Insider Info on the Upshaw Situation

ThomasFremont · January 2015

Confirmed via multiple sources inside the program: Upshaw wasn't kicked for smoking weed. I never believed this story. Doesn't mean he wasn't smoking weed, so don't twist. But, several former players blazed with no consequences. Romar wouldn't kick a guy (especially a talented player) off the team just for that. Nothing wrong with a #FreshBowl after a long day of running on the court.

He was kicked for selling hard drugs. No joke.

Looks like the Notorious BIG was right: either you slangin crack rock, or you got a wicked jump shot. And we all know Upshaw has no jumpshot...

Romar's silence on the matter has two sides. First, he isn't gonna throw Upshaw under the bus, because I think he genuinely cares. On the other hand I think he wants to avoid another Overton situation where the bad publicity dominates the season. Especially since he can't hide the "scandal" behind a successful team this time around.

That'll be $10.95. Pay up.

dnc · January 2015

Makes sense. Kicking out for weed never passed the smell test.

RoadDawg55 · January 2015

Selling 8 balls and grams when close to becoming a millionaire. Smart, real smart.

ThomasFremont · January 2015

The thing I don't quite get is why he couldn't stop. Being a dealer =/= being an addict. Must have been some outside influence he felt compelled to follow more than his bball career. Kinda sad actually.

Gladstone · January 2015

RoadDawg55 said:
Selling 8 balls and grams when close to becoming a millionaire. Smart, real smart.

No kidding. If true, that's beyond stupid. Romar has had a crack dealer and a pimp, total role model for sure.

Doogles · January 2015

So the assumption is this was found out internally and not caught by the authorities?

Really shortsighted move by Upshaw, but @ThomasFremont i don't think it had as much to do with outside influence as it did with him having a dealer mentality.

I've been around my fair share of dealers and I think you're off to say being a dealer isn't addictive for some. Sure, we all knew that white guy with dreads down the dorm hall who is happy go lucky and hooks you up with a cheap bag of weed, but the guys who get into the hard game are complete different animals. It becomes about money and power and not looking like a bitch because if they do things go wrong.

Rarely is a weed deal filled with paranoia, but 90% of the time you're getting blow there is an uneasiness in the air, even if it's your boy. Just a different personality type.

Not saying Upshaw was trying to be a kingpin, but, if this is true, he definitely had that ambitious trait that makes the risk worth it.

Honestly, I hope your inside source is legit freemont, because this is the kind of shit that will keep him out of the league. It's a huge accusation.

Doogles · January 2015

Sorry for the TLDR, but in @ThomasFremont 's defense it's just as likely that some dealer from his hometown saw his success and basically fronted him some stuff with a "get me back when you make the league" attitude and Upshaw just kind of said "OK" and thought he could make a little side money giving the frat guys dime bags here and there.

Word gets out, Romar catches wind, let's him go, end of another sad story of a young man getting dragged down by his past because he was too small to rise up.

All speculation, but I shouldn't assume he was some insane menace packing heat on campus who couldn't stop pushing rocks. I hope this is more accurate, it's just shocking how many times a kid throws away millions for a "homie".