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Austin Johnson
An offseason virtually free of drama off the field for Tennessee added some just before it ended.
Tennessee linebacker Austin Johnson, 22, was arrested and charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct by the Knoxville Police Department on Sunday morning and was released on $1,000 bond. The senior is scheduled for a court appearance on August 4.
In a statement, UT spokesman Jimmy Stanton confirmed the program was looking into the overnight incident involving a player widely regarded as a leader by his teammates.
“We’re aware of an incident involving Austin,” Stanton said. “We’re in the process of investigating it for additional information.”
The Vols haven’t had to do much digging with their players lately, going all summer without any arrests and more than five months since safety Brent Brewer was picked up and ultimately charged with offensive touching in February.
According to a Knox County Sheriff’s representative, Johnson snapped that streak when he was stopped by police at 3:50 a.m. The charges of disorderly conduct/threatening behavior and public intoxication each carried a bond of $500, which was posted and he was released at 12:57 p.m.
On the field, the senior is expected to be a critical contributor to UT’s largely inexperienced defensive front this fall, particularly given the lack of depth at linebacker.
Johnson spent spring practice working at multiple spots as part of the ongoing cross-training effort to make the Vols more versatile, but he was likely going to enter the season as the starter in the middle before Herman Lathers suffered a fractured ankle this summer. That loss forced Johnson back to a projected position on the outside as he tries to follow up on a junior campaign that included 44 tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery and 3.5 takedowns for a loss.
Johnson has shown a willingness to move around to help the Vols wherever needed on several occasions in his career, and his reputation within the program was boosted when he switched from fullback to linebacker after his sophomore season -- and at least one teammate was quick to publicly come to his defense on Sunday afternoon.
“Austin is OK,” fellow senior linebacker Shane Reveiz posted on his Twitter account. “He made a mistake, but he was not causing trouble.
“He is a great kid and will learn from his mistake. You can’t live with regrets.”
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Comments » 128
pj_ladyvolnMI writes:
<sigh>
bradr114 writes:
i dont understand why knoxville pd insists on trying to make our program look bad. i mean, seriously, if you are a cop and a UT fan just tell him to chill out and ask him if he wants to keep playing ball at UT to go home. obviously i dont know all the details, but i cant understand why these cops cannot make an effort to protect our players instead of throwing them in a cop car everytime they get a chance. public intox? im sure there were hundreds of UT coeds on the strip last night that could have been arrested for that. the only reason i say all this is because i know how big douchebags knoxville police can be at times. there are a pool of them that have allowed their badge to swell up there head and now they are captain america.
i have heard mulitple times of stories "in the good ol days" where cops would call the coach instead of taking these guys to jail. why can't that be done anymore? austin would have it way worse if the cop dropped him off at dooley's door rather than downtown holding cell.
oskie_score writes:
Not the example or leadership you would expect from a SR. Use better judgement, AJ.
vol98champ writes:
A 22 year old getting drunk on the weekend. Say it isn't true. Couldn't possibly happen on any other campus in the world. Disorderly conduct. What did he do? Spit on the sidewalk. As they say "come on man".
oskie_score writes:
Although your intention is good, what you are asking is not the solution, but rather a band aid. This falls on AJ, he needs to act more responsibly.
jjsteel writes:
Just wait....bad news comes in three's. One down two to go!
fortsanders writes:
No problem. Dooley will sweep this one under the rug like he has others.
pingkr62 writes:
I don't think it was the K.P.D. that was arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct. As a senior, Austin is one who should be setting an example for the underclassmen. We almost made it an entire summer without a football player getting into trouble with the law and embarrassing the team, coaching staff, university and fans. Austin knows better. G.B.O.
bradr114 writes:
i would suggest that dooley could provide a solution without law enforcement getting involved and potentially destroying a good, young man's football career and opportunity for an education. sure, its preferential treatment. but not every situation is has a "cookie-cutter" type solution. when you are a gifted athlete in a college football town, athletes should get the benefit of the doubt. especially in a public intox..disorderly conduct charge in an area of town where college coeds flock to have a good time and live the college life.
pingkr62 writes:
What others?
LJS1984 writes:
Too bad KPD doesn't worry more about arresting real criminals. Hey lets go down to the strip and harass some college kids. There are many other problems and much more criminal events that occur in Knoxville that they should concern themselves with. LSU just got it's own branded beer, calm down there Knoxville PD and UTPD.
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financ...
orangeman1 writes:
We'll see if he misses any games. So far the trend has been to hand out other forms of punishment, but thats no different than most coaches at major programs. No doubt Dooley is a character guy, but a coach just cant keep 18-22 year olds out of trouble. They can recruit character and have strict consequences, but other than that there isnt much they can do. This incident is rather minor, but Dooley needs to send a message imo by suspending him for at least half of the Montana game. Either way I hope A Johnson learns from this and makes him work even harder on the field this year cause we need him.
budd#207344 writes:
Next time you are being robbed call a drunken linebacker. the only bag here is you
orangeman1 writes:
There is no telling how many players have gotten out of trouble because they were UT players. I would bet that there were alot of witnesses to the incident . Luckily, it is rather minor and he will probably get it dismissed after taking a class or something. He'll be playing come fall as long as he doesnt get in anymore trouble.
mempuss writes:
public intox?? come the F on! from my experience, P.I. is a scapegoat charge. Who really cares?? hes 22 years old and drinking on a saturday night....BIG suprise. As for the disorderly.....unless he was out slapping babies, who cares!!
VolBy3 writes:
R U 4 REAL?
Cops have a tough enough job without having to babysit sports jocks that get big heads. Our athletes should set an example. If they chose to break the law, LE has every right to make an example out of them. Mr. Johnson needs to get his head on right, man up, apologize, and start to be the leader some think he is.
All4Vols!
Pompey writes:
....baby sitting 22 year olds is a hell of a way to make a living......in their time off coaches surely seek out the company of adults.....
pingkr62 writes:
Do you really think it's a case of "Hey, lets go down to the strip and harass some college kids" If there wasn't the potential for problems at the strip, the K.P.D. wouldn't be there in the first place. I'm sure the cops would rather be somewhere else fighting real crime rather than baby-sitting a bunch of college kids who can't handle their liquor.
'
pridebone writes:
I'm going to disagree with you. We don't know what he was doing that was considered "disorderly conduct." If the PD arrested him, then he was obviously doing something where he needed arresting. I don't want our players treated any differently than the general public. Treating players different is what has landed schools like Ohio State and Southern Cal in hot water. And as for him being worse off being dropped off at Dooley's door, you're just wrong. Being arrested, and being dropped off at Dooley's door both make Dooley aware of the problem. Same punishment from CDD. By arresting him, you add the wrath of Dooley to the legal mess. Bottom line, he either needs to grow up, or he needs to grow up. I hope he can get past this and get back on the field, but I don't want to cops to treat him differently than others just because he's a UT player. That sends the wrong message. Most of our college athletes won't go to the NFL, so I want them to learn life lessons. In fact, I'd go so far as to say I'd rather lose a game or two per season (not much more than that, at least not very often at all) and do it with classy players that stay out of trouble, than to win Championships year in and year out with a team that can't stay out of the back of a police car, and eventually lose those championships because of cheating.
If ever there was a time to keep one's nose clean in college athletics, this is it.
Witch_Doctors writes:
Witch Doctor agree! Witch Doctor go as far as ugly babies but no farther.
Bones never lie.
jamgod writes:
Listen, I hate to say it and most of these guys I have respect for. But the majority of the knoxville police officers should not be allowed to be police officers. They do not know how to deal with people and usually have an attitude once the badge is assigned to them. Pretty much just a bunch of jealous, uncarring bafoons that have some kind of personal struggle in life and take it out on who's ever around. I've seen it too many times. These guys think all of a sudden becaus they have a badge on their shirt that they don't have to have people skills and their just plain and simple "ssaseloh" and that pretty much sums it up. Like I said, I respect only a few of them....
Biggie writes:
That's BS. The law applies to everyone equally. You must be 16 years old......
jamgod writes:
I agree totally with you on this and your right, we don't know what happened. The fact that he was dropped of at Dooley's door is a great thing I think. They do not need to be treated any differently than anyone else, but I have seen to many times where some of the officers weraing badges shouldn't be wearing badges at all and they especially should go back to school and learn some people skills!!
abnermc writes:
Do like Spurrier & suspend him for a whole weekend in July.
kyletrktr writes:
I'm gonna be dead honest here and say while it is wrong to do stuff like this, and downright stupid, it's not like he's the only one doing it. I can safely say that because of the environment football players are around in high school (drugs and alcohol), most college football players drink and party. Maybe high school coaches should crack down more on stuff like this so college coaches dont have to put up with these shenanigans. I do agree with everyone above that says he should grow up and be a leader, don't get me wrong. But, instead of maybe just him being punished, maybe Dooley should go over the top with discipline and punish the whole team by making practice harder when something like this happens. Or, he could make the whole team do even more community service than they already have when something goes wrong like this. Anyways, I have faith in dooley that he'll handle the situation the right way, I'm just putting my two cents in.
Go vols!
gemin555#214016 writes:
I'm sorry but as long as these players do this, this takes away from the tradition of UT and the respect that the players should have for UT as well their fellow teammates and coaches. They should remember they are a representative of the University at all times, 24/7 as long as they are going to UT.
DannyVol writes:
Go to any bar on any campus in America at night, and you will see some drunk kid acting like an a__hole. This was as true 75 years ago as it is today, so no one should be surprised unless they live under a virtual rock. Now, as far as the 'disorderly' part, we'll have to wait for the details. No one can yet say whether or not the KPD overreacted (as they have in the past); but don't blow this out of proportion. So far, all we know if that a college kid got way too drunk and acted like a clown - go figure.
apatric5 writes:
give me a break. I'm a rising senior at UT. I frequent the strip often, and from my experience, to get arrested on Cumberland you have to be really pushing the envelope. It's not like that stop arrest people simply walking down the street, much less a football player. usually it takes some serious showing your fannie to get a cops attention. If i was a betting man, I'd say this was the case, and ole boy probably deserved it. Happens to the best of us. That said, this a really not that big of a deal, he'll probably have to pay a fine, take a class and be done with it. lesson learned.
Now to say the he deserves some kind of special treatment really grinds my gears. I love Tennessee football as the next guy but come on. They are human beings just like the rest of us and likewise need to be held accountable for their actions. So come on back down to earth and take off the orange colored glasses.
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
Agree with everything you said..except suspend him for the entire Montana game..The suspending a player for a half just doesn't send a message, IMO.
BamaVol writes:
The law is for ever one, no one should be given special treatment no matter where they go to school. I have to say we have some dim witted cops here, but for each one we have, we have at least two very good officers. You can't blame the police for doing their job. Blame AJ.
dvhill100 writes:
The athletes have a responsibility to behave. They know they are in the public eye, and can't get away with stuff the average student does, especially now. Right or wrong, it is what it is. I have no idea about the disorderly conduct, so no judgement on that. Bottom line, this is embarrassing, but not much else. Do the crime, do the time and press on.
Chris4Vols22 writes:
We need to instill a zero-tolerance policy. If you get arrested, you're gone. I bet that will quickly solve a lot of problems.
agentorange writes:
I am personally shocked and appalled that a UT student would be arrested for being drunk. HA! About time. Was starting to think we had a team of goody two shoes. Football players/young men are supposed to raise a little hell in college. Just don't hurt anybody.
The_Ghost_of_Duke_DeLuca writes:
Fire Fulmer!
Outdated writes:
The tradition of UT and all similar colleges I know of includes drinking ..you just are not supposed to over do it and get caught...
Outdated writes:
Scottie Hopson should have been a first round pick? Is this more of the same reasoning?
Chris4Vols22 writes:
KPD give the athletes plenty of slack. A player moved in to my apartment building just a couple weeks ago. A few days ago there 5 patrol cars parked outside of my building. I have no idea what happened, but the officers were saying, "a lot of football players get arrested, but we don't want to do it...blah blah blah...stay out of trouble in the future, or we WILL arrest you next time."
Also, the there's no telling what Johnson did. If he was arrested, it was probably for good reason. Way too early to say the cops have it out for players.
UCFgradVOLatHEART writes:
Run some steps. Do some sprints and most importantly do it with class. Put this behind you AJ we need you to be a leader. No big deal just learn from your mistake. GBO....
wagee12 writes:
Haw, haw, long way to go before this team gets into contention for this year's Fulmer Cup. (Most suspensions and arrests in one calendar year). Isn't it great when those who didn't want Dooley as head coach out themselves here???
Too bad Austin didn't whip a couple of azzes to make this all worthwhile.
Chris4Vols22 writes:
I never said ScottY was gong to be a first-rounder, but I was pretty confident that he would get picked. I was wrong. I'm still putting my money on him being in the NBA within 3 years (most likely sooner than later).
Your statement/question don't make sense, btw. I'll happily answer anything if you don't mind to clarify.
Chris4Vols22 writes:
*Statements/qustions
C'mom KNS, how 'bout an edit function?
Ironcity writes:
First off this is not news. You pay the fine and move on. What I do find interesting about this story is that the usual fans who claim every player arrested is a thug who should be kick off the team are silent. We can all come to our own conclusions as to why that is.
Chris4Vols22 writes:
You have a good point, but the violence element is lacking in this case.
I do agree with your sentiment though.
Outdated writes:
Sounds reasonable to me....
thetrollhunter writes:
KPD harasses kids all the time to fill their quota. It's what they do, and it's a shame that they are allowed to do some of the things they do.
Last year, I got pulled over on Lake avenue, and those "defenders of justice" gave me an underage consumption after they refused to give me a field sobriety OR breathalyzer.
KPD is far from honest, and maybe Mr. Johnson was out of hand. But still, something needs to be done about them. It's ridiculous.
pridebone writes:
Sounds like somebody got in some trouble and, surprise, the police weren't cuddly and kind do you. And, what is it, do you have respect for most of them? Or do the majority of them suck at life? Can't have it both ways buddy.
pridebone writes:
If you had slurred speech and were falling all over yourself, addressing the men as "ossifer" and the like, then they ought to have given you an underage consumption. Those men work hard to keep Knoxville safe. Yes, there are bad apples in the bunch, but even if the officers you encountered were bad, it doesn't mean they all are. If AJ got arrested, he needed it, Maybe it will be a wakeup call.
RoadTrip writes:
Doom and gloom over a P. I/D. C. Let it go. Before the media became so engrossed in every little goofy negative thing that happens, they would not run a piece like this to protect AJ, his family and the program from ridicule over a very minor event. Not today - let's put it up in neon lights and run it on Sports Center. Ever wonder why kids don't want to grow up and be newspaper reporters? Stop wondering.
VolGrad writes:
This was a bit unexpected, but I guess he is no Nick Reveiz, eh? Still he is supposedly one of the team leaders on defense, and I've never heard his name mentioned before in regard to any previous trouble. Must have been his first beer or something.
Learn from this and move on, AJ.
thetrollhunter writes:
Did none of the above. Was going out to get some soda. I was preparing to pull an all nighter. I managed to get back to studying around 5 in the morning. Also I had to pay upwards of 5 grand in lawyer fees to get it off my record.
KPD does whatever it wants. Most of them don't care about the kids.
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