Meyer shouldn’t hesitate in booting Chris Rainey off Gators
Florida is among programs pointed in wrong direction off the field, and Urban Meyer needs to kick Chris Rainey out.
(UPDATED: 4 p.m.)
Florida coach Urban Meyer said Wednesday that Chris Rainey is “not with the team,” and when asked to disclose the minimum number of games the wide receiver would miss, he responded: “I can’t do that because I don’t know.”
Question: Does Meyer need to check the Gators’ schedule first to see how long he thinks they can do without one of their starting receivers? Because it seems to me when a football program is accumulating arrests and one player admits to police that he sent a text message to his [ex-]girlfriend with an assumed death threat, reading, “Time to Die Bitch,” the case is fairly cut and dried.
Rainey should be gone.
This is the problem when you put coaches in charge of discipline for matters slightly more serious than being late to practice. They can’t look at one of their players in handcuffs and make an objective decision when a voice in their heads say, “But we have to go to LSU Saturday.”
Rainey, the Gators’ junior slot receiver, has been charged with aggravated stalking, a third-degree felony. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Rainey is “at least the 30th player to face charges or be arrested during coach Urban Meyer’s tenure,” which began in 2005.
This is not the typical driving or underage drinking violation that has become norm in college towns. The Gainesville police report doesn’t paint a pretty picture of Rainey. (Note: Def. stands for defendant, as in Rainey, and Vic. stands for victim, whose name is not disclosed.)
Quoting:
“At 23:10 hours [Monday night], the Def. showed up at the Vic’s residence and continued calling and texting the Vic. The Def. texted back, “I will not open the door.” The Def. replied, “I’m here and I will bust out the window.” The Vic. texted back, “I’m calling the cops.” At approximately 23:20 hours, the Vic went outside to talk to the Def. After approximately 10 minutes, the Def. became irate and the Vic. told the Def. to leave. The Vic. went back inside her residence. At approximately 23:47 hours, the Def. texted the Vic, “Don’t go a sleep,” and the Vic. went outside to make sure the Def. was gone. The Def. was gone and at approximately 00:22 hours, the Def. texted the Vic, “Time to Die Bitch u and ur??” At this point, the Vic, fearing for her life and the life of her family called [police].”
When Rainey was told by the women that she was phoning the police, he reportedly responded, “Wait and see what happens when they leave.”
On the weekly SEC coaches conference call with media members Wednesday, Meyer said of the Rainey matter: “It’s just further evaluation as we go. As for immediacy, he’s not with the team.”
We have taken some shots in this corner for the number of arrests in the Georgia football program. But Florida is right up there. Meyer once bragged that he would recruit “only the top one percent of the one percent.” But gives the 30 arrests, you have to wonder about his grading methods. The reputation of the Gators’ program has been significantly dented.
Meyer’s hesitancy to discipline players also was in evidence last season when he initially balked at disciplining Brandon Spikes for a significant eye-gouging incident against Bulldogs running back Washaun Ealey in a pileup in last year’s game. Meyer ultimately suspended Spikes for only the first half of the Vanderbilt game, but after mounting criticism of the coach and SEC commissioner Mike Slive (who had stood by and done nothing) Spikes decided to suspend himself for the entire game (logic dictates he had a little help in that decision).
The Rainey case is no minor incident. The woman now says she doesn’t want to press charges, but that shouldn’t even be a factor.
What is Meyer’s policy for a player texting a death threat: One-game suspension and extra laps in practice?
Or does it take an actual physical assault to get kicked off the team?
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519 comments Add your comment
GatorGuy
September 15th, 2010
1:30 pm
As a Gator Alumni I will say that Urban is an embarrassment to our University.
Jeff Schultz
September 15th, 2010
1:30 pm
South Ga Dawg — Thanks. (And my researchers failed me in Sack Schultz)
Jeff Schultz
September 15th, 2010
1:32 pm
BugKiller — I read about the cellphone calls, don’t know specifics other than they were “threatening.” Wonder how so many people found her cell phone number?
Alphare
September 15th, 2010
1:33 pm
chazzo,
I understand it’s battery. But is it bad enough to terminate somebody’s career though? That’s what I want to emphasize. Believe me, if a battery get somebody’s career ended. Can you imagine the unemployment rate in this country? That’s why I propose a 8-game suspension.
harold
September 15th, 2010
1:33 pm
Word is Meyer is just going to give him a stern talking to.
bjohndawg
September 15th, 2010
1:35 pm
Justafan,
If AJ Green did what Rainey did, I would want his ass gone.
And trust me, I want the Dawgs to beat the Gators as bas as any Dawg fan.
He has to go.
GatorGuy
September 15th, 2010
1:36 pm
Alphare – college foootball isn’t a career it is privilege!
Figures!
September 15th, 2010
1:38 pm
Word is Rainey will have to run an extra 5 minutes after a practice this week.
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
September 15th, 2010
1:39 pm
if he would threaten her it stands to reason that he would give her number out to buddies to threaten her also , just a guess but thats one way it could snowball
Ummm BugKiller you're wrong
September 15th, 2010
1:40 pm
Michael Lemon
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/070308/news_20080703043.shtml
GatorGuy
September 15th, 2010
1:41 pm
JustAfan -You pay $250 for a ticket to the UGA/UF game! You aren’t a very smart person.
Ummm BugKiller you're wrong
September 15th, 2010
1:42 pm
Montez Robinson
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/apr/05/montez-robinson-out-at-uga-following-arrest/
*I'll kill u and ur...
September 15th, 2010
1:43 pm
I wish ya’ll could have seen the texts she sent me! She wanted to kill me first – but no – nobody ever hears my side of the story!! Stupid girl out messing with my homeboy Spikes….. it was her in that video last year!!
Alphare
September 15th, 2010
1:45 pm
I understand you guy’s reasoning for calling his head. But I don’t know. I don’t want this young man’s God given talent wasted based on this single incident.
Yeah Jeff, the followup message makes it worse (that sounds like outburst too, or I am too forgiven?). But I’d suspend him for the rest of the season if I were Urban Meyer.
Lawrence Phillips
September 15th, 2010
1:45 pm
JustAfan – I agree with you! These kids aren’t Thugs! They are just kids playing around. Let the kids play.
Regards,
Lawrence Phillips
BG
September 15th, 2010
1:45 pm
Jeff, Meyer has always been soft on punishing his players. I doubt Rainey will miss more than a game or two and Meyer will probably pick which game or games he misses.
ormewood
September 15th, 2010
1:46 pm
Rainey belongs in jail, not on the football field. It’s a disgrace if Meyer does not kick him off the team.
Maurice Clarett
September 15th, 2010
1:46 pm
JustAfan – I agree with you! These kids aren’t Thugs! They are just kids playing around. Let the kids play.
Regards,
Maurice Clarett
Barnes
September 15th, 2010
1:48 pm
Jeff,
You know Meyer is going to find some excuse or copout to bring this crazy thug back. Meyer is the scummiest coach out there. As long as his family isn’t in direct danger he doesn’t care what these criminals do. Heck, he probably wouldn’t even care if his family was; given as much as this headcase NEEDS to win at any cost
chazzo
September 15th, 2010
1:49 pm
GatorGuy,
Taking your word that you are a true UF alum, thanks for the objective view.
that being said, this shouldn’t be a bout UGA/UF. Ask yourself, do you like this because you get to talk smack now or because you actually care about these issues. If you actually care then you have to look at the much broader problems. These types of things are happening over and over again at colleges and universities. Do you really want to solve it? I remember Know Culpepper punched a kid so hard at a frat party that the kid spent a week in the hospital. Nobody noticed; nobody cared. Do you really want to solve the problem? Or, are you just happy because somehting crappy happened at a rival institution?
I am UGA all the way, btw, and I love college football.
g8tr
September 15th, 2010
1:49 pm
Typical Schultz cheap shot on UF to gin up anti-Gator readership in ATL. No mention at all of how Urban dealt forcefully w/ Cam Newton off-field issue. Wonder why? That wouldn’t support Jeff’s premise.
1893 Reporter
September 15th, 2010
1:49 pm
I once sent a threat via ticker tape to President Taft when we fondled at the ankle of my betroven with his eyes. Morse code was created for scandelous discussion.
82Dawg
September 15th, 2010
1:49 pm
Where is the NCAA when something like this happens? To busy looking to see who is selling jersey’s I guess….
SECftw
September 15th, 2010
1:51 pm
Only fans of the service academies have right to be so indignant about player conduct issues…every other program has plenty of skeletons in its closet.
MoDawg
September 15th, 2010
1:51 pm
“Ummm BugKiller you’re wrong”
What happened to these guys? They were kicked off the team. Let’s see if Urban does the right thing with Rainey.
Anyone comparing the AJ Green situation to this is not living in reality.
UGABugKiller
September 15th, 2010
1:51 pm
Fair enough. I was wrong.
And where are those two players right now? Gone.
Still, if we’re comparing notes.
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_uf/2009/06/janoris-jenkinscharge-misdemeanor-affray-and-resisting-arrest-without-violence-for-his-role-in-a-may-30-fight-outside-a-down.html
That accounts for SIX GATOR FELONS. So I was wrong there.
AND IT DOESN’T COUNT RAINEY.
So that’s SEVON FELONS.
You must be proud, Gator Trash.
And even MORE proud of your woman-beating fans who have called this poor VICTIM and threatened her into silence.
GATOR TRASH.
the ref
September 15th, 2010
1:51 pm
After the facts are all confirmed, Rainey will be off the team.
…and where is everyone getting that Rainey is an impact player for the Gators??? He has had a handful of productive plays over the past few years. Not a consistent performer by any means.
His main contribution has been not learning the playbook, and being fragile.
He won’t be missed.
1893 Reporter
September 15th, 2010
1:51 pm
Did the player in question send this note via the post or a tweet-blog posting? I do not understand the facts here.
GatorGuy
September 15th, 2010
1:53 pm
chazzo – I didn’t realize I was on here talking smack to UGA fans. Please explain!
1893 Reporter
September 15th, 2010
1:53 pm
If this was sent through the post service, I do think they must take accountability for this. The post service recieves 2 cents on every stamp! A conspiracy, I say.
JustAfan
September 15th, 2010
1:53 pm
Gatorguy you need to not worrie about how I spend my money! and as for you saying urban Meyer is an embarrassment to our university, your insane man apparently you were in the band…..or maybe played tennis? Urban Meyer is the best thing to happen to college football in a long time! By FAR the best coach in college sports second place goes to nick Satan, his record shows that!! Oh and everyone what about that washoff easily arrest? It may not gave been a felony but u constitute that as being extremely dangerous! A hit and run!? What if someone was hurt? He would have never know it!
*I'll kill u and ur...
September 15th, 2010
1:54 pm
4 letters – WWTD = What Would Tebow Do?
chazzo
September 15th, 2010
1:54 pm
Maurice,
There’s kids playing around. I agree with you 100%. Drink a lot; do stupid crap. Whee. Then there’s assault and battery. Anyone who is making repeated intimidating threats, male or female, is breaking a much more serious law than driving without a license or being tipsy in public. Threatening someone to this degree will get you completely expelled from most schools even if you aren’t an athlete. Universities simply cannot afford the liability. This is bad, bad press for the SEC as a whole, by the way.
gadawgs
September 15th, 2010
1:54 pm
Rainey should be gone, period. Meyer will not do it unless his hand is forced. What’s hypocritical is that if Meyer keeps him on the team the NCAA will still allow Rainey to play even though he has been charged with a felony. They suspended AJ for four games for selling his own jersey. Maybe AJ should have brained a police officer like Rogers or levied a terroristic threat to his ex/girlfriend like Rainey and he would have played last week.
B. Scott
September 15th, 2010
1:54 pm
Bet he’s reinstated for the Georgia game.
Ummm BugKiller you're wrong
September 15th, 2010
1:56 pm
Yep just a bunch of minor traffic tickets and underage posessions
Justin Anderson (simple battery)
Trinton Sturvidant (simple battery)
Blake Barnes (furnishing alcohol to a minor)
Tripp Chandler (minor in possession of alcohol)
Brandon Wood (DUI)
Kelvin Perez (DUI)
Vince Vance (knowingly driving with a suspended license)
Donovan Baldwin (DUI, reckless driving)
Fred Munzenmaier (underage possession of alcohol)
Jeff Henson (public urination)
Clint Boling (DUI)
Jeremy Lomax (reckless driving, possession of a concealed weapon without a license)
Matthew Prick (underage alcohol possession)
Tanner Strickland (fake identification)
Paul Taylor (battery)
Shane McCleskey (battery)
Akeem Hebron (underage possession of alcohol)
Antonio Sims (DUI)
Ian Smith (public intoxication)
Marquis Elmore (driving with a suspended license)
Dannell Ellerbe (DUI)
Kedrick Golston (disorderly conduct, bar fight)
Derrick White (disorderly conduct, bar fight)
Tavares Kearney (simple battery)
Derrick White (DUI)
Zeb McKinzey (underage possession of alcohol)
Darrius Swain (driving with a suspended license)
Michael Turner (possession of less than an ounce of marijuana)
Rennie Curran (theft, taking a parking boot worth $350)
BG
September 15th, 2010
1:56 pm
This incident with Rainey may force Meyer back into retirement!! LOL
UGABugKiller
September 15th, 2010
1:56 pm
Um, JustaFan.
He hit a PARKED CAR in a GARAGE.
Get a frakking grip on reality.
gadawgs
September 15th, 2010
1:56 pm
Justafan…Ealey’s hit and run offense was “hitting” an empty parked car in a parking garage and leaving the scene. He did not take out a pedestrian for goodness sakes. You are comical.
Slim
September 15th, 2010
1:56 pm
Do you think his dismissal will help Georgia win the game when Florida meets Georgia??? No way….Georgia is going to get their fanny kicked no matter what…my guess is Florida will put in their second team midway through the 3rd quarter of this game
Delbert D.
September 15th, 2010
1:57 pm
Suspend him indefinitely until the legal system/mental health assessment have done their work.
the ref
September 15th, 2010
1:57 pm
UGABugKiller- so, you’re a Georgia fan who is condemning another program for it’s player’s behavior??? Fascinating.
And do you understand the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony?
Get your head out of your A$$.
*I'll kill u and ur...
September 15th, 2010
1:58 pm
Woman gave me the clap – had to force my hand!
Ummm BugKiller you're wrong
September 15th, 2010
1:58 pm
So you make a statement, get called on it and then deflect and have the stones to call someone else trash when your own team is full of it.
You poor thing BugKiller. Being owned by UF in everything for the last few decades must really be getting to you. God bless you.
Nick Saban
September 15th, 2010
1:58 pm
Meyer, Don’t kick Rainey off the team. I want you at 100% when I kick that butt again. I bet you will retire for good this time!!
Gator Man
September 15th, 2010
1:58 pm
Meyer will do exactly what Georgia does. Suspend his star for the Northeast Louisiana State Teachers College and then have him back for the real games. These coaches aren’t stupid. They know winning pays the bill.
chazzo
September 15th, 2010
1:59 pm
GatorGuy,
Please explain where and how I accused you of talking smack. Actually I applauded you for rendering an objective opinion. I prefaced with the “if you are in fact who you say you are” because you never know. I went on to admonish anyone else who is just on here (from UGA) happy because its UF and not us. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
JustAFan,
You prove all my points. We like it this way, don’t we. I am a bit ashamed of it, but it’s true. This is the system that we support. We support these overly aggressive kids getting away with any and every thing their whole lives until it hits the fan. Then we act all pompous about them being a disgrace to our precious institutions.
JSS
September 15th, 2010
1:59 pm
Hmmm… off the team, yes, but it should be a 1 year suspension… Like Rothlesberger, he needs a real professional evaluation and then let him come forward for reinstatement with restrictions. This is also a SEC issue, step up you’ve got a problem bigger than Chris Rainey. Make every member of every team in your conference go to work at a Battered Womens Shelter or on Rape Crisis line or facility. A lot of this type of crap will be nipped in the butt very quickly… Notice I did not say NCAA, they have no clue how to address their real problems!
Nate the Great
September 15th, 2010
1:59 pm
JustAFan,
Intimidating people and threatening their lives is “thug” behavior. Kids are in high school, adults are in college. Do you remember the “kids” at Virginia? One of them died from an enraged ex. Sound at all familiar? Don’t say they are just words, because words are the precursor for actions. Selling a f-bombing jersey for $1,000 is stupid, but pretty g.d. victimless. Not even in the same league buddy. Get a grip on reality and get your head out of your buttock.
UGABugKiller
September 15th, 2010
1:59 pm
“wrong”
That’s exactly what most of those were. And your point?
SEVEN FELONS.
One even stole credit cards out of a dead girl’s purse.
a DEAD GIRL.
I’ll take underage drinking, or Fake ID a 100 times over.
The felons at Georgia are gone. The DUI’s, too. Accept for Boling, who SHOULD have been kicked off the team.
Tony Joiner STOLE A CAR.
Never missed a game.
EXPLAIN THAT. Oh, that’s right. Your COACH subverted justice and convinced the Gator Booster who owned the impound lot to not press charges.
Must be nice, a coach with scruples like that.