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
Nate the Great
September 15th, 2010
2:28 pm
MSD – I think the line is drawn somewhere before threatening a person’s life.
SEC fan
September 15th, 2010
2:29 pm
JustAfan – It is worry not worrie!
JustAfan
September 15th, 2010
2:31 pm
Haha I will spell it how I want to! Get back to your kindergarten students! Little Johnny has to pee
JSS
September 15th, 2010
2:33 pm
Both of you are wrong… It is malicious intent to commit assault and making terrorist threats which may result in physical battery
By the way, was he is possession of a weapon when officers arrived or detained him?
http://www.megalaw.com/fl/flstatutes.php?Mode=Display_Statute&codelink=@URL=0700-0799/0775/0775ContentsIndex.html@StatuteYear=2010@Title=-%3E2010-%3EChapter%20775
dawgfacedboy
September 15th, 2010
2:33 pm
I’ve gotten pretty upset before but never threatened someone’s life. You apparently need therapy too.
GatorGuy
September 15th, 2010
2:34 pm
JustAfan – one missed spelled word is an error five just means you need help with your grammar.
SEC fan
September 15th, 2010
2:35 pm
JustAfan – how do you know when Little Johnny has to pee? That is creepy!
Zulu
September 15th, 2010
2:36 pm
Meyers is a dog flea. He feeds on these thugs and cry when he lose. What a shame ass idiot he is.
Its hilarious
September 15th, 2010
2:37 pm
Its so funny that UGA fans constitute DUI’s and battery as “minor traffic” violations. Anywhere else its attempted murder or grand theft. Your so quick to cite “stealing a dead girls credit card” and in the same breath say Meyer never kicks players off the team. You silly little hypocrites you.
Its hilarious
September 15th, 2010
2:38 pm
GO TECH!!!!!!!
PMC
September 15th, 2010
2:39 pm
I was under the impression that he was already gone?
That said, honestly it’s ridiculous that coaches have any say in dicipline anyway. It’s thier behind on the line. Coaches have to get the best athletes in order to try and win. The top 1% talk is just fluff to put out to donors to let them feel good about themselves. Major college football is about making money. Not every kid that runs a 4.29 is a good kid and also these kids are going through intense emotional changes in their life not to mention Rainey had a concussion that weekend. Women and men in college make each other nuts. There is no excuse for this behavior and he should be gone but we shouldn’t leave this to coaches… they have too much at stake. Colleges should make up diciplinary boards for this type of thing set punishments and stick with it. This is one of those things you just can’t talk your way out of. He’s got to go.
Matt
September 15th, 2010
2:39 pm
A first time offender on a 3rd degree felony with no victim pressing charges. What do you think would happen to a person off the street for the same charge? Rainey should get no more or no less that what the answer is to that question. The charges will probably be dropped or community service will be required. Beyond that, the NCAA has nothing to do with it as it wasn’t a rule violation. The football program should and will handle it internally as a team rule violation. I do not believe that athletes should be given special treatment when in trouble like this but also shouldn’t be held to a higher than normal level either. What would you want the punishment to be if it was you or one of your children in this situation? Would you agree that you should lose your job or get kicked out of school because of it? It is fun to bash athletes, especially if they play for one of your rivals,but you need to realize that they are just kids too and sometimes they make stupid mistakes just like non-athletes. Just treat them fairly and take care of your house before judging someone elses.
NoGaGator
September 15th, 2010
2:40 pm
Very stupid and unfortunate thing to do. As has been noted, Rainey is currently not a member of the team. Urban Meyer has been very vocal about not tolerating female abuse/harassment. The last player who did so, 5-star DT recruit Gary Brown, was kicked off the team.
Meyer has to let the legal system play out (as Richt had to with Mettenberger). If charges are true, I believe Meyer will kick him off the team permanently.
If UF were to fire Meyer
September 15th, 2010
2:40 pm
If UF were to fire Meyer they sure wouldnt be lining up to try and hire Richt because he has had even more players arrested than Meyer AND he’s an inferior coach. However if Richt were fired and Meyer was available 99.9% of the UGA trash talking Meyer would be clamoring something fierce for UGA to do everything they can to hire him. Regardless of what you will reply and deny right now thats a FACT.
PMC
September 15th, 2010
2:41 pm
I just think universities should take the responsibility for dicipline out of the hands of coaches. Running stairs is for screwing up on the field, not off of it. They need to have diciplinary review boards whose salaries and careers are not tied into the success of football players.
Delbert D.
September 15th, 2010
2:41 pm
JSS – I think it falls under Chapter 784, since it isn’t terrorism. That chapter defines Assault in it’s variations as well as Battery.
http://www.megalaw.com/fl/flstatutes.php?Mode=Display_Statute&codelink=@URL=0700-0799/0784/0784ContentsIndex.html@StatuteYear=2010@Title=-%3E2010-%3EChapter%20784
GTBob
September 15th, 2010
2:42 pm
I agree 100% Jeff. Coaches like Meyer and Richt have to start taking a harder stance on things like this or they will continue to happen. Their players think they are above the law and they dont do much to stop that line of thinking. Getting arrested at all should be a dismissal from the team, for something as bad as Rainey did it should be a no brainer.
Matt
September 15th, 2010
2:43 pm
So in short I feel it is perfectly ok to put fear in a women and threaten to kill her.
JustAfan
September 15th, 2010
2:44 pm
Ha SEC Fan, I honestly have no comeback for that one. Thanks for ruining that for me, geeze!
As for you “gator”guy who honestly cares? All your doing is making yourself look like a jack-ass! I have a funny feeling you were made fun if a lot in school, get a life man!
If UF were to fire Meyer
September 15th, 2010
2:45 pm
Of course I have no idea what I am talking about.
GTBob
September 15th, 2010
2:46 pm
At Tech we had a guy beat the crap out of his girlfriend and he was kicked off the team……..oh wait no he wasn’t! I don’t think he even missed a game.
AtlGator
September 15th, 2010
2:46 pm
Urban has no scruples and zero concern for the arrest record. He does, however, relish in kicking Georgia’s ass whenever he can. So he’s cool with me and all of Gator Nation. Two titles in five years. You don’t win with white choir boys.
Matt
September 15th, 2010
2:47 pm
Treat athletes fairly and consistently within the law, even if they play for the other team.
tim
September 15th, 2010
2:47 pm
UGAbug killer…if you had taken the time to read the entire report you will see why these charges will go nowhere, but you’re a puppy so I understand how badly you want UF playmakers off the team..maybe you can win once in awhile…DuBose will take his place on Sat…we just plug in another 5 star
bob
September 15th, 2010
2:48 pm
In the NFL he would be suspended 4 games, but reduced to 2 if he did not kill her within 3 weeks.
Jeff the dude got drunk and sent out a stupid comment. You sound as self righteous as Jay Mariotti about a month ago.
Thank god they did not have all this stuff when I was a kid. Our greatest breakthrough was the touch tone phone. All you could with that do was assault a former girlfriend’s ears with a long deafening tone.
kenneth
September 15th, 2010
2:50 pm
sticks and stones…
AtlGator
September 15th, 2010
2:50 pm
tim – actually Rainey hasn’t been much of a playmaker and Hines will be playing in place of Rainey. Not much of a gator fan I see!
JustAfan
September 15th, 2010
2:50 pm
I wish it was DuBose taking his place but for some reason urban put omarius Hines as his replacement!
Hmmmm!
September 15th, 2010
2:51 pm
bob – Would it had been ok for him to get drunk an hit here?
Sorry!
September 15th, 2010
2:52 pm
bob – nowhere does it say he was drunk so your made up theroy is incorrect!
Dawglasville
September 15th, 2010
2:53 pm
AtlGator – “You don’t win with white choir boys.” Is that really your position?
SEC fan
September 15th, 2010
2:54 pm
JustAfan – It is cause DuBose sucks!
JSS
September 15th, 2010
2:55 pm
Used a phone line… Electronic communication, he’d get the terroristic threat because brought acquaintances into the realm of victims… I think it’d be an overcharge; but you know ADA’s. Overcharge, don’t undercharge! See what the grand jury will give you!
Jorts
September 15th, 2010
2:55 pm
17-20
18-21
19-22
20-23
21-24
22-25
Gators now lead the all-time series. A dark day for puppies everywhere.
bwell
September 15th, 2010
2:55 pm
hey Jeff you forgetting Coach M is trying to win championship and get paid!!!!! He doesn’t care about raising up boys to be respectful young men……….. bottom line, if it was coach Richt the player would be off the team and receiving counseling.
Jorts
September 15th, 2010
2:56 pm
GO TECH!!!!!!
JD
September 15th, 2010
2:56 pm
Forget Urban Liar, Florida, or the SEC. The NCAA needs to step in on this one. We are talking about a death threat. Does he actually have to act and harm someone for real for them to believe him. What a joke? Football is football but this is ridiculous. Wonder how he would feel about someone threatening his family like that. I bet his thoughts would change then.
bob
September 15th, 2010
2:57 pm
UGA has proven you don’t neccesarily win with punks either.
Hey hummer- I did not say any thing about hitting anyone. So you just sent out a false theory yourself.
npgator
September 15th, 2010
2:57 pm
I find this laughable that one of our rivals is commenting on how the Gators should punish one of our players. Maybe we should have a vote in Georgia so that way we can meet their approval. Worry about winning Saturday – aint gonna happen!
gadawgs
September 15th, 2010
2:58 pm
I found this interesting tidbit out regarding the reason for the victim not wanting to press charges:
The alleged victim also was in court with her mother and sister. The woman told Judge Denise R. Ferrero she does not fear Rainey but was concerned about retribution from the public following all the media attention.
She also asked for the charges to be dropped.
“I did not want to have him arrested,” she said. “When the police came, I signed papers to not press any charges. I don’t fear for my safety. … People all over the country have been calling my cell phone. I’m not afraid of him. I’m more afraid of all the repercussions.”
hmmmm….she did/does not fear for her safety so she just called the police for kicks, huh. Dropping the charges would not have anything to do with people (ie..Gator fans) all over the country calling her cell phone “asking” that she not press those charges. Pretty bad when she is more afraid of the repurcussions from “people” moreso than from the man who threatened her life. Wow, football is pretty darn important to you Gators.
Jorts
September 15th, 2010
2:59 pm
Tech su**s worse than UGA. Not by much though
Mark (another one)
September 15th, 2010
2:59 pm
Meyer doesn’t need to wait for a trial. He simply needs to ask Rainey if the police report is true. If so, I will bet he’s gone. If he disputes the report and Meyer finds he is lying, again, I would bet he’s gone. If not, the bigger scandel would be Meyer’s acceptance of this behavior.
For all the complaining about Richt being soft and UGA’s arrests, underage drinking and most of this other nonsense doesn’t rise to the level of assaulting someone. Missing games and internal discipline are sometimes the appropriate punishment. Sometimes its different. Richt kicked four people off the team during the off season. RB Jackson, QB Mettenberger, LB Robinson and P Dittmer.
My bet is that Jackson and Robinson would have played in our first two games, and Mettenberger was pushing for the starting QB position. That didn’t matter. The offenses were serious enough that Richt took action.
This doesn’t end their careers. Mettenberger played football last weekend. I don’t know about the others but unless their in jail, they can get on with their lives. The point is that their conduct was deemed unacceptable by the man at the head of the program, and they are gone.
In the final analysis Meyer will do the right thing, and I respect him for taking the time to gather all the facts. Remember that Richt took his time to make certain of the facts before releasing Mettenberger. I do not expect to see Rainey in a Florida uniform anytime soon.
Zulu
September 15th, 2010
2:59 pm
Here we go again. ATL-GAYTOR calling people by the color of their skin. Sounds like a Gaytor Ass B…K Thug.
Dawg 23
September 15th, 2010
3:00 pm
Enter your comments here
Drake
September 15th, 2010
3:00 pm
It’s gonna be funny when uga starts the sec 0-2.
npgator
September 15th, 2010
3:01 pm
GO JACKETS!!!!!!!!!!
NoGaGator
September 15th, 2010
3:01 pm
bwell – In the Mettenberger situation, it took a month for Richt to kick him off the team. He played all of spring ball after the incident had occurred Memorial Day weekend. The legal system has to play out for the final decision.
npgator
September 15th, 2010
3:01 pm
Jeff – maybe Meyer should consult with you as to what kind of punishment he should enforce. How many of the Georgia players were dismissed for their off field problems? NONE! Take care of your own back yard before you start trashing others.
JustAfan
September 15th, 2010
3:02 pm
SEC- I would go that far, he has only played in 2 games! Give him a chance, guarantee he will just be another in the pipeline of dynamic players
JD
September 15th, 2010
3:04 pm
NPGator this has nothing to do with wins and losses. This kid made a DEATH THREAT to a another person. A woman that he is more than likely to intimidate with his size advantage already. I’m a DAWG fan and a football fan that has no ax to grind against FL. This situation has to be addressed firmly. If you have kids and this happened to your daughter how would you react? Think about it. Sometimes common sense and decency has to outweigh our love for athletics and playful chiding of each other favorite teams.