MrSEC.com » The Blotter

Hornsby Idicted, But No Brass Knuckles Mentioned

John — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:54:06 +0000

As expected, a federal indictment has been handed down to Ole Miss football signee Jamar Hornsby for an aggravated assault.

You know the backstory by now — Hornsby was dismissed from Florida’s team after off-the-field incidents (including using a dead girl’s credit card), he signed with Ole Miss after a year at a junior college, then was arrested in March for allegedly beating a man with a set of brass knuckles and stealing six dollars from his pocket.

The brass knuckles were a part of the initial police report, but they were not mentioned in the federal indictment.

“As we’ve said all along, there were never any brass knuckles involved,” said Hornsby’s attorney, Steve Farese.

The fact that the brass knuckles were not mentioned in the new indictment “semi-vindicates us as far as this was just a fight.”

I’m guessing prosecuting attorneys won’t see it that way, but hey, Farese is speaking on behalf of his client so we can expect some positive spin.

Houston Nutt has refused to take any action with Hornsby (other than holding him out of practice) until the court system wraps up his case. We’ll see if today’s federal indictment forces Nutt to act further.

Or maybe he, too, feels this federal indictment is a “semi-vindication” of Hornsby.

Rebels’ Hornsby Could Be Indicted On Federal Charges

John — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:45:57 +0000

The attorney for oft-troubled defensive back Jamar Hornsby expects his client to be indicted on federal assault and larceny charges on Friday. You might remember that Hornsby was arrested in March for allegedly beating a man with brass knuckles and stealing six bucks from his pocket. This after he had already blown his chance at Florida by using a dead girl’s credit card.

The truly disappointing thing in all of this is that Houston Nutt did not immediately cut ties with Hornsby after the assault arrest. The man was already on his second (third, fourth) chance and beat someone with brass knuckles. That should have been Game Over.

Instead, Nutt said he would decide Hornsby’s fate once his legal troubles were put to bed. Now it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen for a while.

Perhaps Nutt will finally decide on Friday that a man indicted on federal assault charges probably shouldn’t be a representative of the Ole Miss football program. We’ll see.

In indicted and convicted, Hornsby could face 20 years in prison.

Hornsby’s attorney denies that brass knuckles were used in the attack.

Make It 25 Arrests In 4 Years For The Gators

John — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:25:34 +0000

University of Florida police have arrested UF linebacker Dustin Doe — again — for — again — driving with a suspended license.

Urban Meyer has suspended Doe from the team indefinitely… presumably for being an idiot.

In late June Doe was charged for “knowingly driving with a suspended license.” Prior to that he had received two traffic tickets for “unknowingly” driving with a suspended license.

How does someone get popped four times for driving on a suspended license?

For the record, Doe started all 12 games last year. And his latest brush with the law now counts as the 25th arrest of a Gator player during Meyer’s four year tenure.

MSU’s Dixon Arrested… For Something

John — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:24:36 +0000

So you’re first-year Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen. You’ve got one real weapon on offense. He’s a senior. And he just got arrested last night.

Not exactly the news that Mullen wanted to hear heading into his Wednesday presser at SEC Media Days in Hoover, Alabama.

The Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports that Mullen is aware of the charges and is gathering information before handing out a punishment. But no one is officially saying what MSU’s workhorse tailback has been charged with.

Unofficially, the speculation centers on a DUI. We shall see.

Dixon was chosen last week as a second-team All-SEC running back by the league’s coaches.

Vandy — Yes, Vandy — Footballer Arrested

John — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:37:30 +0000

Our first post of the day and we’ve got two stars beside this item… one, because it’s the first arrest of a Vandy player (that I can recall) since we started this site and two, because it involves someone named “Cabbagestalk.”

Incoming freshman lineman Justin Cabbagestalk was arrested Tuesday night and charged with felony burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and misdemeanor criminal mischief.

The arrest took place in his homestate of Florida, in Tampa. A police spokesperson said “It appears as though nothing was taken.”

Sounds more like a breaking and entering charge than a burglary charge to me, but I’m no lawyer.

No word yet from Vandy coach Bobby Johnson.

Speaking Of Gator Arrests… Jenkins Accepts Deferred Prosecution

John — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:27:02 +0000

Florida’s State Attorney’s office offered Florida cornerback Janoris Jenkins a deferred prosecution for resisting arrest during a fight in May… and Jenkins has taken it.

Jenkins will receive six months of probation, have to pay about $200 in costs, and will have to do 15 hours of community service.

You might recall that Jenkins was arrested and tasered when he refused to back down in a fight with five other people. He was charged with resisting arrest and “affray.” The affray charge was dropped as part of the deferred prosecution agreement.

If Jenkins minds his p’s and q’s, he’ll face no further charges for the incident.

Jenkins attorney had this to say of the agreement: “The truth is, I feel as though he didn’t really do anything wrong here. I don’t want to get into a big contest with (the Gainesville Police Department). Let’s just say this is a compromise as far as I’m concerned. This is being inside the 20-yard line and settling for three.”

Battle Dismissed At Arkansas

John — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:03:28 +0000

Four players arrested — one of them twice — is enough for Bobby Petrino. Arkansas’ head coach dismissed reserve linebacker Khiry Battle from the Razorback team yesterday.

Battle was arrested early Sunday for a DUI and two other charges. He was arrested in May for failing to appear in court over yet another previous charge.

“Khiry has been dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules,” Petrino said in a UA release. “Being a member of the Razorback football program requires responsible actions on and off the field.”

Another Arkansas Player Arrested

John — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:43:59 +0000

Arkansas linebacker Khiry Battle was arrested early Sunday and charged with a DUI. Battle — who is 20 — was also cited for refusing to take a Breathalyzer test and for violating Fayetteville’s noise ordinances.

This is Battle’s second arrest since May. His last arrest came for failing to appear in court on a previous charge.

Battle joins defensive tackle Lavunce Askew (theft of property), quarterback Ryan Mallett (public intoxication) and linebacker Ryan Powers (shoplifting) as the fourth UA footballer to be arrested in 2009.

No word yet from Bobby Petrino.

Carolina Walk-On Pleads Guilty, Pays Fine, It’s A Slow News Day

John — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:49:08 +0000

Walk-on punter Eric Davis has paid a traffic fine over an April accident that sent a Columbia parking enforcement official to the hospital with a knee injury.

Davis’ failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk landed him a $236 fine.

Not surprisingly, the 48-year-old he hit wants Davis to help pay for the arthroscopic knee surgery he underwent earlier this month.

MSU Signee Arrested Last Weekend

John — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:00:33 +0000

Incoming freshman defensive back Dennis Thames probably isn’t off to the start that Dan Mullen had hoped. The future Bulldog (or is he?) was arrested on May 30th and charged with “public intoxication — other substance.”

“Other substance?” I could be wrong, but I’m guessing this might have had something to do with the green, green grass of home.

At any rate, MSU officials say they’re “looking into the matter.”

Another Hog Arrested: Basketballer Britt Nailed For DWI

John — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:13:06 +0000

Arkansas is having quite the little start to summer. Yesterday we told you that a pair of football players were involved in some weekend thievery (one was arrested) and that former basketball player Patrick Beverly had claimed someone was writing papers for him during his playing days.

Now current basketball player Marcus Britt has been suspended from the team after he was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated on Saturday.

“He is a representative of the University of Arkansas and our basketball program, and needless to say, we are disappointed. He is still part of our team, but the expectations of being a Razorback include meeting high standards on the court and off the courts.

Britt will be a junior next season. In addition to the DWI charge, he was also hit with charges of driving with a suspended license, having no insurance, running a stop sign, and failure to appear in court for a previous speeding ticket (which led to the suspension of his license).

Florida CB Jenkins Arrested, Tasered Over The Weekend

Josh Ward — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:20:55 +0000

Florida sophomore cornerback Janoris Jenkins was tasered and arrested early Saturday morning and charged with fighting and resisting arrest without violence, according to a police report.

Jenkins, 20, was tasered and arrested after he failed to stop fighting, according to the report.

The report states Jenkins was fighting with five other people on South Main Street in Gainesville when an officer arrived and ordered them to stop fighting. Jenkins then hit another person in the head, according to the report, and the officer used the taser on Jenkins.

The report states Jenkins told police he was fighting to prevent his chain from being stolen.

Jenkins is the third Florida player to be arrested this offseason, joining offensive lineman Carl Johnson and walk-on running back Marquis Hannah. Jenkins is also the 24th player to be arrested during Urban Meyer’s four years in Gainesville.

Arkansas DT Askew Arrested, Suspended

John — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:06:44 +0000

This isn’t shaping up as a very good morning for Arkansas fans.

Sophomore defensive tackle Lavunce Askew was arrested over the weekend in connection with the theft of a laptop computer… and he was suspended indefinitely by Bobby Petrino yesterday.

(What? Was Askew hanging out with Cam Newton?)

Razorback defensive back Matt Marshall admitted to taking an iPod Touch from the same residence that Askew took the laptop from, but Marshall returned the item and left it on the owner’s doorsteep. He was not arrested.

Askew has been charged with felony theft.

Bama Signee Acquitted Of Harassment Charge

John — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:43:23 +0000

Alabama football signee Nico Johnson was acquitted yesterday of a harassment charge file by a private complaint.

Johnson faced “a verbal, non-physical” misdemeanor charge filed by another student at his high school.

“I’m great. I know that I didn’t do anything. It was blown out of proportion.”

Welcome Back, Whitlock… To The Doghouse

John — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:33:01 +0000

Last week we told you that sophomore cornerback CC Whitlock had been reinstated to the South Carolina football team.

Apparently he felt the need to celebrate this weekend. On Saturday night, Whitlock was arrested at a nightclub. As is university policy, Whitlock is now back ON suspension until the matter is resolved.

The 20 year-old Whitlock had been drinking at the club in Chester, South Carolina and refused to leave when he was asked to do so. He was charged with trespassing. He had also been involved in a “disturbance” at the same bar a week earlier according to the club’s owner.

Obviously, at the moment, things don’t look to good for Mr. Whitlock.

No word on whether or not Gamecock fans have taken to calling the oft-troubled young man “Nit” Whitlock.

Carolina Signee Busted For Weed

John — Fri, 22 May 2009 13:47:21 +0000

He was a star high school running back in Manatee County, Florida… until he got high. (Click that link. Great song.)

He was committed to play football at South Carolina… until he got high.

Now Benjamin Axon has been arrested on a charge of marijuana possession with intent to sell. That whole “intent to sell” thing doesn’t look too good.

Axon, who’s already 19 or 20 (depending on the report you read), signed to play for Carolina this fall.

USC officials have made no comment on Axon’s future with the Gamecocks.

Former Vol Allegedly Took Cash, Guns And Weed

John — Thu, 21 May 2009 21:46:15 +0000

A couple of hours ago I posted our latest take on the case of current Tennessee defensive back Brent Vinson.

According to a source, the Knoxville Police Department believes there is some connection between the shooting witnessed at 2am Wednesday by Vinson and the home invasion/robbery that took place about 36 hours earlier.

That home invasion resulted in former UT basketball player Ramar Smith being arrested and released on $15,000 bond.

The Knoxville News Sentinel is now reporting that Smith was charged with stealing $6000 in cash, guns and a half pound of marijuana during the armed invasion.

Question… what type of person has that in his house to steal? Uh-huh.

Now, it’s believed that Vinson was hanging out a day and half later at the home of another rough-and-tumble fellow when two men entered that townhouse and shot the resident multiple times, leaving him in critical condition.

As we suggested earlier, all of this appears to be tied to drugs.

Smith’s pilfering of $6000, guns and ganja would seem to make that even more apparent.

And if the two situations are connected, even though Vinson was just a witness to the shooting, it’s VERY likely that he’ll be booted from the Vol football team.

With a history of missteps, it’s unlikely his new coaches will be very forgiving of a young man who once again chose to put himself in harm’s way with some folks who — at the very least — are of “questionable” character.

You think Lane Kiffin might ask, “What were you doing there?” I’m guessing he will.

Then again, predicting Kiffin’s actions ain’t exactly an easy way to make a living.

UT’s Vinson Just A Witness, But Future Still In Doubt

John — Thu, 21 May 2009 19:50:41 +0000

At about 2am Wednesday morning in Knoxville, Tennessee defensive back Brent Vinson witnessed a shooting at a townhouse. Police have repeatedly said that Vinson is just a witness, not a suspect in the shooting.

But that still might not be enough to keep Vinson on the UT football team.

A quick look at all of the circumstances surrounding the case (and Vinson’s history at UT) all lead back to two words — drugs and trouble.

Let’s recap:

In 2007, Vinson signed to play football at Tennessee. His friend from Hampton, Virginia, Duke Crews also signed on to play basketball at Tennessee.

Following the 2007-2008 basketball season last spring, Crews along with Ramar Smith were kicked off of the Tennessee basketball team for academic issues as well as violations of UT’s drug policy.

Last fall, Vinson was suspended for the Vols’ season-opener against UCLA for violating Tennessee’s attendance policy. He was suspended for part of the Vols’ Northern Illinois game after showing up late for a team meeting.

He also served a one-game suspension later in the season (against South Carolina) because Knoxville police had issued him five citations including one for misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

On Monday afternoon, Smith, the former Vol basketball player allegedly took part in a home invasion robbery at a Knoxville apartment complex.

Then came the shooting across town at another townhouse early Wednesday morning.

Police have not ruled out the possibility of a connection between the two crimes. As we’ve written previously, we took that to mean that police believe the two crimes are connected.

Indeed, a source tells MrSEC.com that Knoxville police are of the opinion that the home invasion robbery (which involved drugs and cash) is tied to the shooting a day later.

Smith turned himself into authorities this morning for the home invasion and aggravated robbery and was released on $15,000 bond an hour later.

The shooting — which left the victim in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds — appears to have been drug-related as well.

According to a source near the investigation, the fact that Vinson was on-hand at the home of the victim does not reflect well on the current UT football player.

With his history of off-field issues and his connections — in some way or another — to Smith and to the victim in the Wednesday morning shooting, frankly, it would be surprising if Vinson is back on the Tennessee football team next fall.

It is more likely that he will become the 12th member of the Tennessee team to either depart or be dismissed since Lane Kiffin took over the Vols program.

Former Vol B’Baller Surrenders To Cops

John — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:16:40 +0000

Former Tennessee point guard Ramar Smith surrendered to police today on charges of aggravated robbery in Knoxville.

The home invasion robbery took place on Monday. Police are still trying to determine if that incident is connected to a shooting on Wednesday night on the other side of town.

Current football player Brent Vinson was a witness to the shooting that left a man in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds.

In other words, Vinson has probably already told the cops that Smith was or was not one of the two men involved in the shooting.

Since the police aren’t stating definitively that one incident is not related to the other, well, you might be able to do some math there.

Smith was kicked off of Tennessee’s team after his sophomore season in 2007-2008 before academic problems and a violation of UT’s substance abuse policy.

UPDATE – Smith has now been released on $15,000 bond after a one-hour stay in the Knox County jail.

He has been charged in connection to an an armed home invasion robbery. There is still some question as to whether that crime had any connection to the shooting that Vinson witnessed.

All it would take to clear that up would be for Vinson to say, “It wasn’t him.” Since police aren’t ruling out a connection between the cases, we can probably conclude that Vinson has NOT said, “it wasn’t him.”

And judging from Smith’s hairstyle (and no that’s not his mugshot), the former Vol would probably be pretty hard not to recognize.

Criminal Issues Involving Vols?

John — Wed, 20 May 2009 21:17:18 +0000

Well, this is too complicated a story to do anything but lay out what’s known at the moment.

Current Tennessee defensive back Brent Vinson was a witness to an overnight shooting in Knoxville. Police have said that Vinson is not considered a suspect.

Police are also trying to find former Vol basketball player Ramar Smith in connection with a home invasion robbery.

A police spokesperson said, “It is undetermined at this point if the incidents are connected.”

The victim in the shooting is in critical condition as of this afternoon. He was shot last night.

When officers arrived at the man’s townhouse last night, they found the victim and several witnesses who explained that they had seen two men fleeing the area. The victim had been shot multiple times.

Vinson was one of the witnesses in the townhouse at the time of the shooting.

How does Smith fit in to this? Does Smith fit into this?

Well, police want to talk to him about a home invasion that took place on Monday.

Smith was booted from the Tennessee team following the 2007-2008 season due to poor grades and a violation of UT’s drug policy.

Sources Say Substance Abuse Violations Led To Georgia Discipline

John — Mon, 11 May 2009 12:32:07 +0000

As was confirmed over the weekend, Mark Richt has suspended tight end Bruce Figgins from six games this fall and defensive end Justin Houston for two games.

While Richt’s statement could only cover the standard “violation of team rules,” sources have told ESPN that Figgins was suspended for failing the second drug test of his career.

While Figgins was expected to compete for the starting tight end job with two other players, Houston was viewed as a starter at D-end… a position of need for the pass rush-less Bulldogs.

His absence will clearly hurt UGA when they go up against pass happy Oklahoma State in their opener and then follow that up against the mobile Stephen Garcia and South Carolina in Week Two.

Arkansas Linebacker Arrested And Jailed

John — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:02:30 +0000

I’m telling you, folks, the silly season has begun.

Arkansas linebacker Khiry Battle was arrested late Wednesday night for failure to appear after a university police officer responded to an argument involving him.

He was booked, held, and then released 90 minutes later.

Battle was arguing with another student in a university parking lot when police were called. The officer ran a check on Battle and found that he had a warrant out for his arrest… for failing to resolve a careless driving ticket. Thus the “failure to appear.”

Battle is the third Hog to be arrested in the last three months.

Johnson Boots A Player… And LSU’s Roster Just Got Even Thinner

John — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:18:00 +0000

Forward Delwan Graham played sparingly on last year’s SEC championship team. But with five scholarship players (all seniors) already departing and Tasmin Mitchell exploring his NBA options, Graham’s role figured to grow next season.

It won’t now.

“I will not renew Delwan Graham’s scholarship for next season, and he will not be with the team because of a violation of team rules,” Trent Johnson said yesterday.

It Mitchell does not return, LSU is staring down the barrel of a situation similar to what Arkansas and John Pelphrey faced last year.

And we all know how that turned out.

Report: Georgia To Suspend Three Football Players

John — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:17:01 +0000

In the SEC there are three seasons: football season, basketball season, and get-in-trouble season.

The past couple of years, Georgia has excelled during get-in-trouble season.

Now UGASports.com is reporting that some Bulldog football players are in trouble again.

Tight end Bruce Figgins, defensive end Justin Houston and receiver Tony Wilson will be benched for an undetermined number of games for that oldie but goodie — the violation of team rules.

When asked yesterday about the report, Mark Richt said, “At the appropriate time, I will make any announcement that needs to be made — if there is any announcement that needs to be made.”

If true, this is certainly not the start to summer that Richt and Dawg fans were hoping for.

Former Dawg Gets Time In The Joint

John — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:23:33 +0000

Former Georgia defensive end Michael Lemon will spend the next two weekends in jail as part of a plea bargain stemming from a fight at cookout last summer.

Lemon was charged with felony aggravated battery and misdemeanor battery for punching another UGA student to the ground during an apartment complex cookout.

Mark Richt booted Lemon from the Bulldog team shortly thereafter.

After spending last season at Georgia Military College, Lemon is expected to continue his college career at North Carolina State next fall.

Trial Of UM’s Hornsby Delayed Again

John — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:26:49 +0000

You know all about Ole Miss signee Jamar Hornsby by this point:

* Dead girl’s credit card
* More off-field issues
* Dismissed from Florida
* Brass knuckles beating
* Stealing six bucks from the guy he beat

Well, he was in court yesterday for a preliminary hearing but the case was delayed until mid-August.

That’s in the middle of fall camp for the Rebels. Houston Nutt had no comment when asked if Hornsby would be able to play for his team while the court case lingered on.

There’s a reason this guy is getting so many chance — he’s a heckuva football player and will probably start for Ole Miss. If he’s not in the joint.

Again, Nutt wants to see how the court case turns out before booting him.

And again we say, “because the guy might’ve had a good reason for beating someone with brass knuckles and stealing six bucks from him.”

I’m all for second chances… but this makes Ole Miss and Nutt look bad.

Ole Miss’ Powe Can’t Read?

John — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:56:26 +0000

Sunday morning, Ole Miss defensive tackle Jerrell Powe was cited for a noise violation for playing loud music in his Oxford apartment.

When police arrived and told him to turn the music down, Powe said “he couldn’t read.”

Powe, you might remember, had a long fight to become eligible at Ole Miss. So this probably wasn’t the best comment for him to make… if he was joking.

“Of course he can read, how do you think he’s getting through college,” asked Houston Nutt.

Uh, maybe someone’s giving him grades? It’s been known to happen. Ask Dexter Manley.

“Now he just needs to learn to keep his mouth shut,” Nutt added.

But don’t forget the comments of Powe’s mother back in 2006. “Jerrell really is a good child, but he just can’t read. Please give him this chance to attend Ole Miss.”

To make matters worse, Powe supposedly asked for the police officer’s name as the citation was being made out. He “made comments about getting my name and that he will remember it for later. He stated, ‘Zachary White, I got you. I’ll remember that.’”

In the same incident, Ole Miss running back Enrique Davis was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after repeatedly refusing to show identification to a police officer.

Nutt said that Powe and Davis would be punished, but that punishment will remain internal.

Trouble In The Palmetto State

John — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:09:31 +0000

The bad news — Steve Spurrier had to take two disciplinary actions yesterday.

The good news — Stephen Garcia wasn’t involved.

Backup fullback Dustyn McElory has been dismissed from the Gamecock team after allegedly biting a man in the face during a fight outside the Village Idiot bar in the Five Points area of Columbia.

Police say McElroy, after the fight, punched and shattered the storefront window of an art gallery next to the bar. McElroy claimed that seven men jumped him inside the bar and he was simply defending himself.

Spurrier also had to suspend cornerback CC Whitlock indefinitely for “academic reasons and other issues.”

Defensive tackle Ladi Ajiboye, suspended last week after being charged with simple possession of marijuana, is still out of practice, too.

No word on when they might return.

Spurrier Suspends Starting Defensive Lineman

John — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:43:37 +0000

Defensive tackle Ladi Ajiboye will miss part of spring practice due to a suspension handed down for “team reasons.”

“He is suspended from the team until further notice,” Steve Spurrier said. “He’s not participating in football activities and we’ll see how it turns out a week or two from now.”

Ajiboye started 21 times for the Gamecocks over the last two seasons.

Georgia Cuts Ties With LB Signee

John — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:15:23 +0000

Georgia has severed ties with one of their 2009 signees and the player has responded with what amounts to a “yeah, well I didn’t like you that much anyway.”

Linebacker Dexter Moody has been released from his scholarship due to a combination of academic and behavior issues.

His coach, Milan Turner said, “They kind of had a plan for him to finish up the year as far as eligibility and schoolwork and behavior. He’s kind of gotten off track there, and I think they felt it was best to give him an unconditional release and let him kind of decide what he wants to do.”

The latest behavior episode involved an argument between Moody and one of the chemistry teachers at his high school.

His feelings on being jilted before even arriving in Athens?

“I’m not upset about it. It ain’t no big deal really. It really wasn’t my favorite school. I was going because I had a teammate on the team that was going, too. He encouraged me to go.”

Kudos to Mark Richt for laying out some ground rules and then following through when the rules were broken.

Now keep an eye on Florida and LSU who were chasing Moody prior to his signing with Georgia.

Bama Suspends Two Linebackers

John — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 12:51:53 +0000

Linebackers Prince Hall and Brandon Fanney have been suspended (not unlike Cirque du Soleil) by Nick Saban for the start of spring practice due to the ever frustrating “violation of team rules.”

Fanney was suspended for yesterday’s opening session and he coach said he isn’t sure when he’ll back.

Hall is out indefinitely. It’s the third suspension for Hall under Saban’s watch.

Razorback B’Baller Suspended For Breaking Team Rules

John — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:34:00 +0000

Jason Henry began the season on suspension and now he’ll end the season the same way (not unlike the fellow suspended at left).

The freshman “has been suspended indefinitely from the team for a violation of team rules,” according to a statement from John Pelphrey.

“Part of being a Razorback is meeting the high standards of the University of Arkansas and the basketball program. He will remain a part of the team, but he will not travel to Tampa for the SEC Tournament.”

Henry said after his early season suspension that he should “never miss class again.”

So, was this suspension class-related? Or something else?

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette could find no evidence of any legal woes for Henry.

Which is a switch from much of the news concerning Arkansas athletes these days. (See previous post.)

Henry ranks fifth on the team in scoring and had a 27-point, 12-rebound outing against South Carolina earlier this year.

Arkansas Linebacker Arrested For Shoplifting

John — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:27:50 +0000

Our Blotter page is starting to hum and it’s barely the start of spring. Imagine what we’re in for this summer when coaches no longer have oversight of their players.

This time, Arkansas has had another football player arrested — sophomore linebacker Ryan Powers — who was arrested last night for shoplifting.

Powers had 15 tackles for the Razorbacks last year.

Quarterback Ryan Mallett was arrested for public intoxication last week.

Former UA player Matt Jones also jailed this week for violating his drug court program for a previous arrest.

Not a good week for Hogs or former Hogs.

Charges Against Florida’s Johnson Dropped

John — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:37:03 +0000

You can expect Gator offensive lineman Carl Johnson to be back on the field for Florida next season.

In February, Johnson’s girlfriend filed a restraining order against Johnson saying that she had been raped by him on three occasions and that she was afraid of him.

A week after the order was filed, Johnson was arrested for riding the same campus bus as the woman… apparently waiting for his ex to exit before he did the same.

But the charges of violating the restraining order have been dropped due to “insufficient evidence.” Johnson, still, is not to have any contact with his ex-girlfriend.

The woman in question said that Johnson made no eye contact with her while he was on the bus. In other words, he might not have known she was on it.

The news gets better for Johnson as his ex has also now said that she will not pursue rape charges.

An affadavit reading “I’m hereby withdrawing my complaint of sexual battery requested on Feb. 4. I understand the suspect in this case is Carl A. Johnson and I do not with to prosecute.”

That’s all a pretty interesting turn of events. Especially considering the woman had said that Johnson had physically and emotionally abused her and that he had told her on numerous occasions that his top goal in life was to shoot and kill someone.

Florida officials have not commented on the situation, but it’s expected Johnson will be allowed to rejoin the team. He had been banned from team workouts.

Another Ole Miss Football Player Arrested

John — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 20:13:46 +0000

Jamar Hornsby isn’t the only Ole Miss football player to be arrested in recent days.

Running back Andre Sterling, who signed with UM in 2008 but played at Hargrave Military Academy last year, was picked up and charged with a DUI in Oxford about a week ago.

He pulled over when police saw him driving the wrong way on a one-way street.

He was expected to go through spring practice with the team this month, but now he has been indefinitely suspended.

Ole Miss has said that all punishment will be handled internally.

Hornsby Arrested Again; All Eyes On Nutt

John — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:18:30 +0000

Remember the name Jamar Hornsby?

Hornsby, a defensive back, was let go by Florida after he was arrested and put on probation for using a dead girl’s credit card in Gainesville in 2007.

Following a year at East Mississippi Community College in 2008, Houston Nutt signed him and gave him another chance in the SEC. He was considered one of Ole Miss’ best signees in the 2009 class.

But things aren’t working out too well with that whole second chance thing.

Hornsby was arrested last week — again — this time for aggravated assault and petit larceny (the same as petty larceny).

The arrest came in Starkville and police there are offering no specifics on the case.

Hornsby’s latest troubles will certainly put some media focus on Nutt.

When you take a player who’s already been booted off of one campus, you raise eyebrows. If that player then immediately gets in trouble on your campus, you get plenty of pressure to let him go.

Nutt will now get that pressure. I can assure you that the Ole Miss athletic department doesn’t want to see this story on ESPN. And Rebel fans don’t like the idea of having an outlaw program, either.

So the ball is now in Nutt’s court. We’ll see how handles this one.

MSU’s Langston Suspended For Pot Arrest

John — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:11:00 +0000

Juco transfer defensive back Maurice Langston has been indefinitely suspended from the Mississippi State football program following an arrest on Saturday.

Langston was charged in Hattiesburg, Mississippi for possession of a controlled substance (weed, ganja, pot, dope, grass, green, bud, smoke) with intent to distribute.

Police pulled over Langston and another man for a traffic violation on Saturday (not sure if it was Cheech or Chong riding with him).

The officers quickly noticed two things: Langston was acting pretty nervously… and there was an odor of marijuana in the car.

Upon closer inspection, about a pound of marijuana was found in the vehicle.

Langston signed with State in December and enrolled in school in January.

That’s Not The Way To Claim A Job, Ryan Mallett

John — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:36:34 +0000

Perhaps he was celebrating the fact that he is Arkansas’ almost certain starter at quarterback.

Perhaps he was celebrating the end of his had-to-sit-out transfer year.

Or perhaps he was just acting like most college students and things went too far.

Either way, Bobby Petrino isn’t too happy that quarterback Ryan Mallett was arrested early yesterday morning for public intoxication outside a Fayetteville nightspot.

“I am very disappointed that Ryan Mallett put himself in a situation that doesn’t reflect positively on him or on our program. All members of the Razorback football team have a responsibility to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner on and off the field. While the legal process has not yet take its course on this matter, Ryan will face internal team disciplinary action for not representing the Razorbacks in a way that is required of our student-athletes.”

Mallett, who transferred to Arkansas from Michigan, is expected to be the Hogs’ starter when spring practice begins in Fayetteville three weeks from tomorrow.

We’ll have more in our SEC West news package.

Ole Miss Dismisses Two Reserves

John — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:21:03 +0000

Yesterday, Houston Nutt dismissed a pair of reserve football players for the ever popular “violation of team rules.”

Defensive tackle Justin Sanders and Defensive back James Scott (a transfer from Ohio State) were let go. Neither had ever played in a game for the Rebels, though Scott was expected to be a factor in Mississippi’s secondary this fall.

UK’s Cobb (Not That One) Pleads Guilty In Harassment Case

John — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:37:14 +0000

Senior strong safety Ashton Cobb will be on probation for two years after pleading guilty to terroristic threatening.

Cobb was accused of calling and text threats of rape and murder to his former girlfriend on 34 different occasions.

He will be sent to anger management counseling.

Cobb is of no relation to UK sophomore receiver Randall Cobb.

Florida’s Johnson Accused Of Date Rape

John — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:30:24 +0000

Yesterday we told you that Florida offensive lineman Carl Johnson had been arrested Monday for violating a restraining order that was issued on February 9th.

We now know why the restraining order was put in place. In the petition to obtain the temporary order, Johnson’s former girlfriend had claimed that the 21 year-old had date-raped her three different times and had physically and emotionally abused her.

According to the petition, Johnson’s ex said that he had told her numerous times that his number one goal in life was to shoot and kill someone.

Nice.

In addition, she said “He would shake me, bite me and hit me.”

Of course, we’re hearing one side of the story at the current time, so that’s important to remember. But if these claims are true, I, as well as some Florida media members, don’t expect Mr. Johnson to be a member of the UF football team for much longer.

(Photo credit to The Orlando Sentinel.)

Florida Lineman Arrested

John — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:06:38 +0000

Florida junior offensive lineman Carl Johnson was arrested yesterday by UF police for violating a sexual violence restraining order.

That’s a first-degree misdemeanor.

Johnson started nine games for the Gators at left tackle last year, filling in for Jim Tartt.

According to reports, a woman had been granted a restraining order against Johnson last week. Yesterday, he got on the same bus as the woman, passed up several chances to exit, and waited for her to leave the bus, before following her.

This is the third arrest of a Gator football player since November.

So, let fans of other SEC schools begin piling on… now.

17 Hours In The Hoosegow For Georgia DT

John — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:51:32 +0000

Georgia defensive tackle Brandon Wood plead guilty last week to a DUI charge that led to his arrest last October.

Wood was forced to serve 17 hours in jail over the weekend and received 12-months probation.

He missed two games last fall, suspended for the arrest.

Arkansas Frosh B’baller Suspended For DWI

John — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:42:39 +0000

It’s always rare to see an in-season blotter story (unless it’s a coach battling a cabbie, of course), but that’s what we’ve got coming out of Fayetteville.

Arrested early Sunday on several traffic-related charges, 19 year-old freshman Brandon Moore has been suspended indefinitely from the Arkansas basketball team.

Driving while intoxicated was the biggest charge on the list, by the way.

“The University of Arkansas and the basketball program are committed to the highest standards on and off the court, and our student-athletes are expected to adhere to those standards,” John Pelphrey said in a statement.

Moore has played in every UA game so far, but was averaging less than nine minutes and right at two points per game.

Hopefully the young man will learn his lesson and come out better for it on the other side.

Kennedy Will Coach Tonight

John — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:12:27 +0000

It just dawned on me that this is the first time a coach has made our Blotter page!

Congrats for breaking the seal, Andy Kennedy.

Kennedy, it turns out, will coach tonight against Louisville… after being arrested this morning for allegedly assaulting a cab driver. A pre-trial hearing has been set for January 16th.

No word yet on how court dates might impact Kennedy’s ability to coach his team in the future.

Athletic director Pete Boon called the arrest of Kennedy and assistant Bill Armstrong an “unfortunate situation,” but he stands behind his guys.

“After a full discussion with Andy Kennedy and his staff, who were with him, I have the utmost confidence that once all the facts are known, Coach Kennedy will be cleared of all charges.”

Not surprisingly, the incident ties back to a bar and, supposedly, Arab-bashing slurs hurled at a Middle Eastern cab driver by members of the Ole Miss coaching staff… including Kennedy.

UT’S MORLEY ARRESTED ON MIX-UP

John — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:55:05 +0000

Yesterday morning, Tennessee starting safety Demetrice Morley was stopped by police for speeding. A background check turned up a warrant for his arrest stemming from a felony robbery charge issued in Miami in 2007.

Well, Morley was released last night after it was found that the warrant was issued by mistake. Morley had completed 75 hours of community service that were required of him, but the Miami-Dade court hadn’t credited for them.

The warrant was issued when the safety failed to show for a September 4th hearing, but no one seems to know what that hearing was about.

You can read the full, complicated story here.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING… FROM JAIL!

John — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 13:28:58 +0000

Early yesterday morning, sophomore Georgia center Kevin Perez was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

Apparently, he had violated “Stop” and “Yield” signs, which probably caught the cops’ attention just a little bit.

Perez has played in three games this season, but will be suspended against Georgia Tech tomorrow and for the Bulldogs’ bowl game.

He is the 11th Georgia football player to be arrested since January.

HOG KICKER (WELL, HE DOESN’T ACTUALLY KICK HOGS) QUITS, GETS ARRESTED

John — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:53:59 +0000

Former Arkansas kick Shay Haddock was arrested, booked and charged Sunday morning for public intoxication and minor possession of alcohol.

Haddock quit the Razorbacks team last Tuesday, but that fact was not shared with the media until after Haddock’s arrest yesterday. He lost his starting spot as UA’s kicker on November 1st.

GATORS SAY BYE-BYE TO RICKERSON AFTER ARREST

John — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:38:17 +0000

Cornerback Jacques Rickerson was given the boot from the Florida football team yesterday after being arrested on a charge of domestic battery by strangulation.

Nice.

At least Urban Meyer acted swiftly. “Jacques Rickerson is no longer part of our team — that is not what our program is about.”

You can read the details of what happened right here… suffice to say, the dismissal of a player who’d taken part in every game this year was well warranted.

TENNESSEE’S VINSON MAKES THE BLOTTER

John — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:57:13 +0000

Vol cornerback Brent Vinson was suspended from last Saturday’s 27-6 loss to South Carolina. Why? Well, the day before Vinson had been issued five… yes, five… citations by Knoxville police.

Let’s see, we’ve got misdemeanor possession of marijuana, an open container violation, speeding, driving without a license and driving without insurance.

But don’t expect him to miss any more playing time. “He served his little punishment there,” Phillip Fulmer said. “He’ll be back for us.”

Vinson, it should be noted, was also suspended prior to the season-opener due to academic issues. Namely, going to class.

Hmmm.

Perhaps this type of “discipline” is why the players love Fulmer so much they’re willing to fight for him… and yet they have very little discipline on the field of play. I’m just sayin’.

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