Singletary: There’s a lot on Balmer’s plate

“It’s on Kentwan,” Singletary told Brian Murphy on KNBR radio this morning. “As far as I’m concerned, we’ve got to continue to practice and do what we have to do, and Kentwan’s got to make up his mind in terms of how he’s going to handle some of the personal issues that he has to handle. It’s like any other young man or any other individual, sometimes things come up in life and you have to decide which is more important. That’s where Kentwan is, and until he makes a decision I’m going to give him the time to handle it. Because there’s certainly a lot that’s on his plate right now.”

Asked if he would expand, Singletary said, “No, No. Absolutely not. It’s just a personal issue and I’m going to leave it that way and maybe one day Kentwan will talk to you about it.” Singletary said there was no question Balmer would be with the 49ers this year…

…One more thing: Balmer’s name is found throughout this Yahoo piece regarding an NCAA investigation into the University of North Carolina.

Coincidence or not? Link to full story here.

Yesterday, former UNC defensive lineman Cam Thomas admitted that Kentwan Balmer paid for a trip to California for both Marvin Austin and Thomas.

Pro Sports UNC Scandal

26 Responses to Singletary: There’s a lot on Balmer’s plate

  1. Sw0rdf1sh 08/11/2010 at 11:58 AM #

    Yes I would say there would be a lot on his plate right now.

  2. Clarksa 08/11/2010 at 12:33 PM #

    ^I guess that means Austin hasn’t visited in a while or that plate would be clean.

  3. Alpha Wolf 08/11/2010 at 12:41 PM #

    ^ Well played, sir. Well played indeed.

  4. gcpack 08/11/2010 at 1:01 PM #

    I am not sure I get what possible issue Balmer has. So he paid for Austin and Thomas’ trip. How could Balmer be in any trouble for that?
    He isn’t the agent, he isn’t the college player and he has no official position with UNC-CH.

    Maybe he might have embarrassed himself a little bit or UNC-CH alot but he isn’t the one facing either legal action(as an agent) or losing playing time(as Austin might).

    By the way how could all of this have happened with the superior intellect of the student/athlete at UNC-CH? I thought they were so much smarter than the rest of the real college athletic world (that means leaving out the Ivy League schools of course which UNC-CH wants to be during the week but be Oklahoma on Saturday’s.) Those are the words of UNC-CH’s winningest football coach Dick Crum I believe made after UNC-CH fired him.

    Looks like that philosophy has backfired on both fronts. Those athletes in CH apparently aren’t as smart as those at Hahhvahd otherwise they wouldn’t have tweeted their eligibility away. However they do look like the Oklahoma of Switzer fame in their disregard for playing by the rules. Of course it stops there because on the field those of us who are over 40 remember the inumerable times that the UNC athletic department (with the able and willing media as their right hand man) has tried to make the public think their football team had arrived as the next Oklahoma only to fall flat on their faces by season’s end.

    By the way since 1950 UNC-CH’s record when they play Oklahoma is 0-6 with combined scores of 167 to 20. Guess what baby blues,,,, you still haven’t arrived at big time football. My guess is you never will except on preseason paper.

  5. johnboyNCSU 08/11/2010 at 1:03 PM #

    I thought I heard on the radio yesterday Balmer was moved down to second string, and that is the “personal” issue.

  6. Pack05 08/11/2010 at 1:56 PM #

    Balmer’s “issue” is if he is found “to have funnelled money as a runner from Wichard to Austin.” He would be acting as an agent and he is not registered in California, Florida or North Carolina to be an agent to my knowledge.

    At that point he would be open to criminal charges.

  7. tjfoose1 08/11/2010 at 2:25 PM #

    “How could Balmer be in any trouble for that?”

    The problem, and trouble, probably resides with what we do NOT know at this point.

    Analyze what we do know… Balmer is a young guy, playing for an iconic figure (Singletary), who is respected by the entire NFL community (in terms of respect, how many can you name that would be ranked above Singletary? If you can name one, that’s more than I came up with).

    Singletary is a HUGE character guy. Judging by what Singletary has accomplished in San Fran, by the current relationship he has with Vernon Davis (and their history), I think it is safe to say the players, and especially the young ones, have ‘bought’ into Singletary and what he is preaching…

    So here’s Balmer, a young 2nd year NFL player, playing for a coach that has become a mentor, probably a father type figure, a coach who lives, breaths, and preaches character… Now throw in the Carolina mess.

    If the personal issues have anything to do with Carolina, my speculation is that Balmer really is having problems… he’s torn between two conflicting loyalties. Does he remain silent to protect his school and his school buddies (and possibly himself), or does he come clean and ‘do the right thing’ to remain true to his current coach and the principals he preaches?

    I’d imagine Balmer has told Singletary at least part of the story. The pressure is on, from two directly apposed groups, with directly apposed interests… what does Balmer do?

    Seriously folks, think about that… Regardless of what you think of Balmer, if I’m even close to being correct, that is a very tough spot for a young man. No matter what he decides, he’s gonna let down, and from his perspective, possibly betray, people close to him.

    That would definitely create the below situation as described by Singletary:

    “… handle some of the personal issues that he has to handle. It’s like any other young man or any other individual, sometimes things come up in life and you have to decide which is more important. That’s where Kentwan is, and until he makes a decision I’m going to give him the time to handle it. Because there’s certainly a lot that’s on his plate right now.”

    I can not over emphasize Singletary’s role in this. If Balmer where playing for any other team, for any other coach, (assuming I am correct, or close to it) I doubt such a internal conflict, at least to this extent, would arise.

    Just my 2 cents worth of speculation based on the limited facts we know.

  8. one00_proof 08/11/2010 at 2:42 PM #

    A WFU poster pointed this out which is interesting, as conflicted as Balmer is, let’s not forget what is happening. Butch, Blake, Wichard, and UNC are essentially throwing Balmer under the bus at this point making him take ALL the blame for this. They’re covering their own asses and making Balmer out to be the bad guy. Now throw in Singletary who as said above is a “father” type…

    UNC and co. can spin it Balmer all they want but if Singletary does his homework, he’ll be able to see clearly that Balmer is being thrown under the bus to protect UNC. This could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back because if Singletary is able to convince him to come clean, we’ll finally have the “singing canary” that will essentially put the nail in the coffin for UNC.

    This is stranger than fiction.

  9. rtpack24 08/11/2010 at 3:39 PM #

    One common thread for this entire deal-John Blake. Do not forget this camp thing came up after the investigation of the Miami party. If Balmer bank rolled the Miami deal also he is in a tuff spot. This gets more interesting by the hour.

  10. wolfbuff 08/11/2010 at 3:57 PM #

    So the goats found them a nice little scapegoat. Well played. It might just work for them. If it sticks, it’ll all blow over for the Holes and Balmer. Nobody’ll care in 6 months. But he could also be the smoking gun, the deep throat if you will that brings all their shenanigans into the light.

  11. tuckerdorm1983 08/11/2010 at 4:15 PM #

    burn baby burn

  12. bradleyb123 08/11/2010 at 4:40 PM #

    I think Blake will go down, too. His shady reputation has come to light, and the powers that be at Carolina will want no part of that. I think he’ll take the fall, and if he does, will he go down gently? Or will he become yet another singing canary that brings more down with him, maybe even Butch?

    All I know is I’m loving this! Even if nothing comes out of it (hard to imagine THAT!) it’s been a fun roller coaster ride. The ride isn’t making me sick, but I bet it’s making a lot of UNX fans feel like vomiting! 🙂

  13. Pack78 08/11/2010 at 4:55 PM #

    ^Agreed-this ride reminds me of the anticipation of reading the next day’s sports pages after we beat unx!

  14. tjfoose1 08/11/2010 at 5:01 PM #

    He’d better stay away from ‘grassy knolls’.

  15. tjfoose1 08/11/2010 at 5:04 PM #

    “Or will he become yet another singing canary that brings more down with him, maybe even Butch?”

    Not a chance, unless he plans to never coach again, or, even more unlikely, NC State law is used as a hammer against him to help promote the candidacy of a certain local politician,

  16. Hot Sauce 08/11/2010 at 5:05 PM #

    I have a bad feeling that UNC will get off with a wrist slap here…

  17. PackisRolling 08/11/2010 at 5:11 PM #

    posted on other thread that ruling expected by end of week (per IC)

    i think it’s a sign UNC will get off easy.

  18. bradleyb123 08/11/2010 at 5:27 PM #

    That wouldn’t be a shock. It would be disappointing, but not shocking.

  19. tjfoose1 08/11/2010 at 5:44 PM #

    I don’t think anyone would be shocked if UNC is let off easy.

    I could see a one game suspension for Little and the Cupcake Monster (the little known, but much bigger, cousin of Cookie Monster), and them having to pay back some money. That’s it.

    We’ll have to wait and see the gap between what should happen and what will happen.

    However, I doubt very seriously, regardless of what is announced Friday, that the investigation will be over any time soon. Perhaps this phase of it, but I would suspect they (the NCAA) will keep this open for quite some time, possibly several years.

    The NCAA may close this chapter, but the book will still be open.

    They never gave up on USC.

  20. Pack78 08/11/2010 at 5:57 PM #

    I am thinking that unx will hear about certain players eligibility, but that the full investigation is far from over; we will see…

  21. TAEdisonHokie 08/11/2010 at 6:31 PM #

    My guess is that the UNC president will receive a “Notice of Allegations” similar to that recently received by the WVU president.

    Notice of Allegations

    The letter will essentially formalize the process that was started several months ago by the NCAA investigators. UNC will be given a period of time to respond to the allegations. Once UNC responds, a rules committee will meet to review the responses and outline punishments. The scope of the letter will probably be limited to the players that may face suspension at this time for improper contact with agents.

    Additional allegations…such as those involving recruiting violations…will most probably be addressed in an additional letter from the NCAA.

  22. elvislives 08/11/2010 at 6:39 PM #

    “Balmer Blasts 49’ers”

    http://www.footballnewsnow.com/2010/kentwan-balmer-blasts-49ers-but-plans-to-return/

    Some guys really just don’t know when to shut their mouths.

  23. Pack78 08/11/2010 at 7:53 PM #

    Hokie-How long did the WVU investigation run prior to the Notice being submitted on 8-4?

  24. TAEdisonHokie 08/11/2010 at 9:38 PM #

    Pack78: Although I don’t have an exact date, it appears the NCAA has been gathering evidence against WVU for several months. The listed allegations go as far back as the 2005-2006 season.

    List of Allegations Against WVU

    I recall reading several articles indicating that the NCAA had been gathering information from Twitter and Facebook against UNC for several months before they dropped in for a visit.

    I have also detected a real hardening in the NCAA’s approach since their previous top man died and the new executive director took over. It is definitely a “take no prisoners” attitude.

    Hope this helps.

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