Former Gopher A.J. Barker arrested UPDATED 5/9: Sid says AJ wants back on team

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Also, I heard he was tagged in his dorm room, not driving.
 

As 24 has said, only a few people really know what was said between Kill, AJ and the training staff. Never having met AJ, I have to defer to 24, who has more 1st-hand knowledge of players on the team. I'm willing to accept that Barker was a hard-working player and a good teammate who felt that he was being treated unfairly by the coaching/training staff.

Having said that, I disagree with the way he handled the situation. I have learned from experience that getting mad and going on a tirade may make you feel better momentarily, but in the long run, it just makes you look bad and makes your argument less persuasive.

As far as the newest developments - I'm a recovering alcoholic and drug abuser, so I can't really rip on other people for drug use - but AJ needs to understand that when you're in the public eye, you will face more scrutiny and need to be careful. Whether this was a 1-time thing, or whether AJ is a regular smoker, I have no idea.

For me, the most curious aspect of the story is the issue of whether AJ was promised a scholarship by Houston, and his status with the team. That strikes me as very odd. If he wasn't on the team, and had not been promised a scholarship, then what was he doing in Houston? 24 - can you shed any light on this from your contacts?
 

short ornery norwegian said:
As 24 has said, only a few people really know what was said between Kill, AJ and the training staff. Never having met AJ, I have to defer to 24, who has more 1st-hand knowledge of players on the team. I'm willing to accept that Barker was a hard-working player and a good teammate who felt that he was being treated unfairly by the coaching/training staff.

Having said that, I disagree with the way he handled the situation. I have learned from experience that getting mad and going on a tirade may make you feel better momentarily, but in the long run, it just makes you look bad and makes your argument less persuasive.

As far as the newest developments - I'm a recovering alcoholic and drug abuser, so I can't really rip on other people for drug use - but AJ needs to understand that when you're in the public eye, you will face more scrutiny and need to be careful. Whether this was a 1-time thing, or whether AJ is a regular smoker, I have no idea.

For me, the most curious aspect of the story is the issue of whether AJ was promised a scholarship by Houston, and his status with the team. That strikes me as very odd. If he wasn't on the team, and had not been promised a scholarship, then what was he doing in Houston? 24 - can you shed any light on this from your contacts?
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Good luck with your recovery my man. As someone who drank more than my share or liquor and may have enjoyed the chronic on occasion back in the day; all I can say is "by the grace of god" I never became addicted to anything and was able to grow to the next (more responsible) phase of my life. I say by the grace of god, because the moment you choose to have that first anything you are opening yourself up to a dependency possibility and after that you really have little to with whether or not you become an addict.

Scholarship? Between you and I, of course he had one. Let’s just let the haters continue to make an ass of themselves by showing their ignorance as to how it works. For instance, if I accept a job in another state and my starting date is 2/1/2013 but on 1/31/13 while listening to Bob Marley and smoking my brains the police show up and arrest me. My new employer finds out when I don’t show up to work the next day and says don’t bother. Since I never started was I fired? Can it then be said I quit my job and moved without having a new job?

Technically, AJ was never a student or on the team (therefore not on scholarship)….BECAUSE HE GOT CAUGHT SMOKING FREAKING MARY JANE PRIOR TO REGISTERING AS A STUDENT (that was for the haters).

Again, great kid…..dumb ass decision. By the way….is there a statue of limitations on auto theft, assault, pissing in public, having sex with a minor (I was 19 and no she wasn’t a girl scout), riding my motor cycle from Moby Dicks drunk to many times to remember, drug use (crack is whack but if they ever legalized weed!), pulling down tube tops (youngins have no idea what I’m talking about) ect……

My point? Thank god nobody knows half the things I did in my youth.
 

I find it funny how people are so quick to minimize AJ's ability. Watch the first half of the Purdue game and name another receiver on the roster that has close to AJ's skills.

The way he left (not leaving- a walk-on can leave for a scholarship anytime no questions asked) shows he is a buffoon. It's too bad becasue he would likely be our number 1 wr next year if he was still a Gopher.
 

Sportsfan24 said:
My man, a team would not tape up the student equipment manager when he came to clean out AJ's locker for a "bad" teammate. You are entitled to your opinion but the folks who actually know him would disagree with it.

What I'm saying is critique the situation not the person because frankly you don't know enough about the person.

. However, nothing has happened to suggest he is a bad person.
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I disagree. I think we know plenty about Mr. Barker. He offered up over 4000 words as a testament to his character and lack of judgment.

Bad person? That's not for me to say. I don't have a clue if he is or not. But his 4000 word manifesto gave plenty of insight into his character. Difficult to pass it off as a rash decision as well because not only did he have what had to be a LOT of time to write it, and then hit send, but he maintained his opinions/story days later when interviewed by several media sources.

I deal a lot in correspondence, both writing and reading, from many various levels of people. You can tell a TREMENDOUS amount about a person by how they express themselves in written form. Way, way more than most people would think. After following his saga from the manifesto to his arrest for weed the other day, and after having spent 4 years in a college football locker room myself, I can say UNEQUIVOCALLY that A.J. Barker is not somebody that I would ever want to share a locker room with or trust on the field. Not even close.
 


Sportsfan24 said:
Good luck with your recovery my man. As someone who drank more than my share or liquor and may have enjoyed the chronic on occasion back in the day; all I can say is "by the grace of god" I never became addicted to anything and was able to grow to the next (more responsible) phase of my life. I say by the grace of god, because the moment you choose to have that first anything you are opening yourself up to a dependency possibility and after that you really have little to with whether or not you become an addict.

Scholarship? Between you and I, of course he had one. Let’s just let the haters continue to make an ass of themselves by showing their ignorance as to how it works. For instance, if I accept a job in another state and my starting date is 2/1/2013 but on 1/31/13 while listening to Bob Marley and smoking my brains the police show up and arrest me. My new employer finds out when I don’t show up to work the next day and says don’t bother. Since I never started was I fired? Can it then be said I quit my job and moved without having a new job?

Technically, AJ was never a student or on the team (therefore not on scholarship)….BECAUSE HE GOT CAUGHT SMOKING FREAKING MARY JANE PRIOR TO REGISTERING AS A STUDENT (that was for the haters).

Again, great kid…..dumb ass decision. By the way….is there a statue of limitations on auto theft, assault, pissing in public, having sex with a minor (I was 19 and no she wasn’t a girl scout), riding my motor cycle from Moby Dicks drunk to many times to remember, drug use (crack is whack but if they ever legalized weed!), pulling down tube tops (youngins have no idea what I’m talking about) ect……

My point? Thank god nobody knows half the things I did in my youth.
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I get this, but I think you are going too far the other way. How many schools would decide they don't want a strong player because of things he did BEFORE he was in the program. I'd venture to say that just about every single D1 football program routinely ignores things that happen before they enroll, at least for 'minor' things like smoking weed. Look at Trevor Mbakwe, Royce White, etc., etc., etc.. I mean, clearly Houston ignored the whole AJ Barker Manifesto fiasco. As such, I'm not convinced he had a scholly in the bag. If he was that much a sure thing, they would issue the typical 'we take it very seriously and will manage the issue internally' press release.

My guess is they were luke warm on him from the get go, and this issue led them to say, forget it.
 

Impossible to know what conversations AJ had with Houston or what verbal agreements might have been made. AJ obviously has a prior history of known issues over 'promised scholarships'. For all we know, he might have made another presumptuous assumption about what his new place would be. Or maybe not. We'll probably never know as i doubt we will hear anything more of him after this latest debacle. He had enough working against him before the legal issues. Either way, time for the kid to get off his 'high horse'. ;)
 

Ogee Oglethorpe said:
I disagree. I think we know plenty about Mr. Barker. He offered up over 4000 words as a testament to his character and lack of judgment.

Bad person? That's not for me to say. I don't have a clue if he is or not. But his 4000 word manifesto gave plenty of insight into his character. Difficult to pass it off as a rash decision as well because not only did he have what had to be a LOT of time to write it, and then hit send, but he maintained his opinions/story days later when interviewed by several media sources.

I deal a lot in correspondence, both writing and reading, from many various levels of people. You can tell a TREMENDOUS amount about a person by how they express themselves in written form. Way, way more than most people would think. After following his saga from the manifesto to his arrest for weed the other day, and after having spent 4 years in a college football locker room myself, I can say UNEQUIVOCALLY that A.J. Barker is not somebody that I would ever want to share a locker room with or trust on the field. Not even close.
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You must be joking....right? You get all that from what someone writes? Really? Personally, I go by what someone actually does.

Come on man! You don't like AJ because he wrote what he wrote and quit the team. If 5 years from now Kill isn't winning and another player writes and does the same thing your take will be completely different.

The fact that he took a stance to me is character and if I'm correct and your position in fact does change based on winning and losing....that would be a lack of character; which wouldn't make you a bad person.

I agree it was bad judgement....for now. He could be an idiot or he could be ahead of the curve, time will tell.
 

tato2001 said:
I get this, but I think you are going too far the other way. How many schools would decide they don't want a strong player because of things he did BEFORE he was in the program. I'd venture to say that just about every single D1 football program routinely ignores things that happen before they enroll, at least for 'minor' things like smoking weed. Look at Trevor Mbakwe, Royce White, etc., etc., etc.. I mean, clearly Houston ignored the whole AJ Barker Manifesto fiasco. As such, I'm not convinced he had a scholly in the bag. If he was that much a sure thing, they would issue the typical 'we take it very seriously and will manage the issue internally' press release.

My guess is they were luke warm on him from the get go, and this issue led them to say, forget it.
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I think Betty White is hot as hell....doesn't make it so.
 



WhoFellDownTheGopherHole? said:
Impossible to know what conversations AJ had with Houston or what verbal agreements might have been made. AJ obviously has a prior history of known issues over 'promised scholarships'. For all we know, he might have made another presumptuous assumption about what his new place would be. Or maybe not. We'll probably never know as i doubt we will hear anything more of him after this latest debacle. He had enough working against him before the legal issues. Either way, time for the kid to get off his 'high horse'. ;)
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Not for me.
 


Did anyone witness anyone fleeing AJ Barkers dorm room in a moped

Perhaps in a souped up moped with a 300+ pound dude riding it. Just wonder if there was a Jew Jew Edwards
sighting in or around the Houston campus. Now that would be pretty funny, former Gopher caught on moped.
 

Sportsfan24 said:
You must be joking....right? You get all that from what someone writes? Really? Personally, I go by what someone actually does.

Come on man! You don't like AJ because he wrote what he wrote and quit the team. If 5 years from now Kill isn't winning and another player writes and does the same thing your take will be completely different.

The fact that he took a stance to me is character and if I'm correct and your position in fact does change based on winning and losing....that would be a lack of character; which wouldn't make you a bad person.

I agree it was bad judgement....for now. He could be an idiot or he could be ahead of the curve, time will tell.
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It's becoming less and less surprising that you continue to back this horse.

He was a coward. A coward. A complete and utter coward. He aired his dirty laundry in public. Instead of keeping it in house, he quit the team and went on the WORLD WIDE WEB to say "Look at me! I wasn't treated like I think I should have been!!" Let me take my issue to the Internet, the radio, the print media, and the television media.

I said it before, had he quit without hardly uttering a word, made one or two vague, ominous comments, people actually MIGHT be looking at Kill differently now. People might have raised eyebrows, asked a few more questions. Instead, he's a fn joke, a punch line, somebody who didn't get his way, likely the first time for him, and he cried to the WORLD about it.

For the record, to address a few other points; never said I didn't like AJ. I've never met him. Hard to say. Your scenario of 5 years from now? To me, winning wont have much to do with it. If in five years, MANY more speak out about similar things, yes, it very likely would change my opinion about the coach, whether hes winning or losing. It won't change my opinion on Barker.

AJ was a coward. He chose to air his dirty laundry in the MOST public of fashion. If, in the interviews shortly after his Internet manifesto, he maintained his message but at least showed some humility and remorse for making his issues that public, I would cut him more slack. He didn't. Look at me, look at me, listen to what I have to say....
 



Dr.Don said:
So A.J. got caught with Mary Jane. Couldn't happen to a better jerk..

All in all, I wish him luck. Bad luck, that is.
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AJ, don't let the bed bugs bite ya!

:clap:
 

Is there any circumstance under which AJ could return to the U of M?

Dumb questions of the day. Don't everybody defecate on me at once. Is it legally possible for AJ to rejoin the Golden Gopher football team? From an academic standpoint is this possible? From a football eligibility standpoint is this possible? He has talent at WR. He is no Terrell Owens, but the young man does have talent we could use. He obviously has some investment in credits toward some degree at the U of M. I would think his best option at this point is to complete his degree at the University of Minnesota. Yes, he would have to eat buckets of humble pie to return to the U of M, but getting that degree is important. If I were AJ I would be trying to make an appointment to meet face to face with Jerry Kill. Not sure Jerry would agree to meet with him, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
 

6 Nov 1999 said:
Dumb questions of the day. Don't everybody defecate on me at once. Is it legally possible for AJ to rejoin the Golden Gopher football team? From an academic standpoint is this possible? From a football eligibility standpoint is this possible? He has talent at WR. He is no Terrell Owens, but the young man does have talent we could use. He obviously has some investment in credits toward some degree at the U of M. I would think his best option at this point is to complete his degree at the University of Minnesota. Yes, he would have to eat buckets of humble pie to return to the U of M, but getting that degree is important. If I were AJ I would be trying to make an appointment to meet face to face with Jerry Kill. Not sure Jerry would agree to meet with him, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
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If he would do all the right things (apologize to his team, etc..) I'd take him back.
 

6 Nov 1999 said:
Dumb questions of the day. Don't everybody defecate on me at once. Is it legally possible for AJ to rejoin the Golden Gopher football team? From an academic standpoint is this possible? From a football eligibility standpoint is this possible? He has talent at WR. He is no Terrell Owens, but the young man does have talent we could use. He obviously has some investment in credits toward some degree at the U of M. I would think his best option at this point is to complete his degree at the University of Minnesota. Yes, he would have to eat buckets of humble pie to return to the U of M, but getting that degree is important. If I were AJ I would be trying to make an appointment to meet face to face with Jerry Kill. Not sure Jerry would agree to meet with him, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
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Something to keep an eye on: AJ is enrolled at the U for Spring 2013. It could mean that he registered back in November before the mess and it has no meaning whatsoever.
 

tikited said:
If he would do all the right things (apologize to his team, etc..) I'd take him back.
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A lot of us will take AJ back. Even those who have spent a good part of their time during the last few months waging a 24/7 on-line campaign against a 20-year old kid who hasn't plead guilty to felony assault, hasn't violated any restraining orders, and has not been charged with DUI.

Along with AJ's apology to his teammates and coaching staff Kill will have to apologize again to A.J in order to get him back on the team. If Kill handles this like Tubby we can have our best receiver back in the starting line up for the first game of the season.
 

Not a bad idea 6 Nov. We'll never know if the bridge is totally burned. Kill has been around 18-22 year olds long enough to know they make mistakes. Barker's mistake was huge. I've never heard a public statement from his parents. Are they raising a free spirit and all of this is A.J.'s own doing? Or, did they encourage him to quit the team? Maybe mom and dad need to get on the horn along with A.J., Coach Kill and Norwood Teague, just like the meeting A.J. initially said he would agree to.
Unlike A.J.'s Twitter rant, this could all be done with no publicity. If all parties agree, A.J. could be given a second chance with all kinds of restrictions. If not, best of luck A.J.
For as much as I thought Barker was a boob for pulling this move, I kind of feel sorry for him. Most people figure it out at some point. How long will it take A.J.?
 

I am such a truly forgiving individual, that if A.J. asked for forgiveness and another shot at helping the Gophers, AND change his "me, my mom, and my mom's friend" attitude, come on back. While I despise his actions leading to his departure, maybe, just maybe he learned something from his royal phuck up.
 

Go4Broke said:
A lot of us will take AJ back. Even those who have spent a good part of their time during the last few months waging a 24/7 on-line campaign against a 20-year old kid who hasn't plead guilty to felony assault, hasn't violated any restraining orders, and has not been charged with DUI. Along with AJ's apology to his teammates and coaching staff Kill will have to apologize again to A.J in order to get him back on the team. If Kill handles this like Tubby would we can have our best receiver back in the starting line up for the first game of the season.
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As I have said several times in the past this blog needs professional help since it is clearly bi-polar. But it is entertaining. Better than any soap opera.
 

I think the only way they would take him back would have to be as a walk-on. After all he has done, in no way can give him a scholarship.
 

betterdeadthanred said:
I think the only way they would take him back would have to be as a walk-on. After all he has done, in no way can give him a scholarship.
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betterdeadthanred,

I agree that a scholarship is unrealistic given all that has transpired. But if his family was able to finance his education up until this point, another year should not break them and send their house to foreclosure. The upside payoff is if he continues to perform like he did prior to his injury, he has a shot at an NFL contract. The latter trumps all other financial considerations.
 

If he'd smooth things out with Kill and them team, I would take him back.

As much of @ss I think he was, if he were to man-up, I'd be okay with it.
 

I don't think it's worth it at this point, even if he would be our best WR. Too much damage was done, time to move on.
 

GophersInIowa said:
I don't think it's worth it at this point, even if he would be our best WR. Too much damage was done, time to move on.
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How would you compare the damage caused by AJ with the damage caused by the gang of rapists from Ohio whom a large percentage of Gopher fans wanted back on the team? How about the damaged caused by the three time loser currently playing for the Gopher basketball team? How do his transgressions stack up with what AJ did?
 

Go4Broke said:
How would you compare the damage caused by AJ with the damage caused by the gang of rapists from Ohio whom a large percentage of Gopher fans wanted back on the team? How about the damaged caused by the three time loser currently playing for the Gopher basketball team? How do his transgressions stack up with what AJ did?
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I was not a part of the "large percentage" so has nothing to do with me.

Two difference between A.J.'s and Trevor's situations:
1. A.J. quit the team, Trevor didn't
2. Current players and coaches were directly involved with what A.J. did. It doesn't mean that what A.J. did is worse overall, but it was directed at the team. It's no different in other real-life situations. One of your co-workers gets a DUI. Another co-worker flies off the handle, quits and publicly rips into the company. Who do you think will have a better chance of being employed by the company down the road?

Also, you have to take into account how some of the players feel. I can see some guys not liking A.J. after he quit on the team and became a big distraction right before senior day.
 

GophersInIowa said:
I was not a part of the "large percentage" so has nothing to do with me.

Two difference between A.J.'s and Trevor's situations:
1. A.J. quit the team, Trevor didn't
2. Current players and coaches were directly involved with what A.J. did. It doesn't mean that what A.J. did is worse overall, but it was directed at the team. It's no different in other real-life situations. One of your co-workers gets a DUI. Another co-worker flies off the handle, quits and publicly rips into the company. Who do you think will have a better chance of being employed by the company down the road?

Also, you have to take into account how some of the players feel. I can see some guys not liking A.J. after he quit on the team and became a big distraction right before senior day.
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Thanks you for your very clear explanation as to why it would be near impossible to undo what A.J. did. As you stated, if an employee of a company did something similar to what A.J. did, the company would have little choice other than to terminate that employee. When you attack your boss in a very public manner you are also attacking the organization. Organizations can be forgiving for all kinds of mistakes but not for that. That is why it is called burning your bridges. He broke a cardinal rule.
 



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