St Xavier Football Star Dies In Fall

• Writerbuckeye

  

  devil1197 wrote: I figured it was alcohol related, but that doesn't take anything away from this terrible incident.
  
  All that kids can do is learn from incidents like these and just take extra precautions.

  Sadly, it will probably have very little effect.
  
  When you're that age, you think you're invincible and the bad stuff always happens to someone else.
• Manhattan Buckeye

  Parents can learn as well, we had Spring Break in Myrtle when I was in HS, but it was HEAVILY chaperoned and it would be quite difficult for anyone to be drunk enough at 6:30 p.m. to fall off a balcony (getting a tattoo or smoking if you were 18, not a problem). It sounds like this trip was somewhat chaperoned, with all of the information coming out from the local PD perhaps they are serious about investigating the provision of alcohol. It is just an unnecessary and tragic event.
• 77Legend

  

  Very sad.
  
  I hope someone learns from this tragedy.
  
  Thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends.
• steel_curtain

  Regardless of if he was drunk or not doesn't take away from how horrible this was. I think it was very poor journalism to refer to him as drunk and beligerent.
• Manhattan Buckeye

  It was the cop's comment, not the text by the journalist. That tells me that they (the cops) may be serious about investigating the source of the alcohol.
• ts1227

  

  Yeah, the policeman said it, and he most likely got that from the witnesses he interviewed in his investigation.
  
  The journalist was just reporting the news.
• Pick6

  

  Is it a sad situation and unfortunate situation, yes.
  
  I dont know if it was chaperoned or not, but what the hell kind of parents let their 17yr old son (who is in high school) go on spring break to panama city..one of the craziest places to go on spring break. You know there is going to be alcohol involved too.
• goosebumps

  

  This is so terrible, he was bound to have a great career at ND. Many thought he had Pro potential too.
  
  I'm 23 years old, I know the mentality of a 17 year old because I had it too. I asked my parents to let me go on spring break my senior year to myrtle beach... Easy decision for them, NO. I was upset for about 2 days and got over it. This is a terrible situation that didn't have to happen.
• sportchampps

  according to the article i read it said he was drunk and belidgerent. It said he was yelling and pointing at someone on the balcony next to him when he fell over it went on to say there were 40 students from his school and about a half dozen parents there. The cops also said charges may be filed against whomever provided the alcohol
• Little Danny

  

  The parents who chaperoned this event better pray they did not provide the alcohol. Not only will they potentially be legally liable, but there will be a media frenzy thrust upon they could not imagine.
• devil1197

  Little Danny wrote: The parents who chaperoned this event better pray they did not provide the alcohol. Not only will they potentially be legally liable, but there will be a media frenzy thrust upon they could not imagine.

  He probably went to the beach for the day and got involved with a college group down their partying. The event happened at 6:30 pm so I would guess he was at the beach for the day.
  
  Last year, we just walked down the beach and were offered drinks at every stop we made.
• Mr Pat

  Terrible story
  
  Feel awful for the young man and the parents he's leaving behind... RIP
• Midstate01

  

  why would a parent let their 17 year old go on a trip for spring break anyway? I did see there were half a dozen parents......but what were those parents doing.
  
  The fiance and i have talked about this a lot the last 2 days. When we have kids and they go on senior trip. Im booking them on the first floor and NO balcony. These things happen way too often. Its sad!!
  
  Prayers to the family and the x community! Everything i ever read about him, he seemed like a genuine kid!
• tcarrier32

  

  parents let their kids go on trips for spring break because not every kid decides to get hammered and hang over a balcony. im not trying to make fun of the kid, im just saying, its not like every kid does this.
• steel_curtain

  tcarrier32 wrote: parents let their kids go on trips for spring break because not every kid decides to get hammered and hang over a balcony. im not trying to make fun of the kid, im just saying, its not like every kid does this.

  I'm guessing that wasn't his normal character. On all accounts, this was a good kid who made a mistake. He was a good student who owned a scholasrship to a great university, and unfortunatly made a mistake that cost him his life, there is really no need for the comment.
  
  People make mistakes, fuck, show me a 17 year old that hasn't had a major screw up and I'd be shocked, it's just unfortunate that it cost Matt his life. i drank in high school, and got blasted out of my mind in Panama City beach when I was in college, luckily nothing bad happened to me, so I considr myself lucky. As a kid you feel invincible.
  
  At this point in time, there is no point in second guessing his parents, as I'm sure they're devestated and were quite comfortable sending their son on a trip that was supposed to be chaperoned.
• thedynasty1998

  

  When my brother graduated HS he and his friends wanted to go on a senior trip. None of the parents were comfortable letting them go (although I went after my senior year without chaperones), so I said I would go with them and chaperone, I was 24 at the time.
  
  All the parents knew me and okayed it. I let them drink beer the whole week but limited their liquor. They had a beer bong that I took from them every night after they had their rounds. They had a balcony and I told them no one was allowed out there after drinking. They all respected the rules I set out. They all got hammered, yet never too bad.
  
  With that said, I think there is a happy ground where they can drink and have fun without going overboard.
  
  I feel terrible for the James family after such a tragic accident. But the police will investigate and those parents that chaperoned better get attorneys.
• Little Danny

  

  I am sure many if not all of us have done crazy things in our lives that in hindsight, we were lucky to escape any tragedy. Hell, I drank more beer and partied harder before I was 21 than I have done afterwards. I can tell you for certain I did much worse than yelling at someone over a railing at a hotel and escaped without harm.
• bucks36

  

  thedynasty1998 wrote: When my brother graduated HS he and his friends wanted to go on a senior trip. None of the parents were comfortable letting them go (although I went after my senior year without chaperones), so I said I would go with them and chaperone, I was 24 at the time.
  
  All the parents knew me and okayed it. I let them drink beer the whole week but limited their liquor. They had a beer bong that I took from them every night after they had their rounds. They had a balcony and I told them no one was allowed out there after drinking. They all respected the rules I set out. They all got hammered, yet never too bad.
  
  With that said, I think there is a happy ground where they can drink and have fun without going overboard.
  
  I feel terrible for the James family after such a tragic accident. But the police will investigate and those parents that chaperoned better get attorneys.

  If I was a parent that trusted my kid with you and you let them drink all week. We would have issues.
• martyirish

  

  I hope they find out who gave him the alcohol and throw the book at them.
  
  bucks36,
  I must agree with you on your comment
• vball10set

  bucks36-- I agree with you 100%, but to each his own.
• thedynasty1998

  

  The parents knew that they were going to drink. The hotel knew they were underage and didn't have a problem with it.
• Red_Skin_Pride

  

  Very very sad. Definately prayers for his family and friends who were down there with him...very sad news not only on a personal level, but for college football as well. This young man had a very good future ahead of him at ND.
• Ghmothwdwhso

  bucks36 wrote:

  thedynasty1998 wrote: When my brother graduated HS he and his friends wanted to go on a senior trip. None of the parents were comfortable letting them go (although I went after my senior year without chaperones), so I said I would go with them and chaperone, I was 24 at the time.
  
  All the parents knew me and okayed it. I let them drink beer the whole week but limited their liquor. They had a beer bong that I took from them every night after they had their rounds. They had a balcony and I told them no one was allowed out there after drinking. They all respected the rules I set out. They all got hammered, yet never too bad.
  
  With that said, I think there is a happy ground where they can drink and have fun without going overboard.
  
  I feel terrible for the James family after such a tragic accident. But the police will investigate and those parents that chaperoned better get attorneys.

  If I was a parent that trusted my kid with you and you let them drink all week. We would have issues.

  Well, you would just be considered a naive parent, that would let your kid go with parents that you did not know. You can say that you trust someone, but not to know that they would allow drinking, is just not knowing, it's (Naive/Ignorant).
• Ghmothwdwhso

  steel_curtain wrote: Regardless of if he was drunk or not doesn't take away from how horrible this was. I think it was very poor journalism to refer to him as drunk and beligerent.

  You are correct. But it does add to how preventable it was.
• Pick6

  

  Very poor journalism for stating the truth???? how soft we have become..