After a football season during which many coaches and universities were forced to address an increase in off-the-field disciplinary incidents, the postseason has continued this disturbing trend in college football.
At times, the news lines on sports or team websites have read like a police-beat journalist’s stories.
Notable disicplinary actions during last year’s season included:
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At Iowa, from April 2007 to October 2007, 15 arrests of football players were made involving 11 individuals.
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At Florida State, up to 36 players were suspended for the Music City Bowl, 25 of whom due to an academic cheating scandal.
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At Mississippi, head coach Ed Orgeron, suspended 20 players one game for stealing hotel items ranging from pillows to radios.
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At Penn State, Joe Paterno suspended five players after their arrests for in an off-campus fight. Three players so far this year have been arrested.
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At Alabama, a total of 30 games were missed by players last year due to suspensions
Nick Saban, the head coach, speculated that the number of games suspended for his team “may be a NCAA record.”
Saban feels “We’re heading in that direction again next year.”
Arrests this year—Rashad Johnson, Alabama team captain, was arrested this offseason for disorderly conduct. Johnson has not been suspended. Four players arrested on similar charges last year were not suspended. Saban said, talking to reporters, "He has a due process to go through and he is not guilty until he goes through that due process. I think this is America and I think we're allowed to do that even though you all have already convicted him of doing something terribly wrong."
Some offseason arrest reports
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