Link: D.J. Pettway story of returning to Alabama.

[Displaced Bama Fan]

So you're saying beating a man until you have to kick him to see if he's dead is not being a thug? C'mon ...

Where should he be ... Florida State, Auburn, Tennessee

I think Auburn even has higher standards than that. LSU on the other hand...

 

[ccc2259]

Most, if not all of us, know nothing more about this situation than what was in the ESPN article. Trust the staff, trust the young man that was the victim.

 

[CrimsonForce]

Only? The kid was nearly beat to death. Thank God it wasn't a rape. Would you be saying "Is this DJ's only past transgression?" in that case?

Go back and read my post again. Slower..

 

[JustNeedMe81]

No one is telling you what to do and etc. Just understand that you need to learn to respect people's opinions right or not, that's what this board is all about, being able to voice our thoughts, and learning to agree to disagree. It's not my problem that you are throwing tantrum just because you wont' support DJ. Life is about second chances, it's how you make the best out of it. I've been beated up before, bullied and I forgave that person and that person is a successful engineer. Coach Saban is the best when it comes to learning how to be a man on and off the field. DJ acknowledged that and He's making the best out of that, and we need to give him the support as a fan to show him we cares about his well being. I'm sorry for that guy who got beat up real bad, and I pray he is able to move on at some point in his life. Its a tragic that this happened to everyone invovled.. the other parties left school and is pursing different paths in life, and all we can do is wish them well. DJ got a unique second chance.. so that's that. I will not discuss this matter again... I stated what I wanted to say and that's it.

That's your prerogative. Just don't tell me what I need to do whether I like it or not.

 

[KrAzY3]

Why do people keep saying he was nearly beaten to death? Did they read any of the reports?

He suffered a concussion, that's serious, he was put in the hospital, that's serious, but nearly beaten to death? Seriously? By that definition I've nearly been beaten to death, I've nearly beaten others to death, but that would also be a lie. From what I understand, he didn't spend time in intensive care, he didn't have to spend weeks in the hospital or anything. He was beaten, badly. That's not good, that's serious, that's a significant crime, but some people are making pretty significant leaps here. Nearly, is near death. The kid didn't go into a coma, he didn't suffer serious brain damage, and I hate to be in a position to defend against the extent of his serious injuries, but why all the exaggeration?

There's no way to defend the assault on the Alabama student, and he deserves our support and respect. But, he wasn't on his deathbed! That's just not reality! I also don't see cause for comparing beating someone up to raping them, that's not the same in my mind either, and I don't think most people would compare the two.

 

[colbysullivan]

People trying to argue with Krazy is priceless.

 

[CrimsonForce]

Why do people keep saying he was nearly beaten to death? Did they read any of the reports?

He suffered a concussion, that's serious, he was put in the hospital, that's serious, but nearly beaten to death? Seriously? By that definition I've nearly been beaten to death, I've nearly beaten others to death, but that would also be a lie. From what I understand, he didn't spend time in intensive care, he didn't have to spend weeks in the hospital or anything. He was beaten, badly. That's not good, that's serious, that's a significant crime, but some people are making pretty significant leaps here. Nearly, is near death. The kid didn't go into a coma, he didn't suffer serious brain damage, and I hate to be in a position to defend against the extent of his serious injuries, but why all the exaggeration?

There's no way to defend the assault on the Alabama student, and he deserves our support and respect. But, he wasn't on his deathbed! That's just not reality! I also don't see cause for comparing beating someone up to raping them, that's not the same in my mind either, and I don't think most people would compare the two.

I was about to say the same thing. You shouldn't levy punishment on someone for what "might have, could have, or almost" happened. I've never heard of a charge called attempted manslaughter as someone else brought up in the thread. It was an assault. Plain and simple..

 

[Chukker Veteran]

We are talking about what happened as if it were one incident. I may be wrong, but I thought when they finished beating the first student, they then went looking for someone else to beat up. In my book, that's two big problems, not just one.

I've decided what I think about it is something the coaching staff is not concerned with, so I try to not think about it. I'm really glad it wasn't my call whether to re-sign him or not.

I do enjoy seeing him make big plays this season, so I've decided to enjoy the help he brings to the football team, and not dwell on something out of my control. Saban was hired to win ballgames, and I certainly can't argue with his success at doing that.

 

[Go Bama]

Why do people keep saying he was nearly beaten to death? Did they read any of the reports?

He suffered a concussion, that's serious, he was put in the hospital, that's serious, but nearly beaten to death? Seriously? By that definition I've nearly been beaten to death, I've nearly beaten others to death, but that would also be a lie. From what I understand, he didn't spend time in intensive care, he didn't have to spend weeks in the hospital or anything. He was beaten, badly. That's not good, that's serious, that's a significant crime, but some people are making pretty significant leaps here. Nearly, is near death. The kid didn't go into a coma, he didn't suffer serious brain damage, and I hate to be in a position to defend against the extent of his serious injuries, but why all the exaggeration?

There's no way to defend the assault on the Alabama student, and he deserves our support and respect. But, he wasn't on his deathbed! That's just not reality! I also don't see cause for comparing beating someone up to raping them, that's not the same in my mind either, and I don't think most people would compare the two.

This is why:

"He'd sustained a concussion, beaten so badly that one of his attackers thought they'd accidentally killed him. They kicked him just to make sure he was alive."

A concussion is brain damage.

 

[TideFan in AU]

The whole ordeal is just sickening. You have to feel sorry the victims that had to live through this. I still have to believe that DJ's role in this was doing nothing about what was happening. Jurgens saying he had forgiven Pettway, but not the other 2 jumps off the page at me. He must have seen evidence that proves to him that DJ was not one of the ones beating him. If that is the case, the sad reality is that some people will not stand up against their friends/family even if they are doing something terrible. Some people won't even stand up for their friends when somebody else is beating them.

Without knowing the details of exactly what happened, I can't crucify DJ. If he did nothing to help, I think he acted cowardly, but I can't say that makes him evil. After this article, I feel pretty much the way I did before I read it. I still don't know know enough about it to say what should or shouldn't have happened. I am relying on the fact that the President of the school, the AD, CNS, and the student committee involved knows enough about to make the right decision.

 

[mittman]

Like others I have a lot of mixed emotions and opinions on this matter.

D.J. was given an opportunity to earn a second chance and did what it took to earn it. I do believe that Coach Saban is trying to do what is in the best interests of him, the rest of the players and the entire program. I am just not convinced that it is best that he should have returned to Alabama.

Tyler Hayes and Brent Calloway both got second chances at other places. Last I heard Calloway was still trying to find his way back to Alabama too. Eddie Williams apparently didn't do what was needed to get one.

 

[CrimsonForce]

This is why:

"He'd sustained a concussion, beaten so badly that one of his attackers thought they'd accidentally killed him. They kicked him just to make sure he was alive."

A concussion is brain damage.

If you are so opposed to concussions then don't watch football..

 

[Catfish]

I have mixed emotions about this. I was glad he and the others were kicked off the team and out of school after it happened. I believe in second chances and think he deserves one. I hope he's a changed man now. But, there are a hundred other places where he could have gotten a second chance, it didn't have to be at UA. And I'm not saying that becuase it was UA. If the exact same thing had happened at Ole Miss, I'd think his second chance should be at somewhere other than OM, or wherever the place where the crime took place was. To me, it's a slap in the face of the victims and says that this student is more important/valuable than you are.

I also think the likelihood that he'd have been readmitted was much lower if he were John Smith, psychology major, and that bothers me a bit.

Regardless of what type of active participation he took in the beatings, I don't think this was any kind of a "wrong place at the wrong time" scenario for DJ. There were two people who were robbed and assaulted. The first one could conceivably have been an "Oh my God, what's going on?" deal for him, but after that he had to know what the situation was. At the very least he could have gotten away from the perpetrators/instgators and the event, even if he didn't put a stop to it. Whether it was from the very beginning or the second assault, at some point he made a concious decision to be involved in some way in a violent crime. They didn't steal things from a dorm room or a store. They assaulted two people, one to the point that they thought they might have killed him.

I admire the victim for forgiving DJ. That's got to be a hard thing to do.

 

[Catfish]

If you are so opposed to concussions then don't watch football..

No offense, but this comment is ridiculous on so many levels.

A) In one situation, players willingly make a decision to participate in a sport with full knowlege that they could possibly get a concussion in the normal course of that activity. In the other, a person who makes no decision other than to walk across campus is assaulted by multiple people who beat a concussion into him. That's like saying being murdered is the same as dying from a heart attack because, hey, the end result is the same!

B) Basically you're saying, "If you (Go Bama) are SOOOO opposed to a student getting beaten so badly that he gets a concussion, maybe you shouldn't watch football."

 

[Go Bama]

If you are so opposed to concussions then don't watch football..

Am I to infer that you are not opposed to concussions?

I was responding to the query "Why do people keep saying he was nearly beaten to death?" and "The kid didn't go into a coma, he didn't suffer serious brain damage, ..."

Hey, I love football and I love the University, my alma mater, but this degrades our program. If this happened at FSU it would be like throwing gas on the fire.

 

[uaintn]

I agree that there is an inspiring component to this story. It is Jergens who was walking along the sidewalk, minding his own business, and without regard to the specific details was undoubtedly the victim of a violent crime. I wish the young man much success in his future endeavors and admire his courage.

Both of my children attended the University. Not sure what my feelings would be if they had been the victims here (which they easily could have been).

 

[Catfish]

Am I to infer that you are not opposed to concussions?

Maybe there are people who are PRO-concussions? There may be benefits we're unaware of.

 

[TheAccountant]

Maybe there are people who are PRO-concussions? There may be benefits we're unaware of.

Any truth to the rumor that CrimsonForce is Brady Hoke?

 

[Catfish]

Any truth to the rumor that CrimsonForce is Brady Hoke?

:rofl:

 

[Crimson1967]

I am all for him getting a second chance to make something of himself. I just don't think he should be getting it at the University of Alabama.