What do Stephen Reaves and Glamser/Stringer have on common? - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jun 30, 2005

What do Stephen Reaves and Glamser/Stringer have on common?

Date: Jun 30, 2005

Didn't hear a negative word about this boy. And then somebody pointed out the charges were dropped, end of discussion. So what's your point? Was the president of the IHL on TV calling him a criminal? No.

Date: Jul 1, 2005

The discussion of Raines, Reaves, and Perine has been pretty interesting over on EagleTalk. Some of their posters think these recruits shouldn't be offered the chance to play at Southern Miss, while others post sentiments like "there's nothing wrong with getting a DUI". However, most posters are reasonable.

But their posts raise an interesting issue: since when does Jeff Bower recruit players of objectionable character? His strong suit was always that his teams performed well in the classroom, stayed out of trouble, and worked extra hard on the field. All of a sudden, it's like Bower is morphing into Jerry Tarkanian; he's quickly becoming the so-called Father Flanaghan of the South. Giving kids a second chance is one thing, but giving bad actors a key to the club is another. Whether Bower is actually the one recruiting these players and whether he will be able to deal with them effectively is yet to be seen.

Date: Jul 1, 2005

Keep this in mind. We all know Bower's history with holding players to a higher standard than many programs. With that being said, Perine has been a model student since arriving on campus. So far he seems to be making the most of his second opportunity and is working out fine.

As for Raines and Reaves, if they are the bad kids that many here and on ET say, then Bower will run them out of town before they have a chance to make a difference. He has benched, suspended and dismissed players in the past, both starters and reserves. I trust Bower's on these calls, because he's been right far more often than he's been wrong and when he has had kids that do not meet his standard, they quickly become just a memory.

Date: Jul 1, 2005

Seeker wrote:

I trust Bower's on these calls, because he's been right far more often than he's been wrong and when he has had kids that do not meet his standard, they quickly become just a memory.

I agree whole-heartedly.

The question I have is whether these particular recruits really were "Bower's call." I do know that Seeker is right -- they get out of line & they won't even have time to be "history."

Date: Jul 1, 2005

We have so much more information now because of the internet that it's hard to say if kids from say 10 years ago also may have had problems. You know 10 years ago if USM signed some kid from North Alabama that had been arrested for a DUI as a HS senior, chances are that none of us would ever know anything about it.

Now things are much differnet and we have so much more information at our fingertips. I think that Bower may have very well been giving some of these second chances for years. On player I can remember in particular was Terry Anderson from inner-city New Orleans. He had a rough time growing up, he was in and out of trouble all thru HS. But, when he got to USM he was a model studnet and graduated on time. We don't know exactly what he was into when in HS, but I do remember him saying in the paper when he graduated that if Coach Bower had not given him a scholarship, he "would probably be dead" now.

Date: Jul 3, 2005

The story about Reaves is in today's paper. He is coming to USM. Wonder if Martin Hankins story is linked to this in any way.

If Reaves wants to play in a wide open offense in hopes of moving on, he's making a mistake.

Date: Jul 3, 2005

spartan sam wrote:

The story about Reaves is in today's paper. He is coming to USM. Wonder if Martin Hankins story is linked to this in any way. If Reaves wants to play in a wide open offense in hopes of moving on, he's making a mistake.

Ex-Michigan State quarterback plans to play for Eagles

By Alan Hinton

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050703/SOUTHERNMISS/507030306/1006