On Dec 6, 2017, at [7:23] PM, ————– <——[email protected]> wrote:
You do realize that Van Jefferson signed in the 2015 class. No one lied to him because there was no NOA and at the time around 2016 signing day the NOA we had contained very few violations that would NOT have resulted in a bowl ban. You need to get your facts right.
Sent from my iPhone
[FONT="]To give you a little backstory on what this person is talking about – Forde quoted Mars only once, not even regarding Jefferson.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Forde did get quotes from Jefferson’s father, an assistant coach with the Miami Dolphins, but never stated Jefferson was part of the 2016 class. In fact, he specified his exact situation.[/FONT]
Van Jefferson already was on campus at Ole Miss as a redshirt freshman when the news of the Notice of Allegations broke in January 2016. His father remembers similar assurances being given then to players about the nature of what the football program could be facing.
[FONT="]So Mars reached out to me, feeling this was a good way to explain more of the situation, so that people can better understand this particular instance. He provided his response to this, yet another, hateful Ole Miss e-mail.[/FONT]
From: “Thomas A. Mars” <———–>
Date: December 6, 2017 at [8:40:11] PM EST
To: ——– <————->
Subject: Re: What’s your deal?
Good evening, ——-. I see from your email address that you’re a Rebels fan. Given what you said in your email, that comes as no surprise.
For your sake and the sake of others, I hope you don’t make a habit of sending emails to perfect strangers asking questions about statements other people made in news stories. To be honest, the fact that you sent me such an email makes me wonder about your judgment. However, I don’t want to seem critical or defensive, and I assume you had nothing but good intentions. Therefore, let me offer a few thoughts and suggestions about the point you made in your email and the question you raised:
1. Go back and read Pat Forde’s story again. Read it carefully.
2. If you still thinks there’s an inconsistency between Van Jefferson being recruited in 2015 and what Coach Jefferson was quoted as saying, have a friend or family member who’s smarter and/or more rational and objective read the story. Then, have them explain to you why the quotes from Coach Jefferson are perfectly consistent with the fact that Van Jefferson wasn’t in the 2016 recruiting class.
3. If you’re still obsessed with an inconsistency that doesn’t exist in Pat Forde’s story, go track down Coach Jefferson at the Miami Dolphins and confront him with your question. I’m sure he’d be glad to share his thoughts with you.
4. Find a more productive way to utilize the enormous passion, energy and commitment that apparently compelled you to send me an email captioned “What’s your deal?” There are countless ways for you to make a vastly more positive contribution to society, i.e., global warming, poverty, equal rights for all people – to name just a few.
5. Don’t make a fool of yourself by sending me or anyone else another email like the one I’m answering right now.
6. Go watch Game of Thrones or something else you’ll enjoy. That sure beats sending emails demanding answers to foolish questions to people you don’t even know. (I’d recommend “24” or “Designated Survivor,” but only if you’re a Kiefer Sutherland fan. If you’re not, you should try “The Blacklist.” Season 1 is AMAZING.)
In any event, I hope these suggestions prove to be helpful and that you enjoy the rest of your evening.
Best regards,
Tom Mars