More Immediate DL Help On the Way?

'09 Football Football Recruiting64

If this Athens Banner-Herald article is correct, the defensive line for the 2009 and 2010 Wolfpack will soon get even tougher:

Lemon, who has attended Georgia Military College after being booted off the team at Georgia and suspended by the university, expects to continue his football career at North Carolina State this fall, according to his junior college coach.

“That’s the plan,” GMC coach Bert Williams said. “I know they have a spot for him and were just waiting to make sure everything culminated the way it was expected to.”

If a no-nonsense disciplinarian like Tom O’Brien is willing to give this young man a second chance, then I’m 100% behind this move. It’s been a really long time since NC State football looked so strong in the trenches.

Hat tip to SFN commenter McPete. Football can’t get here soon enough!

About BJD95

1995 NC State graduate, sufferer of Les and MOC during my entire student tenure. An equal-opportunity objective critic and analyst of Wolfpack sports.

'09 Football Football Recruiting

64 Responses to More Immediate DL Help On the Way?

  1. RSP123 04/30/2009 at 1:40 PM #

    Ditto, BJD. If O’Brien is taking this recruit then there is no doubt that this young man is capable of making a wrong into a right. Also, it was with much regret that Georgia’s Coach Richt rescinded his scholarship. Hopefully, Lemon will seize the opportunity (as well as a few QBs!) to start anew!

  2. Alpha Wolf 04/30/2009 at 1:40 PM #

    After police said Lemon knocked another Georgia student to the ground last June with a single punch, he was charged with felony aggravated battery and misdemeanor battery. Under the plea deal, Lemon pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of battery, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

    As long as he pulls no more shenanigans like that here in Raleigh, sounds like a great addition to the program…and another member of the GA pipeline that the TOB staff seems to have established.

  3. BJD95 04/30/2009 at 1:49 PM #

    This article is consistent with what we had heard weeks ago – if he could plead down to a misdemeanor, we’d take him (but not as a felon).

  4. packalum44 04/30/2009 at 2:10 PM #

    I don’t agree with this. Wait until one of you guys is on the receiving end of a D-Lineman’s punch and see if you think he deserves another full ride to a college education.

  5. Keg Man 04/30/2009 at 2:31 PM #

    Packalum ” don”t agree with this wait until you are on the receiving end of a D linemans punch”

    You know in 83 while were celebrating the championship. I saw a drunk student walk up behind a police officer and bust a beer bottle over the cops head. The kid was arrested, went to court, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, given community service, the cop forgave him, and allowed to stay in school. He’s a respected engineer today, family man, and a great asset to his community. The kid and Lemon did the crime and got their punishment.

    I too have made mistakes myself and been given a second chance, I can appreciate it. Lets hope the young man is remorseful, he did admit that he was in the wrong. He should not have been able to go to Ga. and he wasn’t. He should have to go somewhere else. Lets hope he has learned from his mistake and is a better person for it. Some TOB discipline might just be the best thing that could happen to this young man.

    Not going to complain if he mauls a Carolina QB on the field.

  6. Keg Man 04/30/2009 at 2:41 PM #

    Thinkpack Lemon didn’t smack anyone around on the field. He brutally attacked someone. I am not sugar coating what Lemon did and not disrepecting packalums view. I can respect his feelings. Lemon will spend two weekends in jail and have to get anger management counseling. TOB is going out on a limp taking this kid.

  7. johnwolfpack2003 04/30/2009 at 2:44 PM #

    “It’s been a really long time since NC State football looked so strong in the trenches”

    What about 2005? Mario and Manny?

    BJD: I’m talking about both sides of the ball at the same time.

  8. Alpha Wolf 04/30/2009 at 2:45 PM #

    Not going to complain if he mauls a Carolina QB on the field.

    I would, if the play was illegal. I want State to maul UNC on the scoreboard, and I want the Pack to knock the Heels into Sunday morning, but I want them to do it within the rules, fair and square.

    That’s how Thunder Dan and Snake Vinson went about their business and I am quite sure how TOB demands that his players do it now.

    I too have made mistakes myself and been given a second chance, I can appreciate it.

    Me too, and I pity whoever is in line behind me when I have to stand in front of St. Peter. Seriously, I have made my share of mistakes in my day, but managed to right my ship and live a pretty good life as a result. TOB and company are betting that Lemon will do the same or they would have never taken a chance on the young man.

  9. packpowerfan 04/30/2009 at 2:48 PM #

    john…that is a long time in Wolfpack years…

  10. Noah 04/30/2009 at 2:55 PM #

    You guys know the story here, don’t you? This wasn’t a random beat-down.

  11. Thinkpack17 04/30/2009 at 2:57 PM #

    Keg Man- I never said he did it on the field.

  12. TomCat 04/30/2009 at 2:59 PM #

    Wow… I sure hope this works… Hard to preach from the pulpit about others, when taking a guy like this. With this track record and whatever else we don’t know about- I can asure you his actions will be under a microscope.

  13. ppack3 04/30/2009 at 3:09 PM #

    Wouldn’t you think that, in some form or fashion, Georgia Military College provided a little discipline and structure for this guy? He got in a very one sided fight. Who knows what started it, we only know what finished it. But, Lemon had his scholly ripped, had to attend military school, and (obviously) had to mature a bit in order to even talk to TOB. I’ve got folks close to the football program too, and Tom might give a person second chance, but you (as the offender) WILL have to pay for your mistake, and EARN your second chance. If TOB is willing to take a chance on Lemon, I am too. That doesn’t mean he is going to last in the program, but he may. My guess is, the first mistake that he makes will be his last, at NCSU anyway.

  14. ppack3 04/30/2009 at 3:11 PM #

    “Who knows what started it, we only know what finished it.”

    Noah, maybe you know what started it? Do share…

  15. bradleyb123 04/30/2009 at 3:38 PM #

    You guys know the story here, don’t you? This wasn’t a random beat-down.

    Actually, I haven’t heard the story. Do you have more information about the incident?

    Whatever the story, I’m inclined to trust TOB’s judgment on this. He’s a no-nonsense kinda guy. Maybe he believes the kid is truly remorseful and deserves a second chance. I’m good with that (although I admit, if he was going to Carolina, I’d probably be calling him a thug. Just being honest!)

  16. Astral Rain 04/30/2009 at 3:38 PM #

    When’s the last time State even had 1 Fulmer Cup point? Amato’s players didn’t get in trouble either.

    I think we’re ok on the character issue.

  17. choppack1 04/30/2009 at 3:40 PM #

    “It’s been a really long time since NC State football looked so strong in the trenches.”

    I’d clarify that. Under Amato, at one time we had:
    Mario Williams- 1st pick of the draft
    John McCargo – 1st round
    Tank Tyler – NFL draftee
    Manny Lawson – 1st round
    Demario Pressley – NFL draftee

    Now, if you want to talk OL – that’s another story, but we had a pretty stout DL for some of Amato’s years. And I think the 5 I mentioned played together for at least 1 year.

  18. Keg Man 04/30/2009 at 3:41 PM #

    Alpha “I would if the play is legal”

    Would you have been as touchy if I had said the Terps? Scuze Me!

    I said nothing about anything illegal. All for fair play. I want to beat em but do it honestly.

    I like to hear more about what happened too. How about it Nouh, was you there?

  19. McPete 04/30/2009 at 3:52 PM #

    Here are a couple stories on the Lemon dismissal from Georgia:

    http://georgia.scout.com/2/766810.html

    http://georgia.scout.com/2/771882.html

    i think the guy was going through a rough time, considering the murder of his mother and pending trial. don’t know anything else about it.

  20. VaWolf82 04/30/2009 at 3:53 PM #

    Don’t you know how to use Google?

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/37685-michael-lemon-of-georgia-tragedy-or-travesty

    There are several more articles out there, but I didn’t find any that really gave any more details.

  21. Noah 04/30/2009 at 3:58 PM #

    Michael Lemon’s mother was dating a guy who was…not very nice. He decided to break up with her by killing her and burning down the trailer she lived in. With his younger brother in it. The younger brother survived, but the mom didn’t.

    This guy who Lemon attacked was the best friend of the murderer and began running his mouth at a cookout where Lemon was in attendance.

    Now, I’m not excusing anything. I’m not saying that it should be legal. I’m not saying that I condone violent behavior…

    But I don’t think you have an accurate barometer on Lemon’s temper if you don’t take this into consideration. This wasn’t some guy he just got into a bar brawl with. It wasn’t over some random girl and it wasn’t two guys that just started shoving one another.

    Mark Richt wanted desperately to give Lemon another chance. It was the University that had a policy that forced him to leave. And if you know anything about Mark Richt, you know he’s not some softie. He is pretty hardcore about obeying the rules.

    If he’s willing to vouch for Lemon, I’m down with it. If Lemon’s gotten the charges reduced and the DA and the judge and the jury are all satisfied, I’m down with it. If he’s paid his debt to society, he doesn’t need to explain himself to me.

  22. Noah 04/30/2009 at 4:01 PM #

    BTW…just to add a little more context: Chuck Amato briefly flirted with the idea of bringing in a kid named Nate Harris.

    Harris got arrested for armed robbery.

    I have a problem with that.

  23. Keg Man 04/30/2009 at 4:24 PM #

    Read all the same stuff out there but thanks to Noah for posting it so others don’t have to bother looking for it. Was just hoping Noah had something more than just the media stuff, that’s all.

    Terrible thing about the boy’s mother. It does not excuse what he did, but gives me a more sympathic attitude towards him. Go pack!

  24. ppack3 04/30/2009 at 4:28 PM #

    Noah, Thanks for the insight. I read the link above, and got much less out of it.
    Lemon deserves to have a chance to start over in a new environment. He has paid a pretty hefty price for precious little vengeance, IMO.

  25. robopack 04/30/2009 at 4:52 PM #

    Kid has a terrible story, no one should have to bare the cross he must carry. When he has finished paying his dept, he deserves a second chance. Trust TOB. If you are any kind of “mans man” you should sympathize with the young fella on some level. I’ll be the first to shake his hand.

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