More Immediate DL Help On the Way?

'09 Football Football Recruiting64

If this Athens Banner-Herald article is correct, the defensive line for the 2009 and 2010 Wolfpack will soon get even tougher:

Lemon, who has attended Georgia Military College after being booted off the team at Georgia and suspended by the university, expects to continue his football career at North Carolina State this fall, according to his junior college coach.

“That’s the plan,” GMC coach Bert Williams said. “I know they have a spot for him and were just waiting to make sure everything culminated the way it was expected to.”

If a no-nonsense disciplinarian like Tom O’Brien is willing to give this young man a second chance, then I’m 100% behind this move. It’s been a really long time since NC State football looked so strong in the trenches.

Hat tip to SFN commenter McPete. Football can’t get here soon enough!

About BJD95

1995 NC State graduate, sufferer of Les and MOC during my entire student tenure. An equal-opportunity objective critic and analyst of Wolfpack sports.

'09 Football Football Recruiting

64 Responses to More Immediate DL Help On the Way?

  1. highstick 04/30/2009 at 5:23 PM #

    Lemon probably did less to the SOB that what I might have done….Hmmm, funny thing “facts and circumstances” sure do change your perspective. I do want to look a little more though. I get the impression elsewhere that Richt’s not quite as tough as someone mentioned above, but want to verify before saying anymore.

  2. Greywolf 04/30/2009 at 6:11 PM #

    Noah
    April 30th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
    “Michael Lemon’s mother was dating a guy who was…not very nice. He decided to break up with her by killing her and burning down the trailer she lived in. With his younger brother in it. The younger brother survived, but the mom didn’t.

    This guy who Lemon attacked was the best friend of the murderer and began running his mouth at a cookout where Lemon was in attendance.”
    `
    Thanks, Noah. This is a first for me. I haven’t teared up reading anything on SFN before today.
    `
    This guy is not “out of control”, he’s got more control than I can imagine. Noah’s relating that story clears up a lot for me. Only 3 week-ends in jail? Richt found recinding his scholarship hard?
    `
    That TOB was taking him in was all I needed for Michael Lemon. I’ll need a little more from some of the self-righteous who posted some ignorant shit before Noah told the story we all wanted to here.
    `
    Welcome to the Wolfpack family, Michael. I’m deeply touched by your story. I’m sorry for your loss.

  3. tuckerdorm1983 04/30/2009 at 6:23 PM #

    pay your debt to society and get a second chance is what I say. Even for Mr. Vick. But there is no third chance.

  4. Noah 04/30/2009 at 6:24 PM #

    Normally, I’m not a fan of geographic solutions to internal problems. Wherever you go…there you are.

    But in Lemon’s case, I think it’s probably the best thing for everyone.

  5. LKNpackfan 04/30/2009 at 6:24 PM #

    Making Richt’s decision easier was the fact that Lemon had only 6 tackles in 7 games.

    TOB has certainly earned the benefit of the doubt though. He’s a great talent-evaluator and an even better disciplinarian. I look forward to rooting for this kid, on the field and off.

  6. tcthdi-tgsf-twhwtnc 04/30/2009 at 7:23 PM #

    I never excuse violence like the charges brought against this young man but I’m sure this kid wasn’t out looking for a fight and he just reacted in a way that he shouldn’t. If TOB is willing to give him a chance I see no reason why anyone else wouldn’t.

  7. inhoc... 04/30/2009 at 7:51 PM #

    so does he only have one year left I play???

  8. LifeScientist 04/30/2009 at 8:00 PM #

    Coach O’Brien isn’t exactly without experience with this type of “recruit”. Just ask Shea McKeen.

  9. Noah 04/30/2009 at 8:51 PM #

    He has two to play two.

  10. spanky 04/30/2009 at 10:29 PM #

    Not sure if its heresay or not, but heard the parents of the kid he punched were the ones that reaaaallly pressured the DA to push for the toughest sentence possible…

    I must say, if I was in a similar situation… I agree with what someone said above… He had waaaaayy more self control than I would have been able to have…

  11. Keg Man 05/01/2009 at 6:32 AM #

    Spanky Yea the victim’s parents did pressure the DA. It is in one of the links above.

    Maybe Noah could link the story that connects the victim to his mother’s murderer. I have not been able to find anything on that. Everything I read said the victim had never met Lemon before but knew his girlfirend. The victim was accused by Lemon of looking at the girlfriend. It is my understanding the attack was over the girlfriend. The attack seems to have been a rage of immature jealously.

    Can someone verify/provide a link between the victim and the murderer? I’ve not found that anywhere.

  12. Sw0rdf1sh 05/01/2009 at 6:56 AM #

    I agree with LifeScientist above. Shea McKeen has turned out to be one heck of a player and after having a chance to talk to him at the Spring Game, I can say he seems to be a very nice young man too. TOB knows talent and problems it seems as he has no problem taking kids like this and shaping them into champions. If someone slips from that mindset he also seems to have no problems releasing them from the program..

    How many of us have never gotten into a bar fight? Does that mean we are bad people?

    I read a few articles a while back about Lemon, and I thought I recall there was something more than just “looking at his girlfriend” (but I could be wrong). UGA Coach really liked him and was bummed he couldn’t come back to his program. I’m excited about Lemon and have been wanting to hear some news regarding him for some time. This is a big get in my opinion.

  13. com state10 05/01/2009 at 7:14 AM #

    I too am excited to have him and think everybody deserves extra chances, its not my place to judge folks.

    Its nice to have the trust we do in TOB where we can not only hope for a better future for the young man, but expect it.

    My only question is what if UNC took the guy? Would our reaction be the same? Seems to me this is the type of player that we give UNC a hard time for bringing in.

  14. Keg Man 05/01/2009 at 7:52 AM #

    com state10 Good question. My view of our program is giving a kid like Lemon a second chance in our program is more an exception to the rule. Whereas Davis could care less about a Kid’s background as long as he can play ball. With TOB it an exception. With Butch its SOP.

    It appears Richt has been heavily involved in helping this young man even after he was out of the Ga. program. I would say he had lots to do with pointing this young man towards a Coach like TOB that could be a major positive influence in this young man’s life. Richt and TOB are both very well respected men and not just as coaches. I am sure Richt very much wanted this young man to land in the Right environment.

  15. nav 05/01/2009 at 8:07 AM #

    This is a quote from Richt shortly after Lemon was dismissed from the team,

    “My goal for Michael is for him as he leaves this program is to go somewhere where he can continue his education and play football,” Richt said. “I hope for him that it can be at Georgia (in the future) because that’s what he wants, and I love him very much.”

    I took this quote off a non-subscriber Scout.com article from July 24,2008.

    It sounds like Richt understood the circumstances behind Lemon’s actions and felt very bad for the kid. I happily welcoe Lemon to NC State.

  16. Tampa-Pack 05/01/2009 at 8:54 AM #

    Good point com, I haven’t been to any tarbaby websites, but I am sure they will be all over this, if they aren’t already. Like Keg said though, for TOB it is an exception. Throughout his lengthly coaching career, I bet you could count on one hand the number of times he’s done something like this, and you can bet that if each and everyone of those didn’t turn out successful, he wouldn’t be doing it in this case. BD has a track record, of well, let’s say something different. Anyway, doesn’t matter. No one can judge this guy, because I doubt anyone has ever been in his situation. He is doing what is required of him, and deserves a second change. Like many said above, you can bet there won’t be a third chance. Its up to the young man to man up and move forward. Go PACK.

  17. bradleyb123 05/01/2009 at 8:58 AM #

    My only question is what if UNC took the guy? Would our reaction be the same? Seems to me this is the type of player that we give UNC a hard time for bringing in.

    I think in all fairness, I have to admit I would give the Holes a hard time if they had picked up this kid instead of us. Just being honest.

    That being said, I think there is more to this case than a simple fight. This kid had plenty of extenuating circumstances to build up to what he did. I figure that’s probably why the courts were lenient on him, and also why TOB is giving him a second chance. This has the makings of one of those heartwarming stories that we see on ESPN from time to time. In another couple of years, if he does well here and moves on to the next level and does well there, too, we might see him showcased there.

    I wish him well, and I trust TOB’s judgment.

  18. Sam92 05/01/2009 at 9:12 AM #

    ok, he’s got a conviction for a violent crime, that’s suspect, but it sounds like there were some extenuating circumstances, so there’s some doubt — and i give tom o’brien the benefit of it; i’m for trusting TOB’s analysis of this kid and situation

  19. Noah 05/01/2009 at 9:43 AM #

    The info on the link between the two is inside-baseball stuff. It wasn’t covered in the paper.

  20. wufpup76 05/01/2009 at 9:54 AM #

    “I think in all fairness, I have to admit I would give the Holes a hard time if they had picked up this kid instead of us. Just being honest.”

    ^Ditto here … especially without knowing the backstory. I have a good time picking on Chief and his “high character” recruits because I can give and take. I’m not going to make fun of the Holes and then disappear when they bring up our Washburns and McClendons … it goes both ways.

    I find more often than not that Holes fans absolutely cannot give and take … which is precisely why I love sticking the needle in even more. “We’re God’s institution! WE do no wrong! blah blah blah … ”

    Speaking of Chief – it looks like his waiver-wire process will work out … again:

    http://blogs.newsobserver.com/accnow/unc-parts-with-football-recruit

  21. Greywolf 05/01/2009 at 10:12 AM #

    “… the parents of the kid he punched were the ones that reaaaallly pressured the DA to push for the toughest sentence possible…”
    `
    This is really informative. I had no idea the ‘bastid’ knew who his father was…

  22. Greywolf 05/01/2009 at 10:21 AM #

    LKNpackfan
    April 30th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
    “Making Richt’s decision easier was the fact that Lemon had only 6 tackles in 7 games.”
    `
    How is that? Did you read where the University policy was the deciding factor in Lemon having his scholarship rescinded? Your words have you sound as though you think Richt made a decision to release Lemon from his scholarship. It’s the other way around. The bad news is that we see the world through our own eyes.

  23. packbackr04 05/01/2009 at 10:22 AM #

    looks like the UNX waiver wire is now in full swing. they just throw 4 names out there at the end of the article naming kids who they signed but wont enroll cause Butch over-recurited.

    http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/story/1508926.html

  24. McPete 05/01/2009 at 11:03 AM #

    packbackr,
    three of those guys won’t make it academically and will either go juco or prep school. the 4th, Tate, is the baseball player who is likely a high draft pick and will sign a contract. the staff knew that when they recruited him. unc was likely just a back-up plan for him.

  25. Keg Man 05/01/2009 at 12:31 PM #

    That’s five UNC recruits that won’t make the field this year so far. School not over yet and SAT’s are still being taken. Lot of press on signing day. But who’s singing now?

    TOB 2 Chief O And we got them at home, the last game of the season this year. KAPOW! Ol Butch gonna be stuffed and plucked again for Thanksgiving Weekend!
    We need some Hell To the Chief Chant for the Game!

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