Tigers Stripes Showing Off The Field

On the eve of the start of summer camp for the Missouri Tigers, the wrong kind of headlines are making the news. In what seems like an unusually busy summer of player brushes with the law, a coach is arrested on suspicion of DUI.  The catch, it was on university property.

University of Missouri Police say on Monday night, Tiger Assistant football coach Bruce Walker was arrested on the parking lot of the Mizzou Athletic Training Complex.  Authorities say he was behind the wheel of a car with its motor running.

Walker and the other Mizzou coaches and their wives were returning from a bus trip to the Lake of the Ozarks.  Team spokesperson Chad Moller says the incident is under investigation.

But Walker was not the only one making the news this summer. Tiger safety Jarrell Harrison was arrested for shoplifting in June at a Columbia Mall, and was also cited early Tuesday morning for trespassing.

He was not alone the second time he was arrested, as Mizzou defensive tackle Dominique Hamilton was also taken into custody on the same charge.  The two players, along with three female MU students were at an apartment complex swimming pool after it had closed.

In other off the field news this summer, junior linebacker Tyler Crane was dismissed from the team last month for undisclosed disciplinary reasons.  The team would only say that his dismissal was not related to any legal misconduct.

So, all in all, it's not like the Mizzou program is running out of control as some have been this summer.  But it does bring to light that Mizzou is not immune to the problems college football is experiencing.

Just a few days ago, an Oklahoma State football player was arrested for an alleged assault and battery with a weapon after a fight at a bar with a former OSU football player.

Last month, eight Notre Dame football players were arrested for alleged underage drinking at a party in South Bend.  Also last month, two Georgia players were arrested for various alcohol related offenses.

Also last month, one Tennessee football player was kicked off the team after several players were allegedly involved in a fight at a bar.

While nothing major has happened at Mizzou, it is important that the university continue to keep up its zero tolerance policy of brushes with the law off the field.  Nothing will bring out the NCAA quicker then not dealing with player problems quickly and swiftly.

To the credit of head coach Gary Pinkel, that is exactly what he along with others at Mizzou have done.  They stress the core values that every athlete, not just the football team, must adhere to at all times while a student and and athlete at Mizzou.

So while there have been some Mizzou names in the news, and while an arrest is an arrest, so far the Tigers have stayed clear of major trouble.

Let's hope that continues as the Tigers hit the practice field for the first time this summer.