Arizona Wildcats Football: Why University Must Make Example of Arrested Players
The Arizona Wildcats football program has a big problem on its hands after four players were arrested on Friday night for their role in a party brawl, according to a report from the Daily Wildcat.
Jourdon Grandon, Fabbians Ebbele and Eric Bender were arrested on charges of criminal trespassing in the first degree and assault. Jared Tevis was arrested for trespassing.
"According to police records, residents asked Tevis and the other players to leave because they were not invited. One of the men responded by shoving one of the women backwards. The man was later identified as former safety Joshua Robbins. After being shoved, the resident slapped Robbins, who then proceeded to punch her in the face — starting a brawl between the football players and members of the party.
"
The report also says that the players returned to the party in a bigger group of people, "between 10 and 30." After they returned more brawls broke out, and women reportedly were attacked by these players.
This has to be a zero-tolerance situation for new head coach Rich Rodriguez and the Arizona athletic department.
What these players are accused of doing is disgusting, and there is no reason that they should be allowed to continue their college careers. They should be kicked out of school immediately.
There is a legal process that they have to go through, obviously, but that is an entirely separate issue from the school. This is an embarrassment to the football program, the coaching staff, other players and the university as a whole.
Rodriguez can't afford to tolerate these actions. This is the first major crisis of his tenure with the Wildcats, and it has to be handled in an appropriate manner.
Grandon, Ebbele, Bender and Tevis should be embarrassed by this entire situation. If there is any justice in the college football world, they will have plenty of time to think about it since they shouldn't be allowed back on the field.
