Remember when "The U" was especially noted for having an abnormal amount of so-called "thugs" on their football team?
Those days aren't too far out of recent memory, but long enough ago that the Canes have forgotten most of their troubles.
Maybe they don't remember them because Nick Saban, former coach of the Dolphins, brought the mystique of players being arrested in Miami to the University of Alabama. The Crimson Tide has become the Cincinnati Bengals of the NCAA as of late.
With eight players arrested since Saban's arrival in T-town, the Tide need to worry about what the kids are doing off the gridiron, as opposed to how they perform on it.
One of the first arrests was made just before last season. Simeon Castille, decorated defensive back, senior, and team captain, was arrested for disorderly conduct. The latest is a player of the same background: decorated defensive back, senior and team captain Rashaad Johnson.
Johnson was arrested at the same club three other Crimson Tide players have had run-ins with the law. At this point, Coach Saban should really think about a ban on that club.
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Nonetheless, bar-ban or not, Nick Saban has some issues to deal with at the Capstone. With Jeremy Elder being the first of Saban's recruits arrested, who will follow?
Johnson will not be suspended for the incident, a class C misdemeanor. The other three players arrested for the same crime did not receive suspensions either. What does that say about Saban and his discipline? Noting the fact that 30 games were sat out last season by other Tide players, the stars with small crimes did not suffer any consequences.
Does that mean not every crime deserves to be punished?
Elder was arrested on charges of armed robbery. He was dismissed from the football team for one season. It is unknown at this time whether Elder will be allowed to return to school.
Elder has never had a problem with law enforcement in the past, according to Saban and Elder's high school principal. So, why now? Freedom? College life on scholarship doesn't yield much money. Maybe he needed to buy some toiletries? Whatever the case, Jeremy Elder won't wear a Crimson Tide jersey in '08 and possibly not ever again.
But the problem doesn't lie in the life of college students. It doesn't lie in the bias of Tuscaloosa PD. It lies in the way coaches all across the country handle discipline. Saban is among numerous college coaches that look away when small crimes are committed and pretend to discipline in private. Remember that All-SEC receiver DJ Hall missed an entire half last year for disciplinary reasons—yeah, right.
It's time for college coaches everywhere to stop babying these athletes and make them take responsibility for their actions. If players are proven guilty in a court of law, consequences must be handed down from coaches. No more running stadium steps or extra sit ups. Make it count. Take away what they love—playing the game.
If that does not get the attention of players, nothing will.
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6 months ago
Leave out the serois crimes and just talking about some of these disorderly conduct charges I want to comment on. I'm not standing up for the players, but they must realize that just being football players but them in the limelight and there always will be people who want to be in the limelight too or have bar muscles, who will try to make a name for themselves by provoking some kind of reaction from them. They must have thicker skin and back away from trouble no matter what is said or done to provoke them. I'm not just talking about Alabama but all college football player.
6 months ago
Players need to realize that kind of behavior is unacceptable, and coaches have to impose punishment even if it's "only" a misdemeanor. If players aren't missing games, they need to be told somehow that it is not ok. Good article.
6 months ago
Really enjoyed the article and I agree totally with what you said. Players should have to deal with the consequences of their actions. When it comes down to it I think it's the Coaches that are not willing to deal with losing their players over crimes because they're more concerned with the game rather than helping their players in the long run by punishing them.
6 months ago
You're right about how coaches are currently handling discipline on their teams, and Alabama is just one the many within the SEC with issues. Another example of this can be, like in the case of Ole Miss this past season, athletes being suspended during less important games, then being reinstated for the bigger games. It's amazing how quickly these students take these opportunities for granted, and even more amazing how often it's happening and what's not being done to discipline these students.
6 months ago
Lets make sure not to just pile on the SEC, this is a nation wide issue. The team I follow, Oregon, has its own spotty record with keeping its athletes in line. Last year starting receiver Derrick Jones had to be suspended because of marijuana related arrests. He did it again just after the season ended but he is still on the roster, just when the Ducks are dangerously thin at wide receiver. Coincidence? Not to mention Luke Bellotti (son of head coach Mike Bellotti) having his DUI swept under the rug last year. It begs some serious questions.
6 months ago
I'm just gonna start out here and say that this is an opinion article and I will take it as such. First, you didn't even mention the "crime" that Johnson, Castille, or any of the other players have been accused of. Its disorderly conduct. Since you aren't in Tuscaloosa, UAPD arrests almost everyone and their mother for disorderly conduct. That's all they are good for. They arrested 4 students last friday for doing a protest and called it disorderly conduct. Second, does it not seem fishy to anyone but me that only a single football player is arrested at all of these incidents? If its truly an incident and there is a crowd involved, why is only one well known student being arrested? Thrid, you can not connect Alabama to Thug U or the Criminoles. Elder was out of his mind when he stole $26 from some scared out of their mind Johhy Fratboys. Other than that, who has committed anything above a felony? The whole textbook scandal was nothing. Those players missed a ton of games for nothing. And like someone else as mentioned, its not just Bama or the SEC, its a nationwide issue. Why not look at Tennessee since the rating system for keeping up with the team with the most arrests is called the Fulmer Cup. Fourth and final, all but one of these guys are Shula recruits. One of the reasons for his dismissal was the way he handled discipline, or lack thereof. Like it was said above with Ole Miss, players were suspended for less important games and not the big ones. Saban suspended the textbook guys 2 hours before Tennessee and they then missed the LSU game for the lead in the SEC West. Of course this is going to make news because its Alabama and its Nick Saban, and yes the players need to be accountable, but its college and they are living a college life.
from 6 months ago
I couldn't agree more Nic. All of these incidents are blown up just because it's Alabama.
Has anyone taken into consideration that Saban is trying to discipline these players? He mentioned in his press conference last week that the University of Alabama perhaps witnessed more game suspensions last year than any other school in the history of the NCAA.
These football players are college students - 18 to 21 or 22 years old. They all want to go out and live the college life and do college student things.
Of the eight players arrested, one was a Saban recruit. So I guess that 7 players from Shula were taught by Saban to act disorderly? That just doesn't make sense. It makes more sense to me to conclude that Shula had no disciplinary actions in place; therefore, the older players are not used to the system Saban has in place, they are rebelling, and in the process influencing younger players.
As far as the Elder situation, he must have just been out of his mind. He is going to possibly serve 10 years all for $26. That was one isolated event. The rest have been basically beenarrests related to judgement calls that the TPD had to make. In most of those situations large crowds were involved, and it just happened to be a UA football player causing disorderly conduct. Yeah, seems more like a siuation of bias, for whatever reason, than criminal activity.
6 months ago
Mr. Nic, I clearly stated that Johnson's crime was a class C misdemeanor. However, I've spent enough time on the strip near these same places, mostly Jupiter, and have never had a problem before. HOWEVER, I must admit that it's a bit odd that four players have been arrested in the same place. Maybe the owners/security guards have something against the players.
However, I can compare ThugU and Alabama...this year at least. Also, who cares who recruited them? Discipline your football players. No matter who recruited them, Saban is responsible for them.
Oh, I also mentioned the 30+ games Bama players missed as CNS stated in his press conference. Read the entire article and then take it however you want.
from 6 months ago
Chris, I read this entire piece of crap before I went on my rant about it, so I will take it how I want and how most everyone else is taking it, crap. And Thug U wasnt built in a year, so there is no room to take shots at the Tide for a bunch of misdemeanors. Thug U was known for gun flinging, stealing, and all that crap. Outside of one idiot, Alabama has not done anything to compare to them. Heck, Thug U is still around, showing their true colors against FIU in 2006. When have you ever seen a Bama player use his helmet as a weapon as a sneak attack from behind on a guy? The answer is never.
And to say you arent picking on the Crimson Tide is just comical. You dont even mention Tennessee's problems or the fact that Ryan Perilloux is suspended for the ump-teenth time in his career. This article is stemmed directly at Alabama and no one else. Not only that, you say in these comments that its a hot topic in the SE, it had disappeared when this article hit the site. As stated previously, it is striaght up comical to hear you say this isnt an attack on Alabama.
6 months ago
I would just like to say that everyone is pointing fingers at the tide , only because they have risen from the grave to make other teams take notice. If you have been attentive, then you know that the charges against RJ are most likely to be dismissed, because the video doesn't match the allegations. when the cap stone started making the news, everyone started taking them down. this can only mean one thing they are scared! holler back, the Rikstr
from 6 months ago
I'm really not trying to point fingers at Bama. They are very close to my heart. I grew up a Tider. I am only saying that coaches should descipline their kids more. Alabama just happened to be a hot topic in this region.
6 months ago
Hey Nick, check out the bio on this article's author (joke!). His favorite team is the Volunteers, coached by that paragon of virtue Fulmer. Just another hack job by a media wannabe.
6 months ago
Wow, it's gonna burn you up when Saban brings home a title...
from 6 months ago
Honestly, it won't. I will be proud. As happy as I was the day Miami got what they deserved. I hate not the Crimson Tide. I am not a Bammer, nor am I a Fat Phil supporter. But I will be happy the day that Alabama finally gets back where they belong and out of Shreveport.
6 months ago
God , I had looked at the authors pic before I read the article I would have saved myself 5 minutes of my life I cant get back. Painted face and hes a whole 21 years old. I am not a writer so this is not a response. But you should research your stories before they are posted. Oh yea I assume the isnt an editor for this blog.
6 months ago
Oh, the anons finally come out. It's always the anons that talk about my face paint. I'm sure you get all dressed up in your houndstooth and paint your body crimson.
How true it is that I am a Tennessee fan. I don't deny it. I researched the article, hoss. If you notice when the article was written--BEFORE the video came out--then you might not look like such an idiot.
I'm 21, former sports editor at a newspaper. Former host of a sports talk show. Former Program Director at a radio station. You're still trying to figure out how to turn the wrench so the bolt gets tighter on that old '64 ford truck, huh?
6 months ago
The Bengals comparison is lame. Find something original.
from 6 months ago
Are you kidding me? You're a nut case.
6 months ago
God , I had looked at the authors pic before I read the article I would have saved myself 5 minutes of my life I cant get back. Painted face and hes a whole 21 years old. I am not a writer so this is not a response. But you should research your stories before they are posted. Oh yea I assume the isnt an editor for this blog.
6 months ago
Not kidding. Everything you said in this article has been said over and over. I think the Bengals comparison has been used by just about everybody. Find something new to write about because stories like this one are getting old and boring.
6 months ago
It is getting old, but not boring! You don't think people should call coaches and administrators on this? You don't think kids should be held accountable? You don't think this kind of thing shouldn't get old?
6 months ago
i think your article is full of crap. when a coach recruits a guy he tells the mom and dads that he will treat them like a son. You don't kick your kids out of the house just because he gets into a little trouble. But if he keeps on getting into trouble then you have to have more drastic measures.
from 6 months ago
Bad analogy. Very bad analogy. That's all.
6 months ago
The NCAA should allow athlete's back into dorms just for them, the coaches then be able to keep an eye on them. Maybe just maybe they could control the problem. You didn't hear this stuff 15-20 years ago. IMO I think the police let coaches deal with it years ago. Now you have so many media outlet's that they all "fight" for that 1 juicy story to make a name for themselves or the company they work for.
6 months ago
And hey, good call again Chris. The latest arrest just got a plea deal. Tell me, how many Crimnoles or Bengals or anyone from Thug U got a plea deal. O thats right, their cases were much more severe.
6 months ago
He got a plea deal...and you're bragging?! He is guilty! He did it. What a moron..
6 months ago
I said compare it to Thug U, FSU or the Bengals and how many of them got plea deals. And a plea deal doesnt mean guilt, it means there is no trial. Also, way not to pay attention to the story. The video and police report dont match up, so how can he ge guilty if 1) he doesnt have a trial and 2) there isnt substantial evidence to convict him of such crimes. O thats right, public opinion is all that matters, and yours sucks.
6 months ago
He is PLEADING GUILTY!!!!!!!
6 months ago
Bob Stoops just reinstated shoplifting Marcus Granger and a gasoline stealing d-back to the team at OU.
6 months ago
See Chris, Alabama's disorderly conducts should be the least of your worries. You have players hauling around recruits while smoking pot, you have shoplifters at OU, but no, no, no lets focus on the kids at Bama who get a "disorderly conduct" accusation. And no where does it say he is pleading guilty. It never made it to court, so he cant plead guilty there. The video evidence and the police report dont match up, so there is no solid evidence to convict him. He cant be seen as guilty because the charge will no longer be on his record upon the completion of his community service. Where is the guilt??? Ill tell you where, its in YOUR HEAD, because if he is guilty by your opinion, you article seems legit. No one else sees him as guilty but YOU! get you head out of your butt and write a real story.
5 months ago
Nic. Do you know what a plea bargain is? Do you understand the terms of a plea bargain? It means you plead something and usually get something of a lighter sentence, normally community service for these such things.
I focused on Alabama because I live in Alabama. It's big news. Eight of your players have been arrested. Do you get it or are you really that stupid? Just go listen to the Fletch and Hamilton show and let the people with brains stay here.
5 months ago
Wow, personal attacks. Way to take the high road on your own article. I get the fact that there have been 8 arrests, but 7 of them are Shula recruits. Try as you might, but Saban cant by himself break a discipline rut that these players were in for 3 or 4 years. And its no longer big news and it wasnt big news when this article was written. You completely missed that post I made last week about that point, or the fact that you cant compare Thug U to Bama or that you are straight picking on Alabama in this article. Tim did it best by pointing out the problems in the SEC and did it THE WEEK it was actually news, not when it was in people's recycle bins and they had to go dig it out to realize, "O wait, thats not news anymore, that was from last week. It says so right here in my paper written by a real columnist with half a brain."
5 months ago
LoL. That's your argument now? Now that I have made you look like a fool? You say I can't write a real article because it happened the week before. Tell me, BEFORE Saban, how many players were arrested? Oh right....
5 months ago
Made me look like a fool??? The only thing foolish is this article, excuse me, this piece of crap. Do you not realize that everyone of these comments are by people who don't think this thing is worth printing out and then wiping their butt with? So where's you article about Nebraska's troubles of late? O, you probably don't hate them, thats why you're gonna wait to write an article a month from now on it.
from 5 months ago
Really? Did you read the first few comments? It looks like the MAJORITY of people that commented liked the article. 7-5 in favor of me. Thank you, have a nice day.
And you, my utterly disappointing friend, are worse than any UT fan I've ever met. And they are bad bad folks.
5 months ago
"I would just like to say that everyone is pointing fingers at the tide , only because they have risen from the grave to make other teams take notice."
Take note: A 7-6 record is far from "rising from the grave." In fact I'd call 7-6 having one foot IN the grave.
5 months ago
Hey, it's better than 6-7 like in '06 and they beat Tennessee for the second time in 12 tries...give them some credit
5 months ago
i have all you know that all but one of the players arrested were MIKE SHULA yes that's right MIKE SHULA recruits. and castille and johnsons charges have been dropped by video evidence proving the tuscaloosa police departments accusations to be, what some of you like to call FALSE
5 months ago
Chris I am glad you are not a judge. All you would need is for someone to get accused of a crime and you would give them the death penalty. Go get a life Loser
5 months ago
Lets go smoke some pot with a few recruits... That will win them over.. Don't forget the doughnuts either! Tennessee got their @$$ handed to them by a team who ended the season 7-6.. LMAO How funny is that! WAR EAGLE!!!!
5 months ago
Paul -- I don't remember these guys being in this kind of trouble when Shula was here. Maybe it's because he disciplined the kids the right way?
Anons - First, I shouldn't even respond to you. But I will. I am not a judge, thank God. Call me a loser, but you're the anonymous one? Please.
2nd anon - I don't understand what that has to do with anything...but we'll see who's laughing come AU-UT time.
5 months ago
Its not worth the arguing people. Chris truly believes his article was unbiased. lol.
5 months ago
Nic!!! It's a problem EVERYWHERE!!! I said that in my article!!! Geez, man. Tell you what. You're an alright guy. Hit me up and next time I come to T-town to Jupiter, I'll buy you a drink and we can talk about it.
5 months ago
Im only 20 still but it sounds like a plan.
from 5 months ago
It doesn't have to be alcoholic. We can go across the street to the sandwich shop...I forget the name. I bought me a Peyton Manning jersey AND a Tyler Watts jersey today.
2 months ago
Basically, all these problems are nigger problems...and are reflected in the same behavior by non-athletes. It's the culture today to embrace all that's perverted and degrading...thereby lowering our nation's value system to somewhere just below pig excrement!
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