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
As embarrassing as this is
September 15th, 2010
3:39 pm
As embarrassing as this is for Gator fans the silver lining is that it is just another case where the ignorance and jealousy comes shining through from rival fans like UGA fans.
The amount of hypocritical, ignorant and just completely false statements from UGA fans concerning Meyer and UF on this blog is at an all time level. Even when proven so some UGA fans have resorted to just making stuff up.
It’s embarrassing that this happened but some of you are showing what morons you really are. Its no wonder you keep falling behind UF in everything from Academics to Athletics and only winning the battle in number of arrest.
Really?
September 15th, 2010
3:39 pm
Army of the GATORS – Why should I worry about the game this weekend? I am not playing in the game!
Nativebird
September 15th, 2010
3:39 pm
Yeah, she was so scared that she dropped the charges against him the day after. “Women, can’t live with em, can’t threaten to kill’em.”
Old Dawg
September 15th, 2010
3:40 pm
Text or otherwise, this is a terroristic threat and should be tried as such. Stalking is a felonious crime as well.
Time to send this guy to prison.
syrupmaker7
September 15th, 2010
3:40 pm
Coach Richt doesn’t look so lame in the ways he discipline his team now does he. It makes me sick the way certain coaches do nothing but still are held in high praise.
Corinne Brown
September 15th, 2010
3:41 pm
Yalls is all upset because Rainey hit dat pretty blonde galfriend uh his. Is she been a ghetto hoh none of dis wouda evah been brought up. Yalls need to get real. Go Gattas.
As embarrassing as this is
September 15th, 2010
3:42 pm
Meyer is hard on his players just read this.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/28/1795834/two-gators-arrested-for-underage.html
G8R GRAD
September 15th, 2010
3:42 pm
Really?:
Of course not.
See my 3:20 post.
gdawginkalamazoo
September 15th, 2010
3:43 pm
I did find this interesting regarding this matter:
“The woman who his remarks were directed at said she did not want to see him arrested and she did not feel threatened.”
Does that mean she would have kicked his a$$ if he had hung around on the porch and opened his mouth again?
G8R GRAD
September 15th, 2010
3:45 pm
It just sounds like a kid who might have been in a whole lot of pain.
G8R GRAD
September 15th, 2010
3:48 pm
gdawg:
;-D
Really?
September 15th, 2010
3:50 pm
G8R GRAD – Mettenberger was drunk when he grabbed a girl. Being drunk is a state of mind that makes people do things that they wouldn’t normally do however he had to pay the price and Richt kicked him off the team. Rainey may have been in pain and did something that he may not normally have done but he has to pay the price. I am sure he will just head to another school when he gets the boot. I am sure Auburn or Ole Miss will be calling him soon!
Nativebird
September 15th, 2010
3:52 pm
Sounds like ol Chris was hooked up with Fatal Attraction. She calls the cops then says “I dont want to see him arrested”?
She’s probably boiling bunny rabbits too. Darn shame, he’s a great runner. Women. I tell ya. Can’t let them do that to ya, get in ya head and all.
G8R GRAD
September 15th, 2010
3:54 pm
Really:
I completely agree with you.
I’m just sad that in a moment of what may be the deepest rage one will ever expeience (having your heart STOMPED ON), this kid’s entire future is suspect.
JustAfan
September 15th, 2010
3:54 pm
JD – maybe I’m the first one you saw but just go back and read this whole thing……………finished? Ok,this is absolutely a FLA/UGA thing! If it weren’t there would be some Florida State or Miami even maybe a Ohio State fan somewhere! Don’t just single me out! Cause there is nothing but talk of these 2 teams! And if your just wanting to read my post go back a little ways and read them all, they aren’t all about the teams!! He’s a good kid! Never in his life been in trouble! Everyone deserves a second chance and I can guarantee you that a lot of the people on here talking crap are running in there second chance! Give him a break EVERYONE makes mistakes
UGA Insider
September 15th, 2010
3:55 pm
College football is really becoming boring to me. All spring and summer my contacts within the UGA program bragged about how great and enthusiastic the 2010 team is, then they come out and lay a big fat egg last Saturday. I wish CMR would suspend the entire damn team for stealing scholarship money!
gobo
September 15th, 2010
3:56 pm
I have always laughed at CMR suspending a player for the easiest game on the schedule, what a punishment! CMR is a woose at dicipline. that is why so many players are arrested, they get off, simple as it is. It makes me laugh at the UGA crowd crying foul at the Gators for doing the same thing. UGA is a loose run football team and it is catching up to you. CMR is a weak coach and a loser. I hope UGA gets what it deserves, another weak team with dicipline problems. I hope CMR stays because you will be losers as long as he stays. Athens sucks too, full of boose and drugs. A parent is a fool to send their child to that school. Academics are a joke.
G8R GRAD
September 15th, 2010
3:56 pm
gdawg & Native:
;-D
Really?
September 15th, 2010
3:57 pm
G8R GRAD -I agree! Some women aren’t worth the trouble!
As embarrassing as this is(the real one)
September 15th, 2010
3:58 pm
Because Meyer didnt suspend 2 players for underage drinking is some sort of proof of leniency? Hows that when daily UGA fans are here expounding that underage drinking is no big deal and something every college kid does and UGA players shouldnt be in trouble when they get arrested for it.
Thanks to the imposter for showing the hypocrisy once again.
G8R GRAD
September 15th, 2010
3:58 pm
justafan:
Ditto.
He really is a good kid.
Alcohol & a manipulative woman are a bad combination.
MountainDawg
September 15th, 2010
3:58 pm
Jeff, I thoroughly agree with you on this one. Rainey needs the boot. The D1 coaches need to stop coddling these thugs (& thus compromising the level a student-athlete should be held to). One misdemeanor conviction should yield a multiple game suspension & any after that should result in dismissal from the team.
Boise Dawg
September 15th, 2010
3:58 pm
I will say as a College Football fan… I hate to see this happen to any team, including the hated Gators. Jeff, I agree that he probably should be kicked off the team, but I also don’t see the need to rush the decision. I also agree that kicking a star off the team is much more difficult not only because they are a star… but because the coaches are much closer on a personal level. I imagine if Rainey and Meyer had a good relationship this must be very tough on him. In the end though, he needs to make the right decision no matter how tough it is.
Really?
September 15th, 2010
4:00 pm
gobo – Richt suspends players for the start of the season. It just so happens that this year UGA opened with a easy game. He suspended kids last year for the first game and UGA played OK State.
G8R GRAD
September 15th, 2010
4:01 pm
“On the above date and time, the Vic[tim][sic] was sleeoing and missed a phone call from the Def[endant[sic]. The Def texted the Vic, “you don’t care about me,” at approximately 2230 hrs. The Vic told the Def to go to bed and leave her alone.”
Besides.
WHO goes to bed at 10:30 IN COLLEGE?!!!!!
As embarrassing as this is(the real one)
September 15th, 2010
4:02 pm
But I will say that Urban doesn’t play by the same rules as Richt. I agree that underage drinking isn’t that big of a deal but Richt suspends his players for it and I think Urban should too.
I bet!
September 15th, 2010
4:04 pm
G8R GRAD – she was going to bed at 10:30 cause she had another dude over.
Boise Dawg
September 15th, 2010
4:05 pm
G8R GRAD… I think everyone needs to be sensitive to what was written in the text, especially after the VA Lacrosse tragedy. It is never ok to let your emotions take you to the level of threatening someone’s life.
As for his future… he would likely get a chance somewhere else. Getting kicked off the team won’t ruin his life. Given his talents at football, if he is truly an upstanding individual who just had a bad moment, he will easily recover and move on from this. It is a huge mistake to let someone off the hook too easily for this kind of behavior…. he’ll never learn from it, if the consequences aren’t severe.
papadawg
September 15th, 2010
4:06 pm
Kids are getting in trouble from grammar school on so why are you surprised that athletes are in trouble all over especially since they’ve been pampered all their life cause of their athletic ability. Quit blaminmg the coaches when it happens, blame them for not dishing out stronger punishment
Ms Anderson
September 15th, 2010
4:06 pm
I regret this situation ever got this far with Chris and I. I originally thought he would be my meal ticket
out of my white trash life. Now I will just have to find another player. Very sad.
doggyboy
September 15th, 2010
4:09 pm
You mean….kinda like CMR suspends lawbreakers for hit and run and DUI/public intox?????? This is FUNNY coming from the crew (AJC and doggy fans) who excuse every single mutt player when they break the law in Athens!!!! RICH!!!
As embarrassing as this is(the real one) wow dude keeps posting as an imposter
September 15th, 2010
4:19 pm
just make up a matching name and post more hypocrisy and keep proving my point. Thanks dude!
As embarrassing as this is(the real one) wow dude keeps posting as an imposter
September 15th, 2010
4:21 pm
if Richt played by some higher standard of rules he wouldn’t have more players arrested in the last 6 years than any other SEC coach.
bamaguy
September 15th, 2010
4:23 pm
If Georgia kicks him off the team, Ole Miss will just take him as a receiver for Masoli.
AJC hates UGA...
September 15th, 2010
4:26 pm
Hey Jeff,
How come your article isn’t about this all being Meyer’s fault??? You know..just like you wrote with Mark Richt??? Isn’t Meyer supposed to know EVERYTHING his players are doing 24 hours a day just like you think Mark Richt should?? Oh…yeah…you hate Richt and want to see him fired because he punked you in a press conference.
ReddJonn68
September 15th, 2010
4:29 pm
Fla fans call GA fan rednecks, but why did the young lady state in her first public interview she fears more fans backlash, than she does Rainey. Yeeeehahhh gator fans load up the pick-ups !!!!
Jeff
September 15th, 2010
4:29 pm
To Alphare at 1:13 p.m.: You are horribly wrong, my friend. You said “What if this is a pure emotional outburst?” IT DOESN’T MATTER!!! You cannot threaten to kill another human being in the U.S., period. It’s against the law. The reason is because the threat CAN be carried out and put someone in fear for their life. If I go to your house and bang on your door and yell that it’s “time for you to die”, are you not going to call the police?
You can’t shout fire in a crowded movie theater because of the threat of a stampede killing somebody. Same reason you can’t threaten to murder another human being because it is a good sign it will be carried out… impetulent, arrogant, testosterone-laden college athletes are capable of a lot of things (see Nebraska’s Lawrence Phillips, Maryland’s George Huguely, Baylor’s Carlton Dodson).
The very fact he threatened to murder this weapon is enough for a felony arrest, being held without bail, and DEFINITELY dismissal from a college football team. Playing sports is a privilege not a right… and any felony actions should lead to ANY athlete being kicked off the team. As to chazzo’s stupid argument at 1:18 pm…. this is not about what we as fans expect on the field. A person can be a violent football player but still a great person (see Jessie Tuggle, Kurt Warner, John Lynch, Warrick Dunn, Mike Singletary, Emmitt Smith, etc.). I don’t think this argument has anything to do with the big picture, society, NCAA athletics, etc. It’s an issue about if Florida and its coaches are going to do the right thing and discipline this young man for a felony act… which was to threaten to kill another person!!!!!
Rainey should be kicked off the team for good and banned from ever playing for any NCAA team.
Delbert D.
September 15th, 2010
4:30 pm
chazzo – “I am no lawyer. In fact I got the two reversed. It is absolutely not battery. It is absolutely assault.”
Me either. I have trouble with the logic of “beyond reasonable doubt.” What is the opposite of that? Not beyond reasonable doubt? Beyond unreasonable doubt? I’d make a jackass of myself trying to get the jury instructions explained to me.
ReddJonn68
September 15th, 2010
4:30 pm
OK bamaguy leave the mooshine alone fella !!! Rainey plays for FLA
runtellthat
September 15th, 2010
4:32 pm
lol…this entire situation is hilarious to me…i’ve been knowing Rainey for 22 years and the “Vic” for a little over 3…do either anyone (including Jeff) know the real story? noooo!!! only speculation and what been reported in the media…it’s being reported that the “Vic” called the police….not true, her sister did…and do you know why her sister did? not because of the alleged text…like i said, hilarious…some of you act as if you’ve never been in a heated argument with your significant other…i’m not defending his actions but get the facts together before you start judging the character of people and a situation you don’t understand…Myers knows what he is doing and if he feels the need to boot Rainey from the team; then so be it…he’s a great kid and will land on his feet doing what he does best, making people smile and playing football…. hilarious
Heath
September 15th, 2010
4:34 pm
Seriously, if you’re gonna go through with it and beat the hell out of your girlfriend, transfer to Ga. Tech. You even get rewarded by being allowed to skip the Savannah State game.
Direct inquiries to Robert Hall.
A Big Dog
September 15th, 2010
4:35 pm
As a Georgian and UGA grad, I’m a hell of lot more concerned with issues around the UGA football team and their arrests…..let Florida figure there own problems out
Clint Castleberry
September 15th, 2010
4:39 pm
Heath, all this means is that UF has jumped out in front of UGA for the 2011 Fulmer Cup, that’s all. Don’t worry. Plenty of time left before next year’s presentation.
As embarrassing as this is(the real one) wow dude keeps posting as an imposter
September 15th, 2010
4:39 pm
Go TECH!
bamaguy
September 15th, 2010
4:41 pm
oops….and I haven’t eve opened the bourbon bottle yet. Point still being, Ole Miss will take him.
Jeff
September 15th, 2010
4:41 pm
Runtellthat… first of all, learn proper English, not ebonics (you been knowing Rainey? OMG, you sound like a moron).
Second, you said “some of you act as if you’ve never been in a heated argument with your significant other”. Ummm, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never ever in my life screamed or yelled at my significant other, MUCH LESS threatened to murder her!!!!! Maybe in the hood where you live, that happens all the time, but in 95 percent of America, that is uncalled for, unaccepted and very rare behavior.
You contend Rainey is a “good kid”…. sorry, a good kid might make small mistakes in life like break a window while throwing rocks at 10 years old or getting caught speeding at 16 or maybe trying to get into a bar with a fake ID at 20. A “good kid” NEVER EVER threatens to kill another human being.
You love to always side with the crooks don’t you? Victims are allllllllllways wrong. There is allllllllllllllllways race or overzealous cops or something to excuse a person’s behavior. Guess what? Police don’t take out warrants and arrest people for felonies unless they have pretty da** compelling evidence.
I don’t care who called the police, the victim or her sister or whoever… if thugs like Rainey don’t get their a** put in jail for stuff like this, it only encourages more of you Neanderthals to mistreat women. Let’s see you make threats like that in jail… some 500-pound bad boy will make you his b****.
Yellow Fuzz
September 15th, 2010
4:45 pm
Maybe it’s time for a short time out. I think it’s best for the georgia fans and now the georgia media to mind georgia’s business. I mean, try removing that Beam from your own eye first! Hahaha. Sure the guy at UF will be suspended but that is not your call to make in my opinion. And Gratham might want to think twice before he attempts to trade barbs with Spurrier in the press. He might want to shut out a 1-AA team or slow down an D-1 team first. georgia fans have always been good at “talk the talk” but it looks like the coaches and now the media realize that this is as good as it’s going to get at georgia and since they can no longer “walk the walk” on the football field with the likes of Steve Spurrier, Nick Saban, Paul Johnson, Urban Meyer, etc. Sooner or later you will have to admit that YELLOW FUZZ was right. Hahaha. You know I’m right. Sure you can still stomp on Vandy’s logo at mid field and smack talk 1-AA programs and even the Shreveport locals. You might even be able to get away with an isolated black out and team end zone celebration every once in a while. But know this (and I hope you can hear me), the good ole days/Glory Years are GONE!. You are second tier in non title nine sports which matches the second class education you have always delivered. Good luck on the 45-42 field this November and the Papa John’s Bowl in Birmingham in December. Now, you can resume ripping people that are better than you.
Voice of Reason
September 15th, 2010
4:46 pm
Jeff as a Jewish fellow I would expect that you would write that Meyer should get rid of him if the facts of the case show that he touched her. I guess you are not interested in Due Process. From what is actually known, the girl and her mother stated in court that she never intended on him being arrested.
Rainey was suspended indefinitely Tuesday following his arrest. He was charged with aggravated stalking, a third-degree felony, for allegedly sending a sometimes girlfriend a threatening text message.
Tide Rising
September 15th, 2010
4:48 pm
This is pretty cut and dried. Making death threats towards women means one thing and one thing only. He’s gotta go. Meyer has got to move quickly and boot him NOW.
I know at Alabama they have character training classes to teach the players how to treat the opposite sex since a lot of them come from backgrounds where women are routinely abused, objectified, and just plain treated badly. I’m assuming that they have the same types of classes at Florida to teach some of these guys from tough backgrounds how women on campus are to be treated. If so then Rainey learned nothing and needs to go. The longer Meyer waits on this the worse it will be.
Yellow Fuzz
September 15th, 2010
4:49 pm
Rainey did nothing wrong! Just ask Robert Hall! There is nothing wrong with beating the heck out of a women or saying you are going to kill her. If Rainey was at Tech we would promote him to Team Captain!