Gator Arrests: Pointing the Finger at Those Who Point the Finger

The offseason is a nagging withdrawal that haunts everyone whose life revolves around the spectacle of college football. The absence of football on Saturdays negatively affects college towns, fans, and, most heavily, college football writers.

It is during this time of year that otherwise irrelevant events such as lawsuits, the resignation of Florida State's president, or Troy Aikman finally earning a degree in sociology crack the college football headlines. It is also a time when bored beat writers and college football analysts dig deep for attention-getting feature stories. This seems to be the case recently at the Orlando Sentinel.

On May 30, 2009, Florida Gators cornerback Janoris Jenkins was arrested and charged with fighting and resisting arrest without violence. The arrest sparked an investigation by the Orlando Sentinel into legal problems within the football program during coach Urban Meyer's tenure. 

The detailed arrest stats have been heavily advertised. For the next week, America was shown the astonishing figures. The hottest program in college football, the defending champs, have had 24 arrests in the past four years. 

"The Question" was asked abundantly and flooded newspapers, radio call-in shows, and sports television. 

Are the Gators out of control? Is Urban Meyer simply turning his back to team legal issues?

To truly look into a logical response for these questions, one must first look past some inflated statistics and grasp an understanding of the actual circumstances. The list is highlighted by players such as Jacques Rickerson, Ronnie Wilson, and Jamar Hornsby who have all been kicked off of the team by Meyer. In fact, any player that was convicted or accepted a plea was punished by Meyer and often kicked off of the team.

There are numerous cases where charges have been dropped due to, among other things, a lack of evidence. Most of the players who have received this outcome have been punished very little, if at all.

It would, after all, seem unjust to punish players who have no real charges against them, or convict them of something before the law agrees with your decision. I see many people wanting these players judged in the court of public opinion, rather than through the law, and suspended before they are ever proven innocent or guilty. 

Closely inspecting the actual records should shut down the notion that Meyer is turning his back to these issues. Meyer has generally stood behind his players until they cross a line but been extremely stern with them after that point. One only has to remember back to the 2006 season for a clean example of this.

Marcus Thomas was a dominating force at defensive tackle that year and one of the best players on Florida's defense. Through five games, Thomas had 26 tackles and four sacks.

Though he was never arrested, Thomas' struggles with drug tests became well-known by mid-season and Meyer kicked him off of the team for "failing to meet responsibilities and obligations." The decision was not a given. Many star players have gotten away with much more and received little or no punishment (see Peter Warrick). However, Meyer took a stand on what he felt was right and it set a tone for the remainder of his first National Championship season.

In contrast, to say that there are not apparent problems in Florida's football program would be a blind and ignorant proclamation. Whether or not the charges are truthful, the headline "Florida Player Arrested" does not emanate a positive image for University of Florida athletics. 

While I have stated that I believe Meyer has done an efficient job in the discipline of players on the team, I also feel that recruiting character has been his downfall. 

By achieving extremely high recruiting rankings on an annual basis and parading his poster boy prospect Tim Tebow all over the national stage, Meyer has been able to throw a mask on some low behavioral standards. Ultra-talented recruits such as Percy Harvin have brought plenty of delinquent baggage along with their 4.3 40-yard dash times.

Many colleges may have turned down a prospect such as Harvin, who was suspended from high school athletic competition permanently half-way through his senior year for, among other things, his involvement in a large basketball game scuffle and making contact with a referee. Meyer seems to have few restraints on character when it comes to recruits as he simply closes his eyes and goes after the most talented kid on the block.

Reporting the issues of the Florida Gators football team is necessary but it must also be done fairly. Any legal problems could likely be solved by paying closer attention to the background of the players that are being recruited. 

Besides that, most of these offenses are petty misdemeanors that a number of kids experience during their tenure in Gainesville or any other college town. Meyer's treatment of current players is not what should be getting belittled. 

Records need to be observed under the same microscope that the national champions are being thrown under before allegations rapidly fly. 

Until then, the hysteria around this ordeal will remain more "out of control" than the Gator football team.