As you probably know by now, Chris L. Rucker went straight from the Ingham County Jail back to his job as cornerback for the MSU Spartans.
Rucker was in jail in connection with a drunk-driving charge that was reduced to reckless driving. He was on probation at the time of that offense because of the infamous November 2009 fight at MSU’s Rather Hall.
In other words, the DUI charge represented a blown second chance, for which coach Dantanio — or so he proclaimed last December — had “zero tolerance.”
On Thursday Dantanio, according to the reporting of the LSJ’s Joe Rexrode, split the hair this way: “We have no tolerance for Chris Rucker’s actions. He was immediately suspended (and) has served his civil punishment, and there are other internal disciplinary measures nobody will know about outside the program …”
In other words, there are degrees of “zero tolerance.”
Frankly, I wish the term “zero tolerance” had never been invented, because what it really means is zero judgment. I’ve written many times about the atrocities committed in the name of zero tolerance.
(Remember the Holt kid who was expelled after he wore traditional Scottish garb (including the knife in his sock) to his prom?)
However, a person in Dantonio’s position should stick by what he says — not figure out ways to wriggle out of his commitments.
I can’t help but wonder how this would have played out if Rucker were less talented.
