I can admire Fridge for taking a stand. But we are not Florida or USC, we don't have star athletes just waiting in line. Suspending Portis for the season is a mistake. Kids make mistakes, suspend him for 4 or 5 games. I understand having rules, but a kid this talented deserves to be on the field. No other school would take such a harsh stance. Maryland needs to win now, another 5 or 6 win season and this school will get no top recruits. Fridge needs to think about the program and its future.

In regards to Tony's statement below:

"I can admire Fridge for taking a stand. But we are not Florida or USC, we don't have star athletes just waiting in line. Suspending Portis for the season is a mistake. Kids make mistakes, suspend him for 4 or 5 games. I understand having rules, but a kid this talented deserves to be on the field. No other school would take such a harsh stance. Maryland needs to win now, another 5 or 6 win season and this school will get no top recruits. Fridge needs to think about the program and its future."

This decision wasn't Ralph's...it was the University of Maryland's decision. Portis violated the code of student conduct so Ralph has no say in the matter...he is automatically ineligible. Case closed. Maryland's academic standards are very high for their athletics...higher than Duke's...the end result? You don't have scumbag kids on your team like Florida State and Miami do...but you might not win National titles either

Tony - you gotta be kidding! Sure, I wish we had the talent of the top tier football schools so that suspending a player wouldn't be such a big deal, and the loss of Portis is potentially huge for the program, for this year and the future. But violating the academic honor code has to be seen as a serious infraction. Allowing players to escape the consequences of their actions because they are star players is no way to develop accountability. Just see the mess that Roger Goodell is trying to clean up in the NFL.

Besides, I suspect that this decision was not all in Fridge's hands but was handed down by the academic side of the university. On at least some sites it has been hinted if not stated outright that the incident actually occurred back in the spring and Ralph knew about it all along. Heather - do you have any more information about that?

JACK - Two things on the timing: Ralph has known this was a possibility since the spring semester, but the decision wasn't made until Friday night.

Question is: what is the penalty for same offense when an athlete is not involved; just curious

Dave, when you compare the academics and athletics of Maryland to schools such as FSU and Miami, know what you're talking about first. Last years All-ACC Academic Football team was lacking MD players (only 2) but was stacked with guys from FSU/MIAMI! Check it: http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/021307aag.html I personally feel FSU and Miami would have done the same as the Fridge. He's a good coach and deserves respect for his decision.

Heather, great job on the Maryland posts.

I don't disagree with the decision to suspend Portis (having standards separates us from the VT's of the world), but why did the university wait until the day before the first game to drop the hammer?

Unfortunately, I think we have seen the last of Josh Portis at the University of Maryland as a potential star quarterback.

Yes, he remains on the scout team with 2 years of eligibility remaining. Conceivably though, his potential will not grow to fruition.

I'm sickened a bit by those who are judging this kid. Let one of the readers here who have never lied, cheated, or stolen even a pencil justifiably talk about Portis with contempt and chagrin. I have a feeling some of the readers may have committed similar deeds while in school but never got caught.

Within a month, a position that oozed with talent dried to a shortage. The departures of Jeremy Ricker, Bobby Sheahin and Josh Portis create a need in the program that may take 2 years to fill.

The high number of academic issues among athletes on both the football and basketball teams direly needs addressing.

First, Tony is either a moron or really did not think through his "emotional" fan response to Portis' announced ineligibility. I'm hoping for the latter. As a UM alum and fan, while I am, too, disappointed by Portis' ineligibility, I wholeheartedly support and am proud of the University's decision to stringently enforce its academic honor code. I believe this action, as well as Coach Friedgen's dignity in dealing with it and all academic and player behavior issues, sends the proper local and national message as to the school's integrity and will serve Maryland well in its future recruiting efforts. What the school does not need are the Antonio Randle El's, Melvin Alaeze's, etc. that deface a program's reputation more quickly than they ever legitimize same.

Second, I am not quite sure what to make of your article disclosing the other student's name when reporting upon the underlying circumstances for Portis' ineligibility. I understand, respect and appreciate your role as a reporter assigned to cover the Maryland "beat." However, I do not understand why this (former) student's identity needed to be disclosed. While Portis may have exposed himself to public scrutiny as a scholarship athlete, this student certainly did not.

Much like graphic photographs of accident scenes, I believe the story itself--a highly touted QB transfer declared ineligible for academic dishonesty--contained the sufficient level of sensationalism without the need to potentially impugn this student's long-term reputation or character. He is neither an athlete nor, as you reported, connected to the football program. Therefore, he has not volitionally placed himself in the public's spotlight. As it is, his reported transfer, if for no other reason than its timing, will only trigger unwarranted speculation regarding his participation and/or non-participation in this matter.

These are 18 - 21 year old individuals with their whole lives in front of them. When addressing potentially permanent character scarring issues, especially when it involves someone like this student who has not availed himself to the public's spotlight, I believe greater care should have been taken to protect him from unwarranted public scrutinization. The only proper forum for his evaluation and censure, if any, was before the University's academic honor code committee and any deemed negative repercussions appended to his transcript for consideration by future prospective schools, employers, et al. Your credibility, as a reporter, in my opinion, would not have been compromised in refraining from this disclosure.

Dag, Tony is getting killed.

What bugs me is that we keep going for these great athletes that are not committed to doing any work or following the rules, and jumping over guys with better character like Slaton at WV. I guess if Portis does the work and gets back and is an All-American everyone will feel bad for not giving him a chance but I worry that MD Football keeps making the same mistakes with these guys.

Heather,

You should ask Ralph if he would consider using Erin as an "emergency" QB considering that's what he came in as. He's bound to do better than a walk on or as Fridge himself said yesterday "deer in the headlights" looking JR.

Hey Zak, no one's impressed by FSU and Miami placing kids on the all-ACC academic team because they get pushed toward cushy majors and get a free pass in class. What you're yapping about is the end result without understanding the process. Miami had a kid stomping on the head of a fallen FIU opponent last year and they only suspended him for one game. Winning is the bottom line at those schools.

Texas Terp, this is from Heather's article you talk about.

"John Zacker, the university's director of student conduct, said Bullock waived his rights under the student privacy act and gave Zacker permission to confirm Bullock's involvement in a cheating case."

The other person involved in the incident willingly waived his rights to keep his name a secret. He's over 18 so technically an adult and can do so. If he was willing to go on the record, the reporter should use his name.