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July 30, 2013

Now What About Tra’von

Filed under: Football,Police Blotter,Scandal — Chas @ 7:21 am

In something of a surprise the Trav’on Chapman case has resulted in some real jail time stemming from a guilty plea.

Former Kent Roosevelt star quarterback and University of Pittsburgh freshman Tra’Von Chapman pled guilty to a charge of attempted assault on Monday afternoon in Portage County Municipal Court.

Judge Barbara Oswick accepted the plea and ordered Chapman to spend three days in jail, pay a $200 fine, 40 hours of community service and must report to adult probation Aug. 2. Judge also issued a no-contact order, which prohibits Chapman from speaking to the victim or her family.

“Attempted assault” is a class 4 misdemeanor — the lowest classification for misdemeanors in Ohio. That’s why I was surprised a first-time offender would get any jail time. Technically the the judge can order jail time but it is also for no more than 30 days under the Ohio Revised Code (Sec. 2929.24(A)(4)). But, according to the stories, Chapman was sentenced to 90 days with 87 suspended.

Of course, Chapman was also ordered to fulfill 40 hours of community service and it seems the court suspended 20 of that by his working 20 hours with his old high school football team this summer. So, yeah. I really shouldn’t think too much about the details of the sentencing.

The question for Pitt fans is that there becomes the question of what happens to Chapman at Pitt.Will he be allowed to return? Is he dismissed from the team and school?

The facts remain that even the “attempted assault” happened. That it was committed towards a woman.

A “suspension” of a full year would seem like a possibility. The issue would be whether that would really be a true consequence. Chapman was already headed for a redshirt season. If he was completely barred from practicing and working with the team that would give it some teeth. He would be another year behind at that point with a more likely chance that Voytik would have the starting job in hand — possibly for three years. But it still is a question of whether that is sufficient.

Is it simply black-and-white that he must be dismissed? It would be easier for Pitt and Paul Chryst to do that. It sets a clear line. There wouldn’t be a lot of debate. Not much of a public explanation would be needed on that path.

But eventually letting him return? That would be hard. That would be something requiring a public explanation. There can’t be hiding behind vague statements and pretending to hide behind privacy laws.

It’s one thing to completely ignore/avoid/refuse to answer questions about Rushel Shell and his desire to transfer then trying to come back. That is annoying and frustrating from the sense that we are curious and would like to know.

This is something else. This absolutely would need an explanation. Words with real thoughts behind them rather than platitudes and spin. And it would have to come from Chryst. Not from the AD. Not from anyone in the administration. This is Chryst’s football team. It would be his decision to bring him back. He would have to stand in front of people and actually explain the decision and reasons behind it.

Is he willing to do that? I don’t know. He’s not comfortable in front of a crowd. He certainly likes to guard his words carefully. Chryst was able to avoid even bothering with a “no comment” last night because he was in transit from his trip to Bristol, Connecticut for ESPN media appearances.

He can’t avoid it too much longer, and it is assured that he will want/have to make a decision and public comment this week. No way he wants this to be hanging over everyone’s head when training camp begins next week.





Dan – I lived in NC for a hot minute and the folks in the Southeast always laughed at the gals at Duke. Look at a Duke basketball game and even the girls that go there are dogs. Granted they are very smart but not so much in the looks dept. I will go check out the one you are talking about. Haha.

Comment by Upittbaseball 07.31.13 @ 3:49 pm

@upitt…. lol… yeah, but even at that age I could tell there was nothing really to look at through the binos…

it’s good ol’ Pitt and definitely stodgy and traditional in the whole band/cheerleader area…

… yeah, definitely think SP sorry a$$ taste is ruining that aspect of the game day as well.

Comment by PittScript 07.31.13 @ 3:51 pm

lol

Comment by Dan 07.31.13 @ 3:58 pm

Dan link to goduke.com

In other news I used to hang out with the Duke Cheerleading coach when she was at Pitt. Small World I tell you!! She was on dance team.

Comment by Upittbaseball 07.31.13 @ 4:01 pm

Dan – See what I mean… Look at the gals…Probably make 400k once they graduate but they aren’t winning Ms. America anytime soon.

Comment by Upittbaseball 07.31.13 @ 4:02 pm

Anyone else on here only able to get two Navy away game tickets? Ticket office told me it was a sell out of Pitt’s allotment.

Comment by PittStadiumShuffle 07.31.13 @ 4:02 pm

Yikes, point taken. I mean for a co-worker or neighbor, ok, but not a cheerleader.

Looks like mine has graduated and moved on!!

@PittStadiumShuffle, we’re going to the game, don’t have tickets yet. Got my season tickets, but did not get Navy, because we weren’t sure we could make that weekend.

It usually is pretty well attended by Pitt fans when we play there.

Maybe we could have Pitt make a bowl and play it in Annapolis???

We’re just gonna do Stub-Hub, which will be more money, but we won’t get that gouged for Pitt-Navy.

So, my poor answer is, I don’t know about the 2 ticket limit. LOL Helps a lot eh??

Comment by Dan 07.31.13 @ 4:23 pm

StadiumSchuffle – I purchased my tickets in May on the Navy site – since it’s homecoming I figured they would be hard to snag.

Comment by markp 07.31.13 @ 4:55 pm

Only 2 for me too, PittStadiumShuffle. I requested 11!

Comment by steve1 07.31.13 @ 5:21 pm

Paul Chryst takin’ in the Pirates game tonite directly behind home plate……

Comment by WorkinOnMyPittness 07.31.13 @ 6:27 pm

and next to a good looking girl

Comment by wbb 07.31.13 @ 6:36 pm

With Keller Chryst!!!!

Comment by Upittbaseball 07.31.13 @ 6:36 pm

His daughter I’m sure.

Comment by Upittbaseball 07.31.13 @ 6:37 pm

if Keller is there as a recruit, it is a violation .. but if he is there as a nephew, then he is fine

Comment by wbb 07.31.13 @ 6:45 pm

Urban Meyer has higher standards than Chryst.
Had RB Hyde been charged, Meyer stated he would have been dismissed from the team. Instead, the victim didn’t want to pursue so case was dropped. Hyde got a 3game suspension instead.

Betcha OSU booster took care of the victim.
Where were the Pitt booster for Chapman case?

link to espn.go.com

Comment by Pitt.Dan83 07.31.13 @ 6:55 pm

Keller is a Stanford verbal. Those pipe dreams have faded into memory.

Comment by Dr. Tom 07.31.13 @ 7:00 pm

Nice link PittScript

ACC is also a big talent upgrade in the Cheerleader, Dance Squad area.

Although ESPN cameraman always seems to have the habit of finding the chubster on the Pitt squad.

I knew them all when I was at Pitt and that was one thing they were back then, thin, thin, thin.

And the squad won the Cheerleading championship one or two years.

The UNC cartoon one is a hoot.

Comment by EMel 07.31.13 @ 7:04 pm

ambivalent about the chapman saga. have to trust hcpc. hope he makes a statement though.

mostly glad that the conversation has changed.

think during the glory years pitt had terrific cheerleaders. think they were in the limited finals most years. even think they may have won 1 year.

we have lots to recoup.

need a big time band too

pitt script– bring it on

let’s make heinz field the place to be.

and please bring it on hcpc. i want to enjoy my kool-ade.

and let’s go pirates. 3-1, top of 3rd. can’t do more popular spellings. sorry. i’m old and don’t care much about technology. i’m often at trusted other’s tech persuasion.

and i liked the discussion on alternative cable/dish/hulu/netficks.

keep calm.

h2p.

Comment by pittkeith 07.31.13 @ 7:25 pm

Anyone from DFW interested in the upcoming Pirates vs Rangers game in September? I finally got a Pirates hat after all these years. My old one had those silly Stargell stars.

Comment by TX Panther 07.31.13 @ 8:38 pm

it appears that PC and crew has left in 7th inning of a 4-4 game. Not very good PR

What if Clint Hurdle leaves a tied game after Sweet Caroline?

Comment by wbb 07.31.13 @ 9:02 pm

@wbb, not making excuses, could it have been because of curfew he has to check on or something related like that??

Larry Foote was on the Fan today, and said he left after the 1st game yesterday because of curfew.

The guys on the Fan, asked if he was joking, he said, “oh no, no joke, curfew is for real”.

Just a thought on why they left possibly??

Plaxico was on too, talking up the Buccos.

And……….Raise it!!! Just beat the Cards for the 4th straight time. Go for the 5 game sweep tomorrow!!!

Comment by Dan 07.31.13 @ 9:35 pm

Wow, what a beginning of Fall it could be.
Pitt football, Steelers, Pens starting up……

and throw baseball playoffs possibly into the mix after all these years??? I wouldn’t know what to do!!

Comment by Dan 07.31.13 @ 9:37 pm

Ha, well, perhaps Pitt can hang in after all on the cheerleader front…

… found this link talking about the same thing!

link to collegecheerheaven.blogspot.com

but still going to need more “4 stars”…

Comment by Pittscript 07.31.13 @ 10:22 pm

@PittStadiumShuffle: I requested 3 and was also told can only get 2. Can still purchase tickets through Navy for $45 apiece. Almost paid close to $300 on Stub-Hub. Glad I called Navy ticket office before i pulled the trigger. Hope we get a nice Pitt showing there and really hope were not 1-5 rolling into Annapolis…

Comment by pap76 07.31.13 @ 10:36 pm

What if Clint Hurdle leaves a tied game after Sweet Caroline?
Comment by wbb 07.31.13 @ 9:02 pm

Yea but half the student body does.

They really need to put a stop to that. No campus bus leaves until the game is over !

By Order of Smiley

Me Buccos won again……arghhhhh…!

Comment by EMel 07.31.13 @ 11:15 pm

When the hell does camp start?

Comment by notrocketscience 08.01.13 @ 6:40 am

We’re heading off on a family vacation to the Rockies and scored some tickets to see the Bucs in Coors Field. I’ll give yinz a stadium report.

Comment by KeyboardKev 08.01.13 @ 6:41 am

Cool. Look forward to it coming from near dawntawn Denver and what not!

Comment by wbb 08.01.13 @ 6:51 am

Chas – good point you made about the two alternative punishments for Chapman, however there is no set policy that Chapman wouldn’t still be involved with the program and the team. Juantez Hollins was suspended for a full year and this was the situation with him.

“Even though he will not play in any games, Juantez will remain an active and valuable member of our program and be accountable every day in practice and in the classroom,” Chryst said.

Read more: link to post-gazette.com

Comment by Reed 08.01.13 @ 6:53 am

TX Panther – I’m in …. Been to 2 games this year so I’m for sure going to catch 1-2 of the 3. Email me.

Comment by Upittbaseball 08.01.13 @ 7:29 am

Juantez was for smoking pot and failed drug test.
He didn’t go to jail.
Chapman is a much different situation.
Media nightmare to keep Chapman on scholarship.

What is the punishment if the kid is sitting out the year on scholarship???

We will know later today as Chapman gets out of jail and Chryst will have a talk with him. That is why the delay in the announcement.

Comment by Pitt.Dan83 08.01.13 @ 7:40 am

It was great watching the Pirates last night and seeing the fans going crazy. Graduated in 76 and those were the days. Hopefully some day soon Pitt football will get the city buzzing. it doesn’t matter how long you have sucked in sports once you start winning the band wagon gets full.

Comment by oklahomeboy 08.01.13 @ 8:16 am

Not – Aug. 6th

Comment by Reed 08.01.13 @ 8:36 am

Chas, please end this misery. Something more positive.

I hope Hollins has made the best of his second chance.

Comment by gc 08.01.13 @ 8:54 am

Just checked out Pitt Script’s link. We are so totally screwed.

Comment by longsufferingpittfan 08.01.13 @ 8:58 am

Asked for 6 for Navy at $45 and got all six. I will be making a trip to Annapolis to get 3 more as I have a good many Pitt Fans visising for the game. I will post several days before in case anyone on this site wants a ticket.

Great to discuss anything else but Travon

Comment by Dan 72 08.01.13 @ 9:01 am

I was in school in 71 when the Buccos won the series. Forbes Ave was a wall to wall party. Open containers, bumper to bumper traffic with horns blaring. A PAT bus with twenty people on it’s roof. It was glorious, spontaneous.

From that high, Clemente died a few months later. He had put the team on his back as Stargell would in ’79.

This year will have to be a team effort like 1960.

Comment by gc 08.01.13 @ 9:03 am

Dan83 – I agree with you. However, if you read my actual post it was in referral to the scenarios offer forth by Chas – and any variation on discipline in Chapman’s case isn’t etched in stone.

Comment by Reed 08.01.13 @ 9:05 am

The Summer of 2013 will always be known as:

Wait………..

“The Summer of the Tra(‘)(y)vons”

Oy Vey !

Comment by EMel 08.01.13 @ 9:18 am

Hey check this out.

What do they know they we don’t ???

“2013 Weaknesses: Pitt is bringing in a new quarterback and running back since Rushel Shell is transferring to West Virginia. The offensive line does return key players so maybe the Panthers can offset the loss of its starting quarterback and running back. Chryst has also not named a starting quarterback just yet but it is likely to be Chad Voytik, and the sooner the better would be the mantra for Pitt to help the offense get going early on. Also, the move to the ACC from the Big East will be a fairly sizable adjustment. ”

link to mwcconnection.com

Comment by EMel 08.01.13 @ 9:33 am

@ notrocketscience, NOT SOON ENOUGH!

Comment by Dr. Tom 08.01.13 @ 10:34 am

In general, most publications put little to no effort into proper research. Unless the author is a content expert on that team, they’re most likely going to make stupid mistakes. People will just look at rosters and stats and go off of that. I’m pretty sure NCAA 14 has Juantez Hollins as one of our best players.

Comment by Justin 08.01.13 @ 10:41 am

I’ve got some free time at work. Any football related articles yinz want at the moment to get away from the Chapman stuff?

Comment by Justin 08.01.13 @ 10:41 am

@ pap76, bite your tongue on that, “hoepfully NOT 1-5” comment. Trust me, Pitt will probably be 4-2 going into the NAVY game, 3-3 at worst. If not, the villagers will already being totting the pitch forks and torches calling for Chryst’s head on a stake because the fat easy part of our schedule ENDS with the NAVY game. After that the hill gets much steeper real quick! We got to get out of the starting blocks well. Even though the FSU game is already penciled in as a loss, many of the next 5 can be in the win column for Pitt with just a little good fortune.

Comment by Dr. Tom 08.01.13 @ 10:45 am

Only a couple of ACC teams in pre-season Coaches poll. FSU and Clemson.

Polls are for media to talk about.

Comment by Frank MD 08.01.13 @ 11:13 am

@ Justin – Pro’s and Con’s of Heinz Field as the Panthers Home. The biggest CON is that the opponents are more excited to play there as it is usually the only time in their careers most will get to suit up in a NFL stadium. Thanks man!!!

Comment by Upittbaseball 08.01.13 @ 11:32 am

@notrockscience

I think I read somewhere that Pitt camp opens up next Monday !!!

Hey Justin, what’s our RB situation going to look like beyond Sir Isaac and Malcolm on the Move ??

Comment by EMel 08.01.13 @ 11:34 am

The Blue Ribbon Basketball Guide from the mid to late 80s was the only pre-season publication that was worth the price of purchase. There was principally just one person behind this (forgot his name), and it was his full-time job and only source of income. He would come on sports radio shows and talk about the local team in that area with an uncanny knowledge, and give an address for which to subscribe … not available at newstands or bookstores.

It had details about every player on every team .. amazing the amount of research this guy did.

Then, he became a part-time contributor on ESPN, and they bought him ou and started to publish it, but it was never close to being the same .. and believe they quit publishing it just a few years later.

Comment by wbb 08.01.13 @ 11:43 am

gues it may still be available .. but the guy who started it (Chris Wallace) is no longer involved

link to en.wikipedia.org

Comment by wbb 08.01.13 @ 11:46 am

Hi Justin, one thing I’ve always felt was that Pitt started slow, looked sloppy when they had cupcakes early on the schedule. Once they played a real team, and lost, Pitt toughened up and played better. Can you look into that? It would be great if Pitt got smashed in the mouth against FSU then came out ready to play. Thanks, Caw

Comment by Caw Miller 08.01.13 @ 11:47 am

Justin, what positions do you see real competition for starting jobs and/or significant playing time for some backups?

Comment by rayhpgh 08.01.13 @ 11:50 am

Saw Coach Calipari at the Pirate game last night on TV. He was with the guy that runs the Pittsburgh Basketball Club Summer leagues.
Nice to see Coach Cal in town.

Comment by Pitt.Dan83 08.01.13 @ 11:53 am

Caw, coaches frequently say that teams improve the most between Game 1 and 2, and next between Game 2 & 3. In college FB, with no pre-season (not even scrimmages against other teams) there is a very steep learning curve especially with new starters … and the veteran team usually have a decided advantage.

Pitt’s defense got decidedly better after the 2nd game last year (although they struggled vs speed — Lousiville and Miss St)

This is why that if we have a chance of playing FSU close, it would be the opener since they have to replace so many.

Comment by wbb 08.01.13 @ 12:03 pm

Q&A session it is! I’ll start now.

Comment by Justin 08.01.13 @ 12:16 pm

Phil Steele’s mag is good.

Information overload though.

Heard him on College Sports Network on Sirius radio. He was on for an hour.

They would say a team, say, Colorado State, he would know who their linebackers were, who the back ups were.

Must have taked about 20 or 30 teams. The guys were absolutely amazed, he had no briefcase with him, not even his own magazine.

Like I said though, more like hardcore info.

Not something you really sit and peruse with a beer in the lazy boy.

At least for me. I like the other ones with just some general information.

Comment by Dan 08.01.13 @ 12:16 pm

His mag may have some mistakes I would imagine too.

Just saying, I was taken aback when I listened to him. I thought, “this guys a college football junkie, he’s not distributing the work, he’s definitely hands on”.

I mean, someone would mention Georgia Tech’s running game, and he would say, “well, they averaged about 195 yds per game last year, they did lose a tackle and guard, but they have two soph’s coming right in”.

And about my Georgia Tech comment above, he knew all of their friggin’ names, including the back ups.

He’s got to be college football 24/7, eat, drink and sleep it.

Comment by Dan 08.01.13 @ 12:27 pm

@EMel, concerning your question on what’s the status of our depth in the running game after we go beyond our top two RBs. I’m high on this guy from McDowell HS, James Conner in this incoming Freshman class. This is a kid with the size to be the kind of running back that Pitt hasn’t had for DECADES. At 6’4″ and 235lbs he still has quickness.
Conner only really played running back just last year and totally blew the lid off! His stats for the season were 1,680yds on just 115 carries. If you’re not good with numbers that is 14.5yds/carry and that produced 21 rushing TDs. He added another 4 TDs through the air.

This kid was a sleeper, since he changed positions his senior year to the RB position. Watch his game video against State College HS on a slick field and tell me that he doesn’t look like a man amoungst boys in that game!

link to youtube.com

I expect to see him on the field this season.

Comment by Dr. Tom 08.01.13 @ 12:37 pm

wbb – I remember seasons when Pitt played patsies for four games, looked like hell, then got pushed around by a big school (Big Ten, Big East). Then Pitt played much better, less missed tackles, less dropped balls, better o-line play. It’s like Pitt forgot how to push people around in the off season and only remembered how after they got pushed around. I wish Pitt could remember how to be a bully without having to be reminded every fall. I also always wondered what those other schools did in practice that they never forgot how to push other teams around. Pitt might lose to FSU but I bet Pitt won’t get pushed around by NM or Duke.

Comment by Caw Miller 08.01.13 @ 1:05 pm

On the thread of away game tickets: ordered extra tickets for the Tech game. Looking forward to watching my two alma maters fight it out on the Flats. It’s Tech’s homecoming weekend. Looking forward to this game.

Hail to Pitt!

Comment by MariettaMike 08.01.13 @ 1:24 pm

Comment by Justin 08.01.13 @ 3:01 pm

I’m gonna wear my “Free Chapman” hat and post it on Twitter.

Comment by Panther Pride 08.01.13 @ 6:55 pm

Agree in principle that Pitt has been slow starting. Some of that occurs from a lack of star leadership. If the Pitt team put 14 4 stars out there, the talent usually wins, but Pitt hasn’t put that type of talent out there consistently and as such, the talent becomes balanced against a lesser named opponent. Once the talent is equal, the team that wants it more and worked harder in the off-season typically wins. The primadonna 4 stars didn’t show up to lead and play. This is one reason I like the recruiting of kids that want to be here, are extremely smart, and actually have some talent that can be coached….up!

I will take the opposite approach on Chapman, well because the blog allows it. Look, every kid, 17, 18, 19 and 20, makes mistakes. Mistakes come in all shapes and sizes. Having had clients who were abusive towards each other physically, and yes, physical abuse comes from both the male and female, this incident could be as simple as a young man and young girl, trying to learn how to have a relationship. Chapman has learned a most serious lesson here.

As a coach, Paul Chryst has a teaching opportunity to one kid and a whole team. PC should allow Chapman to stay, suspend him for the entire season (redshirt year) and his first two games of his RS Freshman year. We have to look at the totality of the circumstances when making judgments. Although I abhor the event as reported and would be livid if it was my daughter, there are always two sides to each story. As a father of a daughter I would have handled this with Chapman, one on one…in private. There was no report that said he just came up and pulled her hair for no reason. For all we know, this was the first time that each of them were in a hostile situation and just didn’t know how to handle or diffuse it properly. Look how many adults still can’t!!

Take it outside of football. Would a college student be dismissed from college for this type of offense? NO! They would be on probation from the student disciplinary committee. Why? Because everyone gets a second chance, regardless of status at a university. This isn’t being soft and for all those believing this would be a PR nightmare, you have no idea about how this works at major universities, let alone at Pitt. That is a hogwash statement. Pitt generates very little national PR as it is. We are not on that level so don’t go confusing us with the likes of Notre Dame, Ohio State, USC, etc. Sorry for the rant, but the decision is easy in my mind.

No PR nightmare at PSU if you want a case study. Applications are not down. Enrollment is not down. Endowment is not down. Quite the contrary. Have they lost a couple hundred million in the process, yes, but it is just money and they may only end up paying about 100M from their own pockets.

PSU will be hit with the largest Cleary Act violation fine in the history of DOJ penalties. I expect that to be around $6M at a max of $27.5k per violation.

Comment by dhuffdaddy 08.01.13 @ 7:18 pm

@DR. Tom: Thanks for the link on the Conner kid. When they landed him i was impressed with the numbers he put up, but was not aware that was his 1st year at RB or was that big. Hope the coaches don’t think he’s “too big” to be a RB and give him a chance there…Starting to really get excited now as the calender has switched to August, one month away from that HUGE Labor Day showdown. Hail To Pitt!!

Comment by pap76 08.02.13 @ 3:15 pm

Does anyone know if there has ever been a case of a kid serving actual jail time and remaining on a team? Sure there has been, but no particular case comes to mind. Such a sad situation with Chapman. i was so impressed with everything about this kid prior to this incident…

Comment by pap76 08.02.13 @ 3:19 pm

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