GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Former Florida offensive lineman Drew Miller remembers all the team meetings, the lengthy lectures about hanging out with the right people, making smart decisions and avoiding situations that would draw negative attention.
To Miller, it seemed like Gators coach Urban Meyer or one of his assistants was always talking about staying out of trouble.
Miller also knew that message wouldn’t reach all his teammates.
“It’s not going to get to everyone,” said Miller, who graduated last year and is trying to catch on in the NFL. “There’s so many players. You can’t baby-sit them all. There’s too many guys to keep them all out of trouble. Someone’s going to screw up.”
That’s certainly been the case at Florida, where there have been 24 arrests involving Gators over the last four years under Meyer.
Although the number of Florida players arrested is similar to that of its rivals, the Gators are getting attention because they have won two national titles in the last three years and have a coach who emphasizes good behavior.
Meyer points out that college students often make mistakes and that the majority of the charges have been misdemeanors.
“This group of players we have now are by and large a pretty good group,” Meyer said in a statement. “Like most young people, they are trying to find their way.
“It is a continual part of our program to mentor and guide our players, and it is not an exact process. Although we have been very successful with most, we are by no means perfect. We are disappointed when we encounter some issues along the way, but we are going to continue to educate and teach our players.”
The latest issue involved cornerback Janoris Jenkins, one of the team’s top defenders. He was charged with misdemeanor affray and resisting arrest without violence after his alleged involvement in a fight outside a Gainesville nightclub.
According to police, Jenkins hit a man in the head on May 30 and threw another punch after officers ordered him and others to stop fighting. An officer then shot Jenkins with a Taser stun gun. Jenkins attempted to run, but was caught about a block away.
Jenkins’ attorney, Huntley Johnson, said his client acted in self-defense against someone trying to steal his necklace and that the charges could be dismissed.
Even though Jenkins and walk-on running back Marquis Hannah, charged with unarmed burglary — a second-degree felony — are the only current players with pending criminal cases, the recent arrests provided Internet message boards with plenty of fodder. Some even called the school “The University of Felons.”
“No one here condones our players stepping out of line, and everyone here wants to get better,” athletic director Jeremy Foley said in a statement. “However, Urban Meyer and his staff are the best that I have seen in modifying behavior, and at the end of the day, the majority of the players who come through this program will make us all proud and not just because they are good football players.”
Florida’s opponents have also had their problems.
Florida State’s football program has dealt with 13 arrests over the same four-year period, according to research by The Gainesville Sun, while Tennessee has had 21 arrests and Georgia 30.
Although Meyer has been known to give players a chance to redeem themselves, he has cut ties to those who repeatedly find trouble.
Meyer kicked offensive lineman Ronnie Wilson, safety Jamar Hornsby and cornerback Jacques Rickerson off the team after giving them multiple chances.
Wilson was arrested three times in a year and a half, the first time for punching and spitting on a man outside a Gainesville nightclub in April 2007 and then taking an AK-47 assault rifle out of the trunk of a car and firing it into the air.
Wilson pleaded no contest to charges of misdemeanor battery and discharging a firearm, received two years of probation and was required to perform community service and undergo a mental health evaluation. Meyer suspended him indefinitely. Wilson was arrested again in January 2008 on marijuana possession charges. The charges were eventually dropped, and Meyer allowed Wilson back on the team last August. But two months later, Wilson was arrested on misdemeanor battery and assault charges for allegedly hitting two people during a late-night birthday party. The case is pending.
Hornsby, who was charged with misdemeanor property damage and criminal mischief in April 2007 for allegedly throwing a man onto the hood of a car during a fight, was dismissed from the team after he allegedly stole a credit card from a teammate’s girlfriend following her death and used it 70 times during a seven-month span. The charges were reduced to misdemeanors, and Hornsby accepted a plea deal.
Rickerson, who was suspended for the 2007 season opener following a possession of marijuana charge, was booted last November after police said he slapped his girlfriend, choked her and then covered her face with a pillow. The felony domestic violence charge was reduced to a misdemeanor, the court withheld adjudication and Rickerson was placed on two year’s probation.
Florida maintains that Meyer was trying to help those players turn their lives around.
“Anyone who can’t see his desire to influence young men positively and make them better citizens has no idea who he is as a coach and a human being,” Foley said. “It is really easy to focus on negative issues and negative press. This is part of the world we live in and we understand this.”
Although Meyer rarely reveals punishment for players, Miller said the penalties can be stiff. He said players get all sorts of privileges revoked and have to do extra early morning workouts.
“You’re not going to want to go out at night when you’re getting killed at 6 a.m.,” Miller said. “There are some guys who make mistakes and bounce back and come back a completely different person. There are others who keep getting into trouble and end up getting funneled out of the program.
“Kids are going to do what they want to do. It’s college. He wants you to go have fun when it’s time to have fun. But you also have to be smart about it. Obviously, you’re never supposed to do anything stupid.”
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Comments » 150
KJVol writes:
Meyer is a joke as a disciplinarian. The gators don't care now and won't care as long as they're winning. That's just the facts and no AP puff piece can alter them.
chad_t31 writes:
This oughtta open the flood gates.
chrisw2967 writes:
the trolls will spin this , all the cases are made up and never happened.Meyers is a pos period.
the10sevol writes:
"An officer then shot Jenkins with a Taser stun gun. Jenkins attempted to run, but was caught about a block away."
“Like most young people, they are trying to find their way."
might be easier to find your way without taser prongs in your buttocks, there, Janoris, just a thought...
Orange_Swarm1 writes:
Urban Cryer cant control his boys (outside of the bedroom).
VolNWA writes:
For all the flack Kiffin has been given, he seems to be up on the discipline thing...... I could be wrong, but if I recall correctly 0 arrests for Kiffin, a few this year for Meyer.
CoachNeyland writes:
Most of the arrests were for soliciting gay hookers.
VOLFORLIFE writes:
Sorry guys, but I have a hard time garnering a lot of joy in reading about young men who are so misdirected as to screw their lives up sometimes irreversibly by some of the stupid things they do. It doesn't matter if they're players from Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Timbuktu, or wherever. I know the trolls on here whoop and jump for joy every time there's a slip up on the part of our program, and I'm glad they're not able to honestly say that our coaching staff lacks the discipline necessary (so far) to keep our players in line.
But the fact remains that every time we revel in the fact that players from the Florida program, or wherever, are sideways with the law, another young man has gone down the wrong road. I don't like Urban Meyer, and I can't stand the Gators, but I hope he's successful in turning this situations around and keeping his players on the right track. Not for the success of the Florida program, but for the success of some young men who need the right kind of guidance in their lives.
Just my opinion.
GO VOLS!!!
JUGHEAD
teampenny#658108 writes:
This hit SI-kinda old news though or least we been seeing it last few weeks. Meyer really did not come out looking bad in this article. We would all accept 6 arrests a year for two NCs out of four years, now wouldn't we? Grades and arrests are not as important as wins, should not be, but is. Go Vols
DownTheField writes:
KNS should've spun this more than it did. You know, like the frequent write-ups in local Florida papers for similar stories involving Tennessee. We don't want fair and balanced. We want the man-drama.
give_him_6 writes:
"Wilson was arrested three times in a year and a half, the first time for punching and spitting on a man outside a Gainesville nightclub in April 2007 and then taking an AK-47 assault rifle out of the trunk of a car and firing it into the air."
What was the kid afraid of,somebody stealing his stash? I wonder what Urban Liars team talk was like..."Now boys, if anyone has any more assault weapons or RPGs in their trunks, please take them out and leave them in your rooms. they don't have a place at practice. Now don't make me tell you again".
Bigger_Al writes:
Let's give it up for Florida AND Georgia! Nice numbers.
AirForceLawVol writes:
Meyer's pitch: "Son, you need to come play football at Florida. Here at Florida we may have a few national titles, but we're all about academics. And when you're sitting in the Gainesville City jail, you'll have plenty of time for studying."
Phowell23 writes:
Gator fans will spin this story as: "we didn't want the players that were arrested anyway or those players were buried in the depth charts". Come up with some new material Gator fans.
Phowell23 writes:
UT players arrested under Lane Kiffin's watch = zero
jack_2222#231746 writes:
Florida only recruits the top one percent of the top one percent. It's not Urbie's fault.
InertGas writes:
If you don't have a lot of tradition you have to start somewhere.
baldfan writes:
I heard Corrine Brown was outside the bar yelling to Jenkins - "Go Gata, Go Gata, Go Gata!"
volnbig11land writes:
Where are the trolls on this one......
Psychovol writes:
Meyer may lose institutional control because the brats are running the asylum. Florida players think they're entitled and that starts at the top. I would love to see them get a good dose of humility. They deserve it.
corrinebrown writes:
This announcement was brought to you by:
MEYER BONDING CO.
"where its always springtime"
tennrich1 writes:
“You’re not going to want to go out at night when you’re getting killed at 6 a.m.,”
Not the best choice of words for an article like this...
tennrich1 writes:
“You’re not going to want to go out at night when you’re getting killed at 6 a.m.,”
Not the best choice of words for an article like this....
HallowedHill writes:
Oscar Meyer states "It is a continual part of our program to mentor and guide our players, and it is not an exact process."
I'd argue that it is an 'exact' process and that's why he is failing in 'this part of (their) program.' You have to check up on the guys as well as 'mentor' them. If you don't, they know they can do w/e they want.
I really like what I'm hearing about CLK and the teams grades / recent history of avoiding trouble. He hasn't played a game yet, but I am really impressed with the job CLK has done so far. If he coaches half as well as his staff recruits, we'll be in the top 10 every year.
volboy81 writes:
WHAT?!!?? OH MY!!! Do you mean to tell me that the University of Florida and their players, coaches and fans ARENT perfect???? -----I have been misled! From what I hear from them & the media they do no wrong! SHIRLEY YOU JEST!
mattucket#231689 writes:
Well said JUGHEAD! I couldn't agree more.
VolInIndy writes:
Finally, a voice of reason. Way to go.
Volzo writes:
I cannot believe these guys continue to be this stupid. This is pathetic!
Sincerely,
Ryan Leaf
spencer1989#206886 writes:
Not knocking your post....But so many young folks today (and I personally know some) think they "have" to own a AK-47 or some other type of assault rifle. For whatever reason, they believe they need it for "protection"....Or that its the "cool" thing to have. To me it is as stupid as taking one and going dove hunting.
littleorange writes:
Where are the Gator trolls now???
kiffownsfla writes:
Lol U felons ! dont think clk has had any arrest yet has he.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Meyer's players, taught to be arrogant, have had 24 arrests over 4 years, averaging 6 Florida players arrested per year.
How many have occurred at Tennessee since Kiffin has been there?
ctownvol writes:
I do not jest, and don't call me Shirley.
kiffownsfla writes:
Its a different thread go check it out.
Ironcity writes:
Jenkins can't be that fast or good if he can't outrun those big fat police officers in Gainesville.
vol4gzus writes:
I'm with you Jughead. We've seen eye to eye on issues like this b4. The question begs what if one of these players at a school like Florida was your son's best buddy and got on the arrest blotter would they still be piling on? Would they still be a gator hater or make an exception?
You are spot on that these are young men and potential future leaders. Do we want them responsible regardless of school afiliation or not?
If any of you are parents the answer is YES. If we can put aside petty differences and focus on what is best for our country we just might make a differnce in our young men and women.
God bless and have a safe 4TH!!!
kiffownsfla writes:
This isnt fulmer dumbie clk = 0 arrest got it einstien! GO VOLS!
kiffownsfla writes:
Dummy lol my bad
ctownvol writes:
Off topic. This article is about Florida's arrest problems. Not Ut's. Suggest removal.
richvol writes:
The problem as I see it is the judicial system in Florida. If these idiots were held accountable for their crimes in the beginning instead of being let off then the problem would correct itself. The three offenders that were used as examples in the story all got off from any kind of real punishment so they continued their lawless disregard for society's guidelines.
If any of you stole a dead person's credit cards,used them seventy times,choked and slapped your girlfriend,got caught with weed,shot an AK-47 in public while threatening someone you punched and spit upon and then hit two people at a party two months later...do you think you would be given misdemeanors for any of this? I think not...especially if you were a repeat offender like these guys.
The Florida judges that are letting these guys off are a disgrace.
CoachFulmer writes:
This Ronnie Wilson sounds like Scarface to me.
douglasawilliams#582863 writes:
You are correct. He has also dismissed or did not try to stop the transfer of 11 players. Some like, WR Abrams Ward or S Demetrius Morley could have helped much this season The lack of arrests and increasing GPA are very positive signs this will be a disciplined team. The extremely poor play of the offense last season wasn't all "one hop Jon". It was excessive holding and motion penalties. Offensive linemen frankly were getting man handled by good teams. And yes the QB's were not finding the open receiver or were just plain bad throws when they did. My guess is this team won't embarrass the fans at Neyland Stadium this season.
CoachFulmer writes:
All the Florida "fans" that post on this site are the biggest idiots when they try to mock a southern accent and southern lingo.
RoadTrip writes:
One of your best the10sevol!!!
Why is it that when a thug acts like a thug - their defenders say they just lost their way? Do they need a compass to know not to beat someone up?
ctownvol writes:
You, of all people, are calling someone a hypocrite. That's rich dude.
RoadTrip writes:
Wrong again. You are on a Vol site trying to deflect criticism from an AP reporter's article about criminal actions of 24 players of Urban Meyers' teams. This is pathetic. 24 is a major problem just as 21 was a problem for CPF and the Vols. UT addressed its problem. The UF problem still exists and UM pretends that it is not all that serious.
Go somewhere else and play with your friends.
volnbig11land writes:
You are an idiot.
The article is about CURRENT gay tor players.
Not PREVIOUS Vols.
Go away please.
notoriousBIGorange writes:
The article is talking about CURRENT players, of which 24 FLA players have been arrested!! 0 TN players have been arrested under CLK. And I will wager that Daniel Hood will be a model student-athlete that will make all SEC schools envious. GO VOLS!!
bluetick writes:
Just don't leave him to babysit any relatives.
ctownvol writes:
Talking to yourself?
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