logo

FREE TONY MITCHELL

Written by Slim | 12 January 2011

Maybe it's too late.  Maybe it's not.  Either way, it's time Mizzou Nation starts demanding some answers.
03-25-2010.ns_25Tony_Mitchell.GPG2PPAML.1
It's time we get Tony on campus. (Photo by Andy Jacobsohn, Dallas Morning News) 

As passionate Tiger fans, many of you are familiar with the situation surrounding Tony Mitchell. Mitchell was among the elite players in the class of 2010 and after signing a little of intent to play for Mike Anderson became the Missouri basketball program’s most heralded recruit since Kareem Rush.  Unfortunately, his arrival in Columbia has been delayed by an NCAA investigation into his eligibility. After getting involved last year, the NCAA claimed that its investigation into Mitchell’s high school credits and test scores would be finalized in the fall of 2010, which would make it possible for Mitchell to enroll for the spring semester and join the Tigers for the second half of the season.

During the last few months, the Missouri media and athletic department optimistically hoped that Tony Mitchell would be cleared in a timely manner. That was a rosy assumption and wishful thinking. Rather than urging a widespread outcry from Tiger Nation and spotlighting the failure of the NCAA to do its job, Mizzou media and athletics sat on their hands. The problem being that the NCAA is an organization under no obligation to justify its actions (or inaction) in any capacity, and given the lack of public pressure and negative press generated by Missouri, the NCAA had no problem ignoring Tony Mitchell, instead devoting its resources to Kansas and Kentucky where fan-created firestorms forced the NCAA’s hand.  Just this week, when a college basketball reporter asked a couple of people at the NCAA what the latest was on Tony Mitchell, not only did they not have an answer, they didn't even know about the case. That's not their fault -- it's their job to answer questions from the media, not track every eligibility case, and they obviously have not been getting a lot of questions.

Mizzou fans can no longer afford to let the NCAA ignore Tony Mitchell, and it’s time make some noise - Free Tony Mitchell. Admittedly, we should have got this going many months ago, but it is not too late. In order to make sure that the NCAA hears Tiger Nation, we have thrown together a three-pronged mini-campaign that uses 1) Twitter 2) email and 3) phone calls.

Our goal here it to generate an outcry from Tiger Nation that forces the NCAA to rule on Tony Mitchell’s college eligibility.  What do we have to lose?

Tactics
1. Twitter
Purpose: Generate awareness on Twitter about the NCAA’s failure to rule about Tony Mitchell’s eligibility and urge national sportswriters to cover the story
What we need you to do: Copy and paste the following messages on Twitter

@sethdavishoops - How can NCAA make 2 decisions on Kanter, but can't say a thing about Tony Mitchell? #Mizzou #FreeTonyMitchell

@gregdoyelcbs - How can NCAA make 2 decisions on Kanter, but can't say a thing about Tony Mitchell? #FreeTonyMitchell

@ESPNandykatz - How can NCAA make 2 decisions on Kanter, but can't say a thing about Tony Mitchell? #FreeTonyMitchell

@gregdoyelcbs -The NCAA has now considered Selby and Kanter twice and totally ignored Tony Mitchell. #FreeTonyMitchell

@ESPNandykatz -The NCAA has now considered Selby and Kanter twice and totally ignored Tony Mithcell. #FreetTonyMitchell

NCAA ever going to rule on Tony Mitchell? Pretty unfair to just keep this kid waiting for so long. #Mizzou #freetonymitchell

Alright this is getting ridiculous with the NCAA. Can we please get a ruling on Tony Mitchell's eligibility? #Mizzou #freetonymitchell

NCAA needs to be held accountable. Tony Mitchell’s acad/athletic career has been paralyzed due to its ineptitude. #Mizzou #freetonymitchell

Its an outrage that Tony Mitchell's chance at playing at Missouri year are being tanked by NCAA dragging its feet. #Mizzou #freetonymitchell

NCAA’s incompetence with a basic eligibility ruling is on the verge of costing a young man a year of his life. #Mizzou #freetonymitchell

Have to wonder if NCAA has devoted any resources whatsoever to exploring Tony Mitchell’s eligibility or if they will just ignore him.

Is NCAA just going to let speculation, scare tactics engineered by Frank Martin jeopardize Tony Mitchell's college career? #freetonymitchell

RT this if you’re outraged that Tony Mitchell's chance at playing at #Mizzou are being tanked by NCAA dragging its feet. #freetonymitchell

Not enough #Mizzou fans realize that NCAA inaction is keeping best recruit in last 10 years from being a Tiger. RT to spread. #Mizzou #freetonymitchell

2. Email
Purpose: Communicate to NCAA eligibility officers Tiger Nation’s fury about its failure to rule onTony Mitchell’s college eligibility.
What we need you to do: Send emails to the NCAA eligibility officers


Subject Line:
NCAA needs to rule on Tony Mitchell

Text:
Hello, I am a fan of University of Missouri athletics. I am emailing because it’s an outrage that it is January 2011 and the NCAA has yet to issue a ruling on Tony Mitchell’s college eligibility.  One of the NCAA’s responsibilities is to look out for the well being of student athletes. But instead, your organization’s failure to make a ruling on Tony Mitchell’s academic credit has paralyzed this young man’s education and athletic participation. As the situation currently stands, he cannot compete or study at either the high school of the collegiate level. The facts in Mitchell’s situation are not going to change, and you cannot allow unconfirmed reports floated by erroneous media reports and falsehoods put forth by member institutions cloud a straightforward process with the clearinghouse. During recent months, the NCAA made a swift decision on a Josh Selby at Kansas and has ruled TWICE on Enes Kanter at Kentucky while completely ignoring Tony Mitchell at Missouri. It’s time for the NCAA to cut through the clutter created by outside influences with reckless agendas, look at this young man’s earned credits and test scores, and render a decision on his eligibility. Thank you.

3. Phone Calls
Purpose: Communicate to NCAA eligibility officers Tiger Nation’s fury about its failure to rule on Tony Mitchell’s college eligibility.
What we need you to do: Leave voicemail messages after hours for two NCAA eligibility officers:

Call 317-917-6222
Press 1
Input SILVER (745837)
Press #
Leave this message for Geoff Silver, Director of Amateurism Review

Call 317-917-6222
Press 1
Input FARLEY (327539)
Press #
Leave this message for Libby Farley, Coordinator of Amateurism Review

Script:
Hello, I am a fan of University of Missouri athletics. I am calling because I can't believe it is January 2011 and the NCAA has yet to issue a ruling on Tony Mitchell’s college eligibility.  One of the NCAA’s responsibilities is to look out for the well being of student athletes. But instead, your organization’s failure to make a ruling on Tony Mitchell’s academic credit has paralyzed this young man’s education and athletic participation. As the situation currently stands, he cannot compete or study at either the high school of the collegiate level. The facts in Mitchell’s situation are not going to change, and you cannot allow unconfirmed reports floated by erroneous media reports and falsehoods put forth by member institutions cloud a straightforward process with the clearinghouse. During recent months, the NCAA made a swift decision on a Josh Selby at Kansas and has ruled TWICE on Enes Kanter at Kentucky while completely ignoring Tony Mitchell at Missouri. It’s time for the NCAA to cut through the clutter created by outside influences with reckless agendas, look at this young man’s earned credits and test scores, and render a decision on his eligibility. Thank you.

--

It's worth a shot Mizzou.  Let's see what we can do. 

Special thanks to @rmhoopster for his contributions to this campaign. 

< Prev   Next >