2: Misdemeanor possession of marijuana in January 2008. They also were the SEC regular season and tournament champions. Regardless of the success, Head Coach Urban Meyer still faced criticism for his leniency, in part to the long list of arrests and misconduct under his tenure. RONNIE WILSON Charge No. Sign up for the Gators Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. (Meyer took time off from coaching after he left the Gators, citing health concerns.). The greatest college football team of all-time. (Rainey was arrested in January in Gainesville on battery charges and released by the Pittsburgh Steelers.). TORREY DAVIS Charge: Misdemeanor knowingly driving with a suspended license on numerous occasions, including once in July 2008 and another in March 2009 two weeks after he left the team that placed him in jail. 3: One count of battery and one count of assault for an altercation at an apartment complex in October. Florida Man Top 10. But their success on the field was mirrored by drama away from it. Outcome: All charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence. The '08 Gators won a national championship, but their success was largely provided by players who are as familiar to police as they are to fans. Safety Dorian Munroe was charged with felony theft, accused of removing a parking boot affixed to his car. Does that mean Meyer should be criticized for Hernandez's actions? "This group of players we have now are by and large a pretty good group. Other arrests involved a starting defensive end, Carlos Dunlap, accused of driving under the influence before the conference championship game; a starting cornerback, Janoris Jenkins, charged with resisting arrest; and a substitute running back, Chris Rainey, accused of sending a text message to a former girlfriend that read, in part, time to die. (Rainey was arrested in January in Gainesville on battery charges and released by the Pittsburgh Steelers.). The University of Florida has now taken their rightful spot as the number one team in the state, on and off the field. Jenkins told police he was fighting because he thought someone was going to steal the gold chain around his neck, but the officer said he didnt see anyone doing that. In the 12 years since, Georgia has found more success and has won the last three matchups in the series. "Relating or blaming these serious charges to University of Florida, myself or our staff is wrong and irresponsible," Meyer said in a text sent toThe Gainesville Sun. The 2008 Florida Gators, a team that featured Aaron Hernandez and Tim Tebow, won the BCS championship, but 41 of the 121 players on that roster have been arrested. Everyone wants to defeat their biggest foe, after all. . Oklahoma State DUSTIN DOE Charge: Misdemeanor affray and resisting arrest for his role in an April 2007. Never forget the time when the #Gators were beating Georgia 49-10 with a minute to go and Urban Meyer called all his timeouts to make the Bulldogs just sit there and suffer a few minutes longer. #TBT #THWG pic.twitter.com/UBcHj4WyCQ, InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) October 25, 2018. Outcome: Atkins received pre-trial intervention and both cases were eventually dropped. There were also the Pouncey twins, Janoris Jenkins, Riley Cooper, and even Cam Newton. Safety Tony Joiner was charged with breaking into an impound lot to retrieve his girlfriend's towed car. According to The New York Times, 41 members of the 2008 Gators have been arrested. His legacy was already etched in stone as a coach who brought the program back to its national prominence with players who struggled with off-the-field discipline. He drew his Taser and fired at Jenkins after he saw him punch another man in the head. Ben Tobias, a spokesman for the Gainesville Police Department, wrote in an email that it would be difficult to compare the arrest rate for football players in those years with the general arrest rate for Florida students. 1. Subscribe to our free Breaking Sports News newsletter. Many of those issues were masked at the time due to having Americas Golden Boy, Tebow, under center, but they could soon come to light. Florida According to a report from UF insider Nick De La Torre, filming is still in process. Outcome: Charges were reduced to misdemeanor status,. pic.twitter.com/qQvn3udmFL. AVERY ATKINS Charge: Misdemeanor domestic battery in July 2006 after an altercation in Daytona Beach with the mother of his child. Newton transferred to Blinn (Texas) Junior College. Do you have a sports website? The 2008 team provides a window into Florida football during that period. Find out more. A roster on the universitys Web site lists 121 players, 41 of whom have been arrested, either in college or afterward, and sometimes both. I am the same age as these players, and I know that best way to find yourself is probably not in jail, through drugs, battery, or theft. An Outside the Lines investigation of 10 major football and mens basketball programs found that the University of Florida had the most athletes -- 80, or 24 percent of its rosters -- named as suspects in more than 100 crimes from 2009 to 2014. Team punishment: Suspended for one game, the 2007 opener against Western Kentucky. At least 31 arrests were made of members of the University of Florida teams coached from 2005 to 2010 by Urban Meyer. Florida would go on to win the SEC and national championships. According to the New York Times, aroster on the universitys website lists 121 players, 41 of whom were arrested either in college or after, and sometimes both. The 2008 Gators went 70-5 overall and 27-1 in SEC play. They closed their season with a 24-14 win over Oklahoma to win the BCS Championship. After Hernandez's recent arrest, his time in Gainesville received renewed scrutiny, with reports that he ruptured a man's eardrum during the fight in 2007 and that he did not cooperate with the police after the shooting in 2007. Several of those players went on to the NFL and one, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, transferred and later won the Heisman Trophy at Auburn.. Powell and his agent did not respond to requests for an interview. Meyer is the typical "American Dream" story. Team punishments: Rickerson was suspended for the 2007 season opener for the marijuana charge, then kicked off the team the morning of the domestic violence incident. 2009 . But a number of players on the team did not live up to Tebow's ideal. Marcus Gilbert. This time, he was kicked off the football team and would later be found guilty. Meyer, about to start his second season as coach of Ohio State, initially declined to answer questions about Hernandez, a player who reportedly went to regular Bible study in Meyers home. Team punishment: No suspension for Doe. If Urban is looking out for his players, he might want to lend them that piece of advice. Safety Dorian Munroe was charged with felony theft, accused of removing a boot affixed to his car. Was this a program filled with players of questionable character, or a program now receiving unfair scrutiny because of a heinous act attributed to one of its former players? Maybe the University of. Team punishment: Cunningham played in Floridas next game, the Capital One Bowl, but Meyer said he imposed physical punishment on Cunningham, who also couldnt accept bowl-game gifts. But youre not in handcuffs OK, so just chill out.. Dunlap was suspended for the SEC title game. Wow! Outcome: Charges were dropped without legal ramifications. Urban Meyer was on campus over the summer to film interviews. JOHN CURTIS Charge: Misdemeanor violation of probation in May 2007 after failing to serve five hours of community service stemming from an alcohol citation. Was this a program filled with players of questionable character, or was it a program that is now receiving unfair scrutiny because of a heinous act attributed to one of its former players? MARQUIS HANNAH Charge: Felony burglary of an occupied dwelling unarmed and misdemeanor battery in late April 2009 for allegedly forcing his way into a Gainesville apartment and punching a man in the face. Some faced little discipline, while others left the university. JAMAR HORNSBY Charge No. Rays were fearless on the bases in 2022. For context, we have to go back to the prior year. He was later arrested on charges of marijuana possession and of battery and assault. Winner, 2014 Alfred I. duPont Columbia University Award; finalist, 2012 IRE broadcast award; winner, 2011 Gannett Foundation Award for Innovation in Watchdog Journalism; Emmy nominated, 2009. Brandon Spikes. Charge No. All rights reserved. He was cited for having a stolen parking decal, which was a common citation among athletes, and he was with a group of athletes whom police questioned about shooting fireworks at people, to which Florida running back Chris Rainey admitted responsibility. The charges will disappear assuming he completes his obligations. Outcome: Charges were reduced to misdemeanor status, then the Alachua County courts gave him two years probation without proceeding with the charges. The authorities said he threw it from a window when the police arrived. Here's USA TODAY's latest projection, Georgia defense to be shorthanded in showdown with Gators, per report, WATCH: Dan Mullen talks defense, backup kicker Chris Howard, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Our Parenting and Advice newsletter supports you in the daunting task of parenthood. The 2008 Florida Gators were National Champs, and in case youd forgotten the season, it was the year Tim Tebow officially became a phenomenon. The list does not mention the 'character guys' Meyer relied on to win games such as Percy Harvin (Marijuana, unsportsmanlike conduct suspensions) or Jarvis Moss (Team suspension). 2008. Johnson is a Gainesville-based criminal defense attorney who, according to the report, has defended dozens of Gators football players in a variety of cases, including felony burglary. In a battle of top-10 teams, UF beat the breaks off the Bulldogs and asserted itself as the top team in the SEC East, which it went on to win in addition to conference and national championships. Hernandez was not an athlete, but his name would surface years later in connection to Aaron Hernandez, no family relation, the former New England Patriots star recently convicted in the murder of Odin Lloyd. His presence was so overwhelming that he overshadowed his teammates and their arrest records. "Relating or blaming these serious charges to University of Florida, myself or our staff is wrong and irresponsible," Meyer said in a text sent to. 2: Misdemeanor violation of a city ordinance and disorderly conduct in October 2005 for his involvement in a fight. Demps worked out with the Gators later that summer but never played for UF again. Urban Meyer was on campus this summer to film interviews, and Tim Tebow, Major Wright, Ahmad Black and . These college athletes, in general, get away with way more stuff that happened that didnt reach the papers.. As a matter of policy, Sports Reference only reports the results of games as played on the field. Team punishment: Johnson never missed any time. Most notably, Aaron Hernandez was on the 2008 squad, ended up being convicted of murder during his time in the NFL and committed suicide while in prison. Outcome: Charges were dropped. Five Gators were named All-Americans and Junior pitcher Stacey Nelson was the SEC Pitcher of the Year. If Coach Meyer were still coaching, Id still be playing for the Gators, he was quoted as saying. From Aaron Hernandez to Tim Tebow to Maurkice Pouncey's torn ACL, it makes you wonder. The truth of the matter is that Urban Meyer has sacrificed values for the "W's" of college football. An examination of more than 2,000 documents shows that college athletes accused of crimes mainly benefited from a confluence of factors that can be reality at major sports programs. According to Florida Gators insider Nick de la Torre, the 08 team will be featured in a Netflix documentary. The coaching staff was made up of Urban Meyer and four assistants that would go on to become Division I head coaches (four at the Power 5 level). New rules could make them more aggressive. Hernandez, arguably the most troubled of the bunch, saw his NFL career end after he became the center of a 2013 murder investigation. After Hernandezs recent arrest, his time in Gainesville received renewed scrutiny, with reports that he ruptured a mans eardrum during the fight in 2007 and that he did not cooperate with the police after the shooting in 2007. Outcome: The charge was dropped despite serving probation for his original arrest. Florida. His presence was so overwhelming that he overshadowed his teammates and their arrest records. LOUIS MURPHY Charge: Misdemeanor possession of marijuana in May 2006. Ronnie Wilson, a lineman from Meyers initial 2005 recruiting class, punched and spat on a man, then opened his trunk, grabbed an AK-47 and opened fire outside a nightclub in April 2007, a police report charged. Conference: SEC (East Division) Cam Newton. Rather, the examination of more than 2,000 documents shows that athletes from the 10 schools mainly benefited from the confluence of factors that can be reality at major sports programs: the near-immediate access to high-profile attorneys, the intimidation that is felt by witnesses who accuse athletes, and the higher bar some criminal justice officials feel needs to be met in high-profile cases. JACQUES RICKERSON Charge No. Afterward, Tim Tebow made The Speech. Is A Hot Dog A Sandwich? The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. While at UF, Hernandez had run-ins with the police in Gainesville, who questioned him and three teammates after a 2007 shooting and arrested him as a juvenile earlier that year after a fight at a restaurant. While at Florida, Hernandez had run-ins with the police in Gainesville, who questioned him and three teammates after a 2007 shooting and recommended a felony battery charge against him after a fight at a restaurant (the case was not pursued). Team punishments: Wilson was suspended for the entire 2007 season stemming from the gun charge, including a full-year suspension from University of Florida academics. Fast-forward five years, and the New York Times has apostmortem on that team: of the 121 players that were on the roster that season, 41 who have been arrested, either in college or afterward, and sometimes both., What does it all mean? Jenkins eventually left for North Alabama after Meyer's successor, Will Muschamp, dismissed him from the team following marijuana arrests. 13-1, with six wins over top 25 opponents, including wins over then #3 LSU and #1 Alabama in the SEC Championship game. 15 Episodes of Seinfeld That Teach Everything You Need To Know About Life, According to Florida Gators insider Nick de la Torre. That number is 31, as in, at least 31 arrests of Florida's football players from 2005 to 2010. Former NFL star Aaron Hernandez is found dead in his prison cell Watch on Videos you may like FOLLOW US Deonte Thompson After considering transferring during a frustrating red-shirt season, Deonte Thompson looked like the next great wide. Spectrum reporter, 9-year-old girl among 3 victims fatally shot in Orlando, Bucs players give team low marks for travel, treatment of families, How IndyCar is making this the greenest Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg yet, Former USF star Lindsey Lamar sets fast pace in CFL. While they happened to have Americas Golden Boy, they also had a roster full of trouble-makers. 2008. 1 dead from Howard Frankland Bridge crash; Pasco man charged with DUI, Pinellas County education is getting dragged into a medieval inquisitors dungeon | Letters, DeSantis targets 4 Tampa Bay area school board members in 2024 election, Florida should not execute a person with mental illness | Column, Steven Lorenzo sentenced to death for 2 Tampa murders. Most of the cases never went to trial, the charges having been dropped or pleaded down. Outcome: Charges were dropped. They also were the SEC regular season and tournament champions. But Meyers wife, Shelley, posted on her Twitter page, When will we start holding individuals accountable for their own decisions/actions and stop blaming any/everyone else? She added the hashtag liveyourliferight.. The felony charge was reduced to a misdemeanor and later dropped. There is a Gator Netflix documentary on the way soon. On Jan. 22, 2011, police caught Jenkins smoking marijuana in the bathroom of a local nightclub. Jacob is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and is based in Charleston, SC. This was on the heels of reports of several incidents involving former Gators tight end Aaron Hernandez during his time in Gainesville, including a bar fight and a 2007 shooting. History tells us of "Thug-U" (University of Miami) and Free Shoes University (Florida State) and their success with questionable character athletes. There were nearly no weak links in the Gators armor. He had also been charged with property damage and criminal mischief a year earlier. But in 2009, the number of arrests was such that The Orlando Sentinel, which covers the university, decided to maintain an online database to keep track of them. The 2008 Gators team not only included Tebow, but included several Gator legends such as linebacker Brandon Spikes, safety Ahmad Black, receiver Percy Harvin, cornerback Joe Haden, offensive. Maurkice & Mike Pouncey. Heres another comment on the checkered background of the players on the team. Tim Tebow, Major Wright, Ahmad Black, Brandon Spikes are all involved.. The 2008 Florida Gators were a team that went down in the History of College Football. Several of those players went on to the NFL and one, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, transferred and later won the Heisman Trophy at Auburn. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In 2008, Moses Jenkins -- no relation to Janoris -- had a couple minor run-ins with police. The following year, Florida hadnt forgotten. He was right. The last time a Gators offense averaged 42 or more points per game in their first three matchups against SEC opponents, it was 2001 (46.7 PPG) when head ball coach Steve Spurrier was at the helm. The woman previously filed a petition claiming Johnson date-raped her on three occasions. A 63-yard Tennessee drive ending with a Jonathan Crompton 1-yard TD run. This will be insane https://t.co/IVPKp37HCq, tyler hickman (@tylerhickman5) August 31, 2022, Another said, Half of these interviews are gonna have to be from prison., Half of these interviews are gonna have to be from prison https://t.co/C2NGg7xa2G, Ethan Hulett (@HulettEthan) August 31, 2022. He said he was proud of those teams. pic.twitter.com/qzsrmDSUpz. Charge No. Names like Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin, Brandon Spikes, and Aaron Hernandez come to mind. Probably. Aaron Hernandez after his arrest last month. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Consider this, 24 Gators from that . 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