With wide-open opportunity, Ford keeps getting stuck in reverse

[Brad]

With wide-open opportunity, Ford keeps getting stuck in reverse

By Doug Fernandes

Published: Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 1:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 6:20 p.m.

Who knew that Mike Ford's biggest college obstacle would wind up being himself?

Not his head coach, who has professed genuine love and affection, much like a parent does for a child despite repeated testing of his or her patience.

And not any opposing defense. For sure, trouble has appeared in the form of injuries, questionable grasp of the playbook and the occasional maddening fumble, but with the ball securely tucked under Ford's arm, green grass often has served as his private playpen.

He's big, strong, an impressive specimen, and, from everybody's account, a warm, teddy-bear of a guy. Heck, by my account, Ford is as likeable as they come.

Which doesn't lessen the disappointment for some, anger for others, over his latest transgression, or should we say, a probable repeat of his first one.

The former Sarasota High star won't be playing in South Florida's first game this season, nor its second, the penalty for what the Bulls called an unspecified violation of team rules.

The school didn't elaborate on the reason, but with Ford, his past may provide the answer. As a freshman in 2007, he was held out of a game against Florida Atlantic for missing classes.

Just for clarification, Ford didn't whiff on a test, flunk a course, punch out a teacher or slur the dean.

He was a no-show in the classroom. When 80 percent of life merely is showing up, Ford couldn't drag himself to a room and plop himself in a chair.

As a colleague so astutely pointed out, the list of no-no's for a college athlete isn't lengthy. Why they're there in the first place makes it so.

Don't drink and drive. Get your mind right around the comely coeds. Go to class. Don't force the professor into making a call that begins with, "Coach, we have a problem.''

Go to class, which is separate from the expectation of a Bull athlete once he's there. Without any further elaboration, South Florida's curriculum isn't exactly Stanford's.

It's not as if Ford didn't know the score. The school implemented a tougher policy on unexcused absences this summer. Any player with five such misses during summer classes would face a two-game suspension.

So Ford's junior season, the time when pro scouts really begin assessing a player's potential, will be shortened.

As for the Bulls, they'll manage. They open up with Wofford and Western Kentucky. They shouldn't need the services of their leading rusher the last two seasons to chalk up victories, even with junior back Jamar Taylor sidelined 8 to 10 weeks with a knee injury.

But Ford's absence will give USF's other backs a chance to advance up the depth chart. And it will deprive him playing time with the meat of the Bulls' schedule starting Sept. 26 against FSU.

Mike, you just didn't learn.

"Mike's a good guy,'' head coach Jim Leavitt said. "He really has a good heart. You've got to do the right things.''

And that means going to class.

For failing that basic collegiate requirement, Mike Ford will pay the penalty.

Again.

Link

[TRUTH D. Antagonist]

i have a basic question: how does Mike miss class during summer? does he take summer classes?

[Orlando Bull]

I would guess that the advisers force him to take classes because during the season, he will need to take some cake classes to conserve time and maintain eligibility, so, the summer is probably when he gets in a good bit of his actual course work.

Most student athletes do this so that they can focus on their sport during the season and work classes around practice and game schedules.

[DELdaBull]

Whatever he did I am very disappointed.

[nobull.Bulls]

What he's really missing in those first 2 games is the opportunity to pile up some stats before we face tougher competition.  Not a huge miss.

He'll get some warm up against charleston southern

[Guest]

He wouldn't play more than the first quarter in those games anyway... it's not like he'd have that big of numbers.

Hopefully he buckles down and focuses more -- on AND off the field.

[theman123]

What he's really missing in those first 2 games is the opportunity to pile up some stats before we face tougher competition.  Not a huge miss.

He'll get some warm up against charleston southern

That's not the problem.  The problem is that he's already in the coaches dog house before the season even starts.

[mutt]

CJL aint' the kind of man who would take these things lightly...  If Ford screwed up, he'll pay for it.

[Sitting_BULL]

Hopefully he realizes he only has 2 yrs to impress pro scouts, because his first 2 yrs aren't impressive.  He needs to get serious if he wants to play Sundays instead of serving sundaes.