Not a surprise when college football players are arrested

I have written about this before but it is again important to emphasize for top high school recruits to realize how lucky they are. These athletes are in a position thousands of other players in their sport would trade just about anything for. Those who have worked hard enough or are physically gifted enough to receive an athletic scholarship are receiving special treatment. So it is no time to screw up, like some Texas A&M players recently did.

This is from ESPN.com (Click here to see the entire article): “Yemi Babalola was charged with two aggravated robbery counts and one count of misdemeanor marijuana possession, according to a College Station police statement. Brandon Joiner was charged with three drug possession counts, one a felony.

According to the police statement, one resident suffered minor injuries in the home invasion on Nov. 29 at the Callaway Villas Apartments. Police said two men entered the apartment, one carrying a semiautomatic pistol. The investigation led to the search of the suspects’ homes on Wednesday, where drugs and other evidence was found, according to the statement.”

So these are college athletes who are likely on scholarship. Babalola started six games this season and played in three others. Joiner was in his first year with the program and redshirting. But instead of focusing on athletics or academics, these two enter into an apartment with a semiautomatic pistol. Now I have no idea what this was about and will likely never find out. But what did they expect to happen?

After they get caught, the police find the pistol, drugs, and I am sure a lot of other stuff that shouldn’t be in their apartment. Once again, this is not your everyday person who did this. It is someone who is in the middle of a football season and busy with school and practice everyday. Yet they take the time out of their day to take their pistol into someone else’s property.

These are two athletes who obviously are young and immature. And when that is combined, they make mistakes. The good thing is that they decide against using the weapon or doing something really bad. Both athletes have been suspended and could eventually get kicked off the team. Actually, they probably should be kicked off the team. If that happens, they can always go to a Division I-AA or II school and focus on athletics and academics.

For those recruited athletes out there that are reading this, I know you are young and probably on top of the world with the amount of recruiting interest you are getting. But that does not mean you are untouchable. Even though you are young, you need to realize that you have a great opportunity in front of you and you should try to make the most of it. Here is another case which a college athlete gets in trouble. This one is a lot less serious but may be even dumber than the first.

This is from the Orlando Sentinel. (Click here for the entire article) “Sophomore defensive end Jermaine Cunningham, professional track star Xavier Carter and a former UF football player were arrested Wednesday morning on misdemeanor charges stemming from an incident in and around a West University Avenue deli, according to Alachua County law enforcement documents.

Cunningham and Jon Demps, a linebacker who played for Florida in 2005, were charged with misdemeanor battery after getting into an argument with a clerk at Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwich Shop. According to a police report, Cunningham threw empty soda cups and Demps threw a sandwich at the clerk when informed they needed to pay for a bag of chips. Both men were arrested by Gainesville Police on campus at 2:49 a.m., about 30 minutes after the incident.”

I understand that the defending national champions from Florida are a big deal, but this is just bad. The most interesting part of it all may be from Gators’ head coach Urban Meyer: “I’m getting some reports that sounds like complete ignorance, is what it sounds like,” Meyer said. “I guess in my world I got to deal with a lot of ignorance, you know.”

So as an athlete, think before you do something stupid. Obviously bringing a gun somewhere is worse than throwing a sandwich at someone but neither are called for.