Disclaimer: this article contains mental descriptions and actual images of acts you should not try at home.
I wonder if all men have a time where they realize they are “that guy”. The one who may be considered a little ‘too tightly wound’ or ‘no fun to be around’. Last night, I (once again) figured out that I may be that guy…at least in the eyes of those involved in last nights stunt. I took my beautiful wife to a Wildcats Football game. For us, it was the first football game we had seen this season. I had decided earlier in the year to not support the NFL with my time or money (NFL Lockout: No More Football for me) and instead purchased a 3-pack of tickets for Kristina and I to sit in the stands at Arizona Stadium.
October 20th, 2011 will be a night to remember for a lot of people. For the UA Wildcat Football Program: a stunning victory (UA 48, UCLA 12) and the end of a losing streak. For Jace M. Lankow, an undergraduate in UA’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: the creation (or possible expansion) of a criminal record and up to 1 1/2 years in jail for a class 6 felony. For the fans in attendance: the spectacle of watching Lankow run 1/2 the length of the field while tearing clothing from his body.
In the first video below, the broadcast of the game on ESPN, which shows Lankow entering the field while blowing a whistle from the top of the screen. In the second video, you’ll see the amateur video taken from the ZonaZoo section by one of his friends/classmates. Start the first video and then start the second video 6 seconds later, they will not be exact but close to the same timeline.
(I suggest listening to the sound from the ESPN broadcast and muting second video)
I have to admit that, at first, I laughed when it happened…after all who does it hurt? 3 minutes later I was not entertained as I started to think about those affected by the actions of one person who, at the very least in that moment, lacked vision for his life. Jace Lankow’s blast radius was huge last night, and it’s impact yet remains to be fully measured. As reported by Anthony Gimino in his “Wildcat Report” at tucsoncitizen.com: “He was led off the field in handcuffs and charged with a class 6 felony, which means he’s facing a maximum of a year and a half in jail if he has no previous felony convictions.”
As I researched the consequences of a class 6 felony, I found the minimum sentence is 6 months and the maximum is 18 months. At 23 years old, his prank could wind up following him around for the rest of his life. All he wanted to do was have some fun, get on TV, impress his friends, and make a college memory that he could share with his kids and grand-kids. In fact, he achieved all of the above and now must pay the price. Hopefully the price will not be a felony that hangs over him, and from what I’ve read he might still have a way out if the court deems him worthy.
According to a blog posted by Karl A. Mueller (an Arizona trial lawyer), in his article “A Class 6 Undesignated Felony Offense, also known as a ‘6-Open’ in Arizona” I read the following:
“What is a class 6 undesignated felony offense? A class 6 undesignated felony offense, is also frequently referred to as a 6-open felony. In Arizona, at the time of sentencing for a class 6 felony offense a judge may leave the offense undesignated. This means that the offense has not yet been designated a felony conviction.”
“The State or court agrees to leave the offense undesignated. If you do everything you are supposed to do and successfully complete probation, the offense may be designated a misdemeanor thereby avoiding the serious consequences having of a felony conviction on your record. This creates a strong incentive to successfully complete probation and ‘earn’ a misdemeanor. The interests of the State are served because if the individual does not take advantage of this opportunity to prove themselves on probation, does not successfully complete probation, does poorly on probation, or commits another offense, the court may then designate the offense a felony.”
“In Arizona, the ability of the court to leave an offense undesignated is a valuable tool available to the court to create great incentive for probationers to do well on probation. It is also a last chance and valuable opportunity for those facing felony convictions to have the ability to prove to the court that they deserve to carry on with their lives without the burden of being a felon.”
I honestly hope Jace is provided the chance to reduce the charge to a misdemeanor and complete his degree. I could not find anything that indicated what consequences the University of Arizona might impose on him. I would hope that they would seize this opportunity and allow him to return on the condition that he serve the football program in some capacity, including in the condition that failure to complete his service to the program would revoke his right to attend UA. However, I am always looking for a way to help a man regain the honor lost when he experiences a momentary lack of vision. Every man, at some point in his life, has made a mistake that seemed like a good idea at the time.
Regarding the blast radius that impacted a couple of the players, specifically Arizona’s Shaquille Richardson and UCLA’s Taylor Embree. It’s not clear that Jace’s actions directly influenced the altercation between Richardson and Embree, at worst it provided an opportunity for things to get out of control on the field. Even if Jace had not been on the field, there is no guarantee the fight between these two could have been avoided. It is understandable that the UCLA players were very frustrated with the events of the evening, seeing they were down 42 – 7 when Jace hit the field.
Perhaps the officials were distracted long enough by the prankster to allow Richardson to verbally poke Embree about his team’s performance. Maybe Embree called Richardson’s character into question about the events that prevented him from attending UCLA last fall (UCLA dismisses three incoming freshmen football players accused of theft). When you think about how the prank was executed, it certainly could have contributed to the fight. Jace stopped the play just as UCLA snapped the ball, with all the players pumped up and ready to do what they are trained to do then to have the carpet pulled out from under them: It’s like putting out a fire with gasoline. Nobody can say for sure he’s responsible, however if he had not stepped out on the field it would be clear that he did not contribute to the melee that ensued.
The blast radius expands even further as it is being reported that more suspensions are likely once league officials review tape of the incident. Arizona and UCLA could each lose players to suspensions for next week’s games, which with the season Arizona is having is not great news for the program or it’s players moral.
I was sitting with Kristina next to a younger Hispanic father who was there to watch his son perform in the half time show, it was a wonderful display of music and dance to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. As best I could tell, it looked like 50 or more high school age young men and women. As I spoke with this man about the performance, his son’s face appeared on the giant scoreboard. What a moment for him and his son to share, and I can’t help but wonder what impact it had on him to watch a 23 year old man escorted out in front of him in hand cuffs not 10 minutes earlier. Jace would have been close enough to this young man to see his face, you can see it in the second video as he’s escorted off the field. “Make sure you study hard and get a good score on your SAT’s, you’d hate to miss out on all the fun you’re going to have in college!”
I know…I know, I am the old fart with a stick in my ass. However, if it is a choice between having a stick in my ass or my head up my ass…I choose the stick every time. It may be uncomfortable, but I can still see where I’m going and what needs to get done. I can still see 5 minutes into the future to the consequences of my actions. I don’t have a choice about having a vision for my life because I know what my blast radius is and it is more important to serve those I love regardless of what others think of me. Jace traded serving all those people under the guise of a college prank for an alleged $40.00 payday…
It Doesn't Have To Be Fatal!
and another victim falls to Rectal-Cranial Inversion Syndrome.
Wayne
Joe
October 21, 2011
I fail to see the value of the crude language or image. Wayne- you are far too intelligent and articulate to have to resort to the “shock” factor of foul words. I for one am disappointed that this absolutely STUPID act…and yes “stupid is as stupid does”, and yes there are consequences, brought you to it’s level. Not good.
Call me naive, but I suspect given this city’s unfortunate moniker for “lack of civility” after the horrible shooting incident of Gabriel Gifford…and the viral nature of “news masquerading as entertainment” in our society – someone will want to make an example (disciplinary) out of this foolish boy. yes I said boy. Real men don’t behave like this…and still think they’re a man when they do it.
Not much in the pity pantry for this one.