Chad Kelly

[eSJay]

Also, where is the line drawn for number of times a student-athlete gets another chance?

I think the lines are drawn differently depending on the coach & player.
(i.e; Jimbo/Jameis)

[camlock]

Cam, I respectfully disagree. Christians (and I am one) often place themselves in the position of being labeled as hypocrites. If a person is going to wear their religion on their sleeve, as we are called to do, you also have to be willing to bear that standard under all circumstances.

As to the current situation, why is it more Christian to give this guy his fifth chance than to start the openly Christian, non-problem instigating QB already on your roster (Buchanan)?

I am not making this up either - I have heard commentators on local and national radio as well as on ESPN bring up Freeze's stance on running a different program placing him in a really tough spot relative to this situation. To keep him makes him look just like the rest and he has BY HIS OWN WORDS, said that will not be like the rest. In short, it undermines his Christian message. The question then becomes, what is more important to Freeze, his message or winning?

As to comments about Miles and LSU and troubled players by other posters - as an LSU fan I concur.

Remember though, Miles has also kicked off a Heisman finalist (Mathieu) and a pre-season Heisman candidate (Perrilloux) and has suspended countless players for marijuana use (including this season). What other coach in the nation has kicked off the best player on their team on more than one occasion? How many players has State, Ole Miss or Alabama suspended for drug test fails under their current coaches? I am a known Miles detractor and he has given more opportunity than he should to some players, but he is no worse than the others in this area - including Mr. Coach Hugh Freeze.

I'm sorry...I can't get on board with the idea that Hugh Freeze does not have the right to be outwardly christian if he allows a player with anger problems to play football on the team. I don't think it's a great idea for team sake, but he's got way more information than any of us about it and about the players on his team to make that decision from the team perspective. Because Chad Kelly has anger problems and loud mouth and Freeze is potentially going to allow him to play football at Ole Miss, and Hugh Freeze is a christian so he is a hypocrite??? No way...

I don't think Chad Kelly coming to Ole Miss is a good deal, kid needs to grow up before he gets in more than a fight. I think that is dangerous from a team perspective and all of that....but I don't think Hugh Freeze has any moral obligation to not let an eligible player on the team b/c he's been outwardly christian and that player is not or has been in trouble. That's bogus and unfair to him, when in October you hold him accountable to win like every other program. Freeze has punished internally and allowed to remain a number of players that got in trouble since he has been at Ole Miss...many of them have become better young men, some of them I'm sure will be what they are after they are out from under the watchful eye...but Freeze has operated that system well, and technically Kelly is no different. If this situation is able to be handled and Kelly kept, I have faith Freeze will handle it correctly he will set the boundaries and hold everyone accountable to them. Until he proves otherwise why doubt him?

If Ryan Buchanan or Devante Kincaide do not start at Ole Miss...Hugh Freeze is not a hypocrite...he's a 4 million dollar a year employee doing his job and what's best for winning football games. He's not obligated to let anyone play if they didn't earn it, and in the same breath I don't believe Chad Kelly or anyone else will be given the job..they will earn it. He's being held to an unfair standard in this regard...

Again, I'm not defending Chad Kelly, from what little I know of what's going on and how it looks from here I hope he's let loose...I'm defending Hugh Freeze even if he keeps him. He knows what he needs to do in regards to the QB position and he knows a whole lot more about this situation and all situations with Chad Kelly than any of us fans taking our info from SaturdayDownSouth.com! If he thinks Kelly can abide appropriately in Oxford and what not and we need another player to compete at QB I'll trust him...and I don't doubt the man's moral fiber or Christianity regardless; especially given he's had NO reason to be doubted, only detractors trying to find a reason that he is not who he says he is...

[bigoak]

I think where Freeze has a problem and where his faith at times does not look genuine is the fact that he attaches a condition to what players he is willing to help/forgive. They must be a star football player that can help his team win. He don't seem willing to take a chance on a one star player that needs a Christian influence in his life.

For the record I believe there are some jobs/professions that are not good for Christians and college football coach is one of them. The college football world is just too dirty. I think if Freeze is genuine about his faith then at some point his faith will conflict with what he sees going on in college football and recruiting. He will either have to turn a blind eye or walk away. I honestly believe that good Christian coaches can have more of an influence on kids as a high school coach. This is just one man's humble opinion.

[Deltamud77]

He's being held to an unfair standard in this regard...
]

It is a standard that he set for himself. He is the one that has set this standard over and over again by his own words. I have seen him speak in person at my church and talk at length about this standard that he has set for himself and his program. He is "giving the appearance" of not living up to his own standard, which makes him look hypocritical.

You are absolutely correct that Freeze is working with more facts than any of us are right now. You are correct that it is his prerogative to do as he wishes relative to Kelly. You are abundantly correct that ultimately for Freeze, he is paid over $4m per year to win games and Kelly likely gives him the best option to win now and win big.

My sole point is that Freeze, by his own words, has set a moral standard for himself and his program over and above other programs, like LSU, FSU, Auburn, Bama and even MSU. It looked odd for him now to even recruit Kelly given his past, let alone sign him and support him when he is immediately thereafter arrested for fighting with cops. You are a bright guy - you have to see that fact.

[camlock]

I think where Freeze has a problem and where his faith at times does not look genuine is the fact that he attaches a condition to what players he is willing to help/forgive. They must be a star football player that can help his team win. He don't seem willing to take a chance on a one star player that needs a Christian influence in his life.

For the record I believe there are some jobs/professions that are not good for Christians and college football coach is one of them. The college football world is just too dirty. I think if Freeze is genuine about his faith then at some point his faith will conflict with what he sees going on in college football and recruiting. He will either have to turn a blind eye or walk away. I honestly believe that good Christian coaches can have more of an influence on kids as a high school coach. This is just one man's humble opinion.

I agree with you overall, tough world overall for christian men that we live in...consider the fact that Hugh Freeze has a whole lot of kids in that program that don't play much; or at all, that he is leading and impacting that you and I don't know about. You only see and hear about the 5 star kids and the impact players b/c it's only lucrative for the media for focus on those kids...doesn't mean they are the only ones in the program that Hugh Freeze is impacting. As important as it is for Chad Kelly to find a good place for finishing his two years and have a chance to play, there are a number of walk-ons being given a chance to put on the jersey and earn a scholarship and rarely ever participate in every football program. In their world, that coach is just as big a factor as Hugh Freeze is to Chad Kelly...but there is not ratings in telling you about a a walk on private school kid that might play special teams as a 5th year senior...doesn't mean he won't be forever impacted by the coaches that gave him a chance. PERSPECTIVE...like I said, judging Hugh Freeze morally based on what the media feeds us and commentators tells us is plain unfair and short sighted...I'll trust his judgement of these boys until he gives us a reason not to...thus far he has not done so.

still think bringing in Chad Kelly is a risky move for the team...but whatever, I know for a fact the coaches know more than we do...I also know for a fact nobody pays anybody 4 million a year if they aren't doing something right.

[camlock]

He's being held to an unfair standard in this regard...
]

It is a standard that he set for himself. He is the one that has set this standard over and over again by his own words. I have seen him speak in person at my church and talk at length about this standard that he has set for himself and his program. He is "giving the appearance" of not living up to his own standard, which makes him look hypocritical.

You are absolutely correct that Freeze is working with more facts than any of us are right now. You are correct that it is his prerogative to do as he wishes relative to Kelly. You are abundantly correct that ultimately for Freeze, he is paid over $4m per year to win games and Kelly likely gives him the best option to win now and win big.

My sole point is that Freeze, by his own words, has set a moral standard for himself and his program over and above other programs, like LSU, FSU, Auburn, Bama and even MSU. It looked odd for him now to even recruit Kelly given his past, let alone sign him and support him when he is immediately thereafter arrested for fighting with cops. You are a bright guy - you have to see that fact.

yes, I would have thought he would've went after someone else if he needed a QB signee, I've said over and again that for what I can see I don't see this being a great deal for Ole Miss...but I trust the man got information and done his homework and trust his decisions in the end. If I'm naive so be it, but thus far he seems genuine and he's been nothing but successful with the kids that he inherited and ones he brought in. I don't see taking in a hot head loud mouth kid that fights a lot as a challenge on Hugh Freeze Christianity or morals, regardless of how it impacts the football team, that's reach in my opinion.

[hillhunter]

I think it's not our place to judge Freeze from a religious standpoint. Most people who openly call people hypocrites and throw stones live in a glass house as well. I think if he is a true Christian then he will pray about it and come to a decision in that manner, because regardless of his decision, if he is led to that decision through the Lord then it's the right decision no matter what we think or say about Freeze, Kelly, or any other coach or player. Remember often times the right decision religiously is often not the popular decision, or even smart by today's society standards.

On the Kelly young man (he is no kid, there are younger men leading our troops right now and I refuse to degrade them by calling them kids) he has some growing to do. He has shown very little maturity, and poor decision making throughout his career. Can't say whether or not he is right for the QB job, but if he keeps this up, no one will remember his name in 5 years, cause he just won't be able to make it in the real world if he is constantly fighting and such. If Freeze chooses to take him into the OM program then so be it, it's his decision to make. I'm not gonna say that he is a lesser man from a religious standpoint no matter what his decision, the Lord works in ways we do not understand most of the time and to be honest I don't think God cares one iota about college football, however he does care if we try to have a positive influence on young men, no matter their situation, good or bad.