Comments about ‘BYU football: Senior running back Tonga ruled ineligible for '08 season’

I am a Utes fan and I can see where this type of news is fodder for the fans. I hope that is not what it turns into. This is tragic for a kid who had his senior year in front of him to have this happen. Best of luck to M. Tonga in whatever his future does hold!

Oh well, like they say, "Every failure provides an OPPORTUNITY to begin again more intelligently".

Go Manase! Go Cougars!

Hope he gets his grades. He is a good power back. We are strong in the backfield so it should give some of the younger guys needed reps. I do have to congratulate BYU for following its own rules when it comes to suspensions. There have been too many schools who look past the rules just for the game....Ohio state comes to mind....Best of luck next year M. Tonga.

This is bad news for the team, but they will be fine... this just means more touches and more snaps at FB for Fui Vakapuna!

You expect things like to this to happen at the Harvard of the West.

Best of luck M Tonga.

This loss is somewhat costly for the Cougs. Tonga is the most complete back in the backfield. He's a terrific blocker. He does a good job of catching the ball and giving BYU short yardage gains. He will be missed. Vakapuna will have to fill his role now along with Wayne Latu but BYU should be okay because of their great depth. If the Cougs get past Washington and UCLA in the early games, then they should run the table. The biggest challenge after that will be at Rice Eccles. However, Mad Max has to stay healthy all season to bust the BCS just like Alex stayed injury free in '04. BYU will find the promised land without the Tonga brothers. Bronco and staff will have them ready to go. Players are already chomping at the bit. Apparently, so are fans including myself. BCS BOUND BYU!!!

I'd like to know who was on watch while one of our boys flunked his courses. Come on Bronco, football is more than X's and O's. You've really let this fan down. I hope the kid gets back on the right track.

What a good job by BYU. Like was said before many places would have worked the system to keep a star player on the field. I feel good knowing BYU held to the rules.
As for M Tonga... well I don't feel the least bit sad for him. He had a free ride at a university and wasted it. He knows better and deserves what he got.

Bronco let you down? Why can't Tonga be a little more responsible in his own schooling? Bronco shouldn't have to micromanage Tonga's grades. Tonga let you down, not Bronco. It sounds like you didn't have much faith in Bronco to begin with. One thing you shouldn't do is tell him how to do his job because you obviously don't really have a clue.

The blame falls squarely on the shoulders of Tonga. He knew what was expected, he's over 18 year old, and responsible for what he does.

When you're building men, you shouldn't use babysitters.

Yes, being Tonga-less is disappointing, but the article indicates he wants to straighten this out and return next year. It takes character to correct mistakes and go for it again! Go MT!!

I thought Stanford was the Harvard of the West. What does this have to do with BYU???

LindonCougar... You can't be serious!? You are let down by Bronco? Why, because he held an adult accountable? If anyone "let you down" it'd be the player because of the choices he made. I wish I would have been your kid growing up. It'd always be someone else's fault...

College athletes get EVERY chance to succeed academically. BYU is no exception. I will miss seeing him play this year, but he should have put a bit more effort into the school part of his college experience.

I would have been surprised if Tonga had even entered a game this fall. Provo is so stacked at RB that he was going to be a nonfactor either way.

So Tonga doesn't get the grades he needs this semester, why is he kicked out of school next year? Can't he attend classes during the Spring and Summer with the chance of being re-instated if he gets better grades?

I'm a BYU Alum, but was never a fan of the Honor Code Office and the way they handle things. It seems to me that they carry too much weight, have very limited options for apeals, exceptions, and/or explanations. I agree that you have to be accountable and have to enforce rules, but not everything is completely black and white.

Kicking M. Tonga out for the entire semester seems harsh when there is an opportunity for him to work through the summer and demonstrate his desire to improve.

BYU is the Oral Roberts of the West, not the Harvard.

Often we worship our football players like they are gods. In reality many of them are thugs and not that bright. I remember my freshman year at BYU (way back in 78-79) when BYUs free safety decked a guy in the food line at the Cannon center. He still played that year. Somehow I can't imagine myself still being in school after that....

Oh no! Without Bonga in the backfield, what will we Courgars do?

Try looking at Oral Robgerts, or other MWC team, academic record and incoming ACT. BYU comes much closer to Stanford (No one cares about the 'Vard.) than any other school in this state. Good luck Tonga. The Cougars will survive and so will you. We'd love to see you on the field again.