Two Illini suspended by Zook

[BGIF]

<HR style="COLOR: #d1d1e1" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->March 4, 2007
BY HERB GOULD Staff Reporter
In yet another damaging incident for Illinois' embattled athletics program, football players Derrick McPhearson and Jody Ellis were suspended indefinitely Saturday by coach Ron Zook amid burglary allegations.
The two wide receivers ''are facing charges of possessing stolen property and obstructing justice following a hit-and-run accident,'' WCIA-TV reported. The circumstances of the traffic incident were not clear, and Champaign police declined to provide information.

But further charges could be added, WCIA said, particularly if it turns out alcohol was involved.

Ellis, from Evanston, and McPhearson, from Hyattsville, Md., were arrested late Friday when police ''found stolen laptop computers, cash and credit cards in their vehicle'' after an accident at Third and Armory in Champaign, WCIA said. ''Police believe those items were taken during several residential burglaries'' in the campus area, the television station said.

Other items such as iPods, camera equipment and other electronic gear may have been involved, said a source. Both were released after posting $2,500 bond.

''Jody and Derrick were charged [Saturday] with alleged criminal activity,'' Zook said in a statement. ''Our players understand how to act appropriately. So in light of their behavior, both have been suspended indefinitely.''

Zook -- who lectured his players specifically about behaving themselves on ''unofficial'' St. Patrick's Day, a U. of I. tradition that was observed Friday night--is extremely disappointed in Ellis and McPhearson, a source said.

The incident comes on the heels of two separate DUI arrests involving basketball players Rich McBride and Jamar Smith. McBride, who pleaded guilty Thursday, is scheduled to be sentenced May 1. Smith has pleaded not guilty to DUI and leaving the scene of the Feb. 12 accident in which teammate Brian Carlwell was critically injured.

 

[BGIF]

''unofficial'' St. Patrick's Day, a U. of I. tradition that was observed Friday night ...

Anyone familiar with this local "custom"?

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I'm sure the recruits that ND lost that went to Illinois are shaking their heads right now.

 

[onenybrother]

I'm sure the recruits that ND lost that went to Illinois are shaking their heads right now.

Just let us know what kind of character they has also. This been going on at Illinios for years, but year after the year parents let they kids commit there. That why I alway's felt that if you don't want to come to the Dame so be it. A great education, college atmospere and coaching is what you will get a Notre Dame. If that ain't enough then so be it.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Well, some kids aren't cut out for seroius school. That is why the Florida gets so many commits.

 

[Vince Young]

I'm sure the recruits that ND lost that went to Illinois are shaking their heads right now.

Exactly. They're wondering, "DAMN! How'd I get left out of THAT action? Looks like fun!"

 

[johnnd05]

Exactly. They're wondering, "DAMN! How'd I get left out of THAT action? Looks like fun!"

LOL! Nice post, VY. Reps to you.

My favorite thing when I see stories like this is to recognize that these kids would have been KICKED OUT of ND for doing this. Same goes for the Duke lacrosse team -- whether or not they assaulted the woman (and they clearly didn't, of course), ND wouldn't have tolerated a team hiring strippers. That would have been the end of it, for all of them.

Makes me proud to me an alum ...

 

[Zorro50]

Are they sure Benn wasn't involved ?? or was he at his dorm reading his text messages?

 

[wheeler418]

Are they sure Benn wasn't involved ?? or was he at his dorm reading his text messages?

Zooks rules for his football players: If the police are after you, just make sure you are not the slowest ones. Better chance for Benn to start now.

 

[grantphilly]

Atleast now they have something to cry about other than the negetive publications that have caused such a bullshit stirr among the recurting country. Zook has got to feel proud that the cars that he bought for the players weren't found and he must feel he's on his way to another 2-10 season!

 

[Win4Gipper]

Atleast now they have something to cry about other than the negetive publications that have caused such a bullshit stirr among the recurting country. Zook has got to feel proud that the cars that he bought for the players weren't found and he must feel he's on his way to another 2-10 season!

I think the cars are actually provided by the Atheletic department instead of Zook....the media made a big deal about the basketball players car accident yet no one made a big deal about the car he was driving........I wish I could have had a Lexus while I was in school
I think the whole school is a joke

 

[goirish#1]

Well, some kids aren't cut out for seroius school. That is why the Florida gets so many commits.

Good point you always see kids getting in trouble there. I think they lead or are near the lead in personal fouls every year. They also have a lot of off the field problems.

 

[goldenlid]

I will never let my kids play for anyone, or go anywhere things like this go on.

 

[Freeman Ara]

Kind of odd that in the original article they mentioned that witnesses mentioned that the car leaving the scene of the accident had temporary tags, there's only one reason I can think of that a car has temp. tags...it was recently "purchased". plus where do these guys come up with $2,500 dollars for a cash bond? These seem like things that the NCAA should look into.

 

[Vince Young]

Kind of odd that in the original article they mentioned that witnesses mentioned that the car leaving the scene of the accident had temporary tags, there's only one reason I can think of that a car has temp. tags...it was recently "purchased".

Why is that odd? Their parents could've bought 'em a car recently. I knew a few non-athletes in college who got a new car from their parents as a college gift, and I knew a few other non-athletes in college who worked part-time on the side, saved up some cash, and bought themselves a car. Oooooooooooooo! Nefarious!

Or maybe their little theft ring has been profitable enough that they used the cash to buy themselves the car. They had a pretty sizable stash there in the car that was involved in the accident, certainly more than enough to cover a down payment.

plus where do these guys come up with $2,500 dollars for a cash bond?

See above. Their parents could've bailed them out.

These seem like things that the NCAA should look into.

They certainly should, but this incident in-and-of itself is hardly definitive proof of NCAA violations involving Illinois. I still think Illinois is dirty, but I doubt this incident will prove to be "the smoking gun."

 

[johnnd05]

VY is right. Don't get overexcited, folks.

 

[BGIF]

... These seem like things that the NCAA should look into.

And just what should the NCAA investigate? Which NCAA eligibility/recruiting rule was violated by them being caught with stolen property? Likewise for the DUI? That's not an NCAA area. It's the police department.

IF you have the goods on Zook, contact the NCAA. You're allowed to do that.

Had Zook or Guenther bailed out these kids that would have been an Extra Benefit violation. Auburn got in trouble for that 15 or 20 years ago when the QB coach, Pat Sullivan, bailed out a QB, Burger, for a hundred bucks or so. The kid used his call to call Coach. NCAA said a coach would not have bailed out a regular Auburn student. Hence it was an "Extra Benefit".

 

[Freeman Ara]

Look I wasn't saying that these guys are dirty, I was just saying alot of times you see guys with cell phones, driving nice cars, wearing high end clothes and stuff like that. And I am not restricting this to Illinios either, you see it at other schools too. Is there a chance that their parents bought them a car as a gift? sure. But if they have parents that have the money to provide them with a recently purchased vehicle why are they stealing? I don't know there background or economic situation so who am I to judge. I was mainly infering that the NCAA should take this oppurtunity, or any such oppurtunity at any other school, to look into why these guys have that kind of cash on hand and why they are driving a recently purchased vehicle if they don't have the economic background to justify having these things.

 

[BGIF]

Look I wasn't saying that these guys are dirty, I was just saying alot of times you see guys with cell phones, driving nice cars, wearing high end clothes and stuff like that. And I am not restricting this to Illinios either, you see it at other schools too. Is there a chance that their parents bought them a car as a gift? sure. But if they have parents that have the money to provide them with a recently purchased vehicle why are they stealing? I don't know there background or economic situation so who am I to judge. I was mainly infering that the NCAA should take this oppurtunity, or any such oppurtunity at any other school, to look into why these guys have that kind of cash on hand and why they are driving a recently purchased vehicle if they don't have the economic background to justify having these things.

If they're not "dirty" what is the NCAA supposed to investigate? People who have clothes you think are "high end" (even thought that wasn't mentioned). Who reported that "these guys have that kind of cash on hand"? I recall mentioned of stolen cells and laptops not cash. And if they've been steaing from months it's still not an NCAA area. I don't recall their economic backgrounds being mentioned either.

Actually while Zook is redfaced from their behavior this works against the rumors. They most likely wouldn't be stealing things if they were getting paid under the table.

 

[ChiND]

With regards to the car...

With regards to the car...

It was stated in the Chicago Tribune that the car was in the granparents name (could have been a gift as it was an older model Lexus - not bad, but certainly could have been a good present). Additionally, this kid is from Peoria Richwoods which is a middle class school (with about 10% rich kids). I as well questioned the car initially until I saw the year of the make as well as this is not in his or his parents name.

 

[Satans Little Helper]

Well, some kids aren't cut out for seroius school. That is why the Florida gets so many commits.

Stonebreaker. why do you always take shots at Florida? are you jealous that Florida beat LSU and we got crushed by them? I see the smiley face and that is a joke but you never waste a chance to smash UF. Just curious. its not like any of the other perenial powerhouse schools dont have problems.

 

[Satans Little Helper]

I will never let my kids play for anyone, or go anywhere things like this go on.

Just to let you know.... my sister went to a small all-girl private college that cost an arm and a leg and it was kind of like the "Emily Dickinson College" from Animal house. They had stuff like this going on there too. It is not the school but the people. I dont understand why the school is always blamed for the actions of people. I understand athletes should be kept busy when not engaged in the sport but they chose to spend their night off robbing someone. that was a personal choice. Zook or no one else had any thing to do with that choice.

In the end for College students i guess it comes down to the ultimate responsibility ofthe coach or AD but these kids are not children and are not baby sat all day every day. they are grown men and have to accept the responsibility just like the rest of us did when we were in school.

 

[Freeman Ara]

If they're not "dirty" what is the NCAA supposed to investigate? People who have clothes you think are "high end" (even thought that wasn't mentioned). Who reported that "these guys have that kind of cash on hand"? I recall mentioned of stolen cells and laptops not cash. And if they've been steaing from months it's still not an NCAA area. I don't recall their economic backgrounds being mentioned either.

Actually while Zook is redfaced from their behavior this works against the rumors. They most likely wouldn't be stealing things if they were getting paid under the table.

I think you are missing the point of my post, I was saying in general that many times you see student athletes that have things that seem questionable (like a new car, or a Sidekick to text message) whatever it might be. Your right the article didn't mention stolen clothes or them wearing high end clothes. Thats because I was no longer talking about the article. and as far as the cash on hand I was refering to, they both posted $2500 dollars cash bond to get released, so you need to read the article again if you don't think they mentioned money. In fact your entire retort is based on the fact that you think I was misqouting the article when I was no longer talking about Illinois directly. I also didn't say that they mentioned the players background, but like in the Reggie Bush case if they don't have that kind of money don't you think that someone should have noticed the huge upgrade in housing with his parents? I was just trying to make a point that sometimes you see some fishy situations from some players, and if you think that is the case then the NCAA should take a look. AT ANY SCHOOL NOT JUST ILLINOIS!!!!! If you want to argue thats fine just pay attention to what I am talking about before you do it.

 

[Freeman Ara]

It was stated in the Chicago Tribune that the car was in the granparents name (could have been a gift as it was an older model Lexus - not bad, but certainly could have been a good present). Additionally, this kid is from Peoria Richwoods which is a middle class school (with about 10% rich kids). I as well questioned the car initially until I saw the year of the make as well as this is not in his or his parents name.

Thanks for setting me straight and the info on the car, if thats the case then these guys aren't getting played to play football at Illinois they just like to steal from their neighbors, much better.