and things may have worked out better for him.

 

[Bleed S & G]

We don't even know if Ray is/was on academic probation, do we? Skipping class doesn't = academic probation. I skip two classes a week, at least, and I'm not even close to probation.

My experience will be key here as I spent most of my career at tOSU on academic probation.

Grades are all that matter. Attendance can affect the grades in 1 of 2 ways.. the teacher factors attendance into the grade -or- you miss classes and fail as a result.

Heres the lesson I learned, don't schedule Art History at 8 am.

 

[WaitingforKickoff]

Heres the lesson I learned, don't schedule Art History at 8 am.

or at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 5pm, or 8pm. If you are going to schedule it, you might as well schedule it for 8am, because at least it gives you an excuse to sleep.

 

[gregorylee]

or at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 5pm, or 8pm. If you are going to schedule it, you might as well schedule it for 8am, because at least it gives you an excuse to sleep.

This is correct, especially winter quarter, I had to bring a tape recorder because I could never stay awake.