Grothe Arrested For Serving Booze To Minor

[usfgrad84]

A few questions:

Does the athletic department give a seminar to the kids on not only what is legally allowed by the NCAA, but also what is discouraged by the school or, as the article states, by the NCAA, that may give even a hint of impropriety?

How long was Matt working here?  Did the restaturant/bar actually tell him that he needed to look for the wristbands?

Not making excuses for Matt, but from the thread about the Bull Ring, it sounds like this place is very poorly manged and mismanaged.  Ultimately, Matt should not have been in this position in the first place.  I hope he isn't the one taking the fall for a bunch of idiot managers at the rrestaurant.

The law is the law, but this is a pretty stupid offense.

[Brad]

I guess Greg called up the NCAA and asked some questions.  Expect Myles Brand on campus tomorrow.

However, NCAA spokeswoman Jennifer Kearns, in addressing the situation hypothetically, said, "If an athlete is getting tips, and other people in the same establishment aren't being tipped equally, that's something that boosters would need to be careful about."

Undermanned and mismanaged?

A man who identified himself as a general manager at the Bull Ring but would not give his full name had "absolutely no comment" Friday. Asked how often Grothe worked there, he said "I have no idea."

Despite the hysteria, I slept well yesterday.  This needs to be addressed internally at USF and with the Grothes.   No way the kid should be dispensing beer anywhere, let alone the Bull Ring.  Leavitt is the coach, but the kid does have a very active and supportive dad.

[USFan]

I expect the Bull Ring to be shut down soon.  There is no way they can rebound from this.

[Bull Dozer]

I expect the Bull Ring to be shut down soon.  There is no way they can rebound from this.

Yeah the place already has one foot in the grave.  This is the death blow for that place.  

[Brad]

Here is the story from the St Pete Times today.

Here comes the avalanche:

South Florida quarterback arrested for serving alcohol to minor

Associated Press

Posted April 28, 2007, 9:02 AM EDT

[Joe]

A few questions:

Does the athletic department give a seminar to the kids on not only what is legally allowed by the NCAA, but also what is discouraged by the school or, as the article states, by the NCAA, that may give even a hint of impropriety?

Yes schools are supossed to per NCAA, they sign several papers each year in accordance with this.

The law is the law, but this is a pretty stupid offense.

Why is everyone saying this is stupid? Because it was Matt Grothe? Take the Green and Gold glasses off and look at the potential consequences of an underage kid drinking, getting into a wreck and harming themselves or others.

1) Matt and the Bull Ring would be criminally liable

2) Matt and the Bull Ring would be civilly liable.

These task forces are created to prevent such instances, if there was NO threat of getting caught then bars would serve underage all the time.

When I bartended it was drilled in my head. Check the ID. If they have a wristband and look youn, check the ID. If I saw someone drinking who was not buying their own drinks and kind of being secretive about their drinking, I had to check their ID. Why? Because of the possible civil and criminal penalties that could be enforced against the bar and me.

[UCFanatic]

not sure how you can turn this against MADD. It is a bartenders job to check the patrons i.d. If they didnt do these types of stings then bars would serve to every 18 yr old in the county with no fear of reprecussions. Until you form a lobby movement to change the legal drinking age to 18, it is 21. MADD is a great organization with a worthy cause.

MADD uses fear tactics to fiat laws on states. MADD is the reason the drinking age is 21. MADD is the reason the margin for DUI went from .15, to .12, to .10, to .08 in every state. MADD is singlehandedly ripping the rights of states to decide their own laws away from them.

I agree that fighting drunk driving is a good thing, but MADD uses tactics of federalism and fear to mandate laws to states, blackmailing them into passing absurd laws in order to keep their access to federal highway funding.

ummmm. thats kinda true ya'll. However, if ya'll lost a son or daughter to drunk driving.... not saying that they are right in HOW they go about things - but i understand WHY they go about things in this manner.

And I don't see that changing any time soon....

Belle your right on the money.  MADD has been trying to change us from a reprenstative republic into a dictatorship over many years.  They are only recentlyseeing the fruits of that evil labor.  For every kid  they think they save, they relegate four times that many into perpetual servitude in which  redemption is nonexistent. For shame!-

Try and lose a relative or loved one to a drunk driver. Grothe was being irresponsible at the time and deserves some sort of punishment. I am sure he made and honest mistake and there is no need to crack down hard on him, but some of you trivialize the situation and MADD or what have you.

Its a self-centered attitude and most people act that way until THEY become the statistic. Apparantely SOME of your fan base are as about mature and responsible as your players. Try not to be so self-centered in inconsiderate. There is a reason for law. Some people dont feel the need to get wasted and jump in the car. Those people die all the time due to people that DO get wasted and jump in cars. Is that fair? Thats why there should be laws to protect them.

[Joe]

However, NCAA spokeswoman Jennifer Kearns, in addressing the situation hypothetically, said, "If an athlete is getting tips, and other people in the same establishment aren't being tipped equally, that's something that boosters would need to be careful about."

I wouldn't worry about this, several of our student athletes work for restaurants and are approved by the NCAA. I think its just an initial reaction.

[Bull94]

According to Greg there was a bouncer at the door checking ID's. If it was an 18 and up crowd (even though they should have marked them) then Matt should be held accountable. It's the law.

If it was a 21 and up crowd and the bouncer let someone in underage then he should be held accountable.

[Rizman]

Live and learn he had to make a mistake in order to grow up