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
1-9
September 15th, 2010
5:29 pm
However Yellow Fuzz was wrong the other 8 times in the last 9 games!
RedDawg77
September 15th, 2010
5:29 pm
Fuzz you were right now get out of my face
nole5050
September 15th, 2010
5:33 pm
Jeff it just is no fun at all to be talking about these problems. Worse than that is the fact that this kid is seriously messed up in his mind. I say that in no way to defend him . I will say however, that unlike when we talk football and scores and upsets and talk trash to each other- sometimes we forget that in some of these cases there are lives of 19 and 20 year olds that are at risk here and piling on hardly helps the situation nor the player who screwed up. It’s one thing when it’s an NFL QB who messed up but it is a different story when it is a college player.
45-42
September 15th, 2010
5:33 pm
after spotting us 16 at the half? Between the hedges? with 408 yards rushing? With not one but two (and almost three) backs gaining 100 yards a piece? With 93,000 of our fans watching in silence and leaving 75,000 tons of trash in the isles?
45-42
September 15th, 2010
5:35 pm
45-42:
“after spotting us 16 at the half? Between the hedges? with 408 yards rushing? With not one but two (and almost three) backs gaining 100 yards a piece? With 93,000 of our fans watching in silence and leaving 75,000 tons of trash in the isles”?
That would be the one.
ckgator
September 15th, 2010
5:35 pm
Anyone every heard of the concept of GETTING YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT before making a decision?!?
Amazing how Dawg fans pounce on stray Gators, yet are amazingly silent when the arrests pile up in Athens.
BAMA STAN
September 15th, 2010
5:37 pm
I’m a big supporter of this Yellow Fuzz guy.
45-42
September 15th, 2010
5:37 pm
I remember it like it was yesterday. I can’t wait until 2017 when Tech beats the Dawgs again.
ckgator
September 15th, 2010
5:38 pm
GO GA. TECH!!!!!!!!!
45-42 45-42
September 15th, 2010
5:38 pm
But for now I am holding on to the 2008 victory.
Time
September 15th, 2010
5:40 pm
Surprise, surprise, surprise. Here we have the AJC exploiting the troubles of another young kid who did some stupid. Bad enough the schools and the NCAA exploit these guys to line their pockets. But now the media thinks it can get a few coins by dragging these young people’s personal lives through the mud of stupid columns and blogs.
It’s not news. If it was John Stainey, senior management major at UF who did this, it wouldn’t get a DROP of ink in the AJC. But you can make a few dollars by being complete hypocrites. Because you know what, I didn’t see a column blasting Jay Mariotti yesterday.
EX GEORGIA FAN
September 15th, 2010
5:40 pm
The difference in Dawg players and fans in my day vs. now is back in my day we would have wanted Rainy to be back for our game. You wimps seem to get off trying to get rid of him for your team.
ga gator
September 15th, 2010
5:42 pm
Excellent Time; the Media take care of their own.
Delbert D.
September 15th, 2010
5:42 pm
Well, North Dakota State lost to Northern Iowa last week. So what, you say? Last year Iowa had to block 2 field goals in the final 7 seconds to beat Northern Iowa, 17-16. So, draw a diagram including Northern Iowa, North Dakota State, Kansas, Georgia Tech and Iowa. It’s strange.
Dumb Dawg
September 15th, 2010
5:42 pm
“ckgator
September 15th, 2010
5:35 pm
Anyone every heard of the concept of GETTING YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT before making a decision?!? Amazing how Dawg fans pounce on stray Gators, yet are amazingly silent when the arrests pile up in Athens”.
We had a player get arrested?
TRGator
September 15th, 2010
5:43 pm
UGA stands for U Got Arrested dude
You can't spell you got arrested with out uga
September 15th, 2010
5:46 pm
So lets become judge and jury for the other schools that kick our azz!
We can cast the first stone because we are Georgia
Time
September 15th, 2010
5:46 pm
@Ga Gator – Of course they take care of their own. Mariotti, a noted TV star in addition to hypocritical media type got no mention for essentially the same crime.
I’m a Georgia fan that’s sick and tired of watching the AJC grandstand and act all morally superior anytime some young kid does something stupid. Even when that young kid is a Florida player. It’s ridiculous that this even gets talked about. But it drives blog postings (and ad viewing$$$$$$$$$$$$$) so they get on their soapbox and create stupid little names for such things. I guess tommorrow we get a intelligent column about how Meyer is challenging Richt for the Fulmer trophy. Pathetic.
TRGator
September 15th, 2010
5:46 pm
And UF stands for U are a Felon dude
Time
September 15th, 2010
5:47 pm
Yep Ga Gator, the media will protect Mariotti and continue to try and turn a dime off any college kid that does something dumb.
Saint Simons
September 15th, 2010
5:48 pm
“We can cast the first stone because we are Georgia”
(((((((((((((((((((( hahahahahaha ))))))))))))))))))))
You can't spell you are a felon with out UF
September 15th, 2010
5:49 pm
GO GATOR GO GATOR
Saint Simons
September 15th, 2010
5:50 pm
TECH is the real deal! We beat Kansas last weekend and UGA lost to a ranked team.
(((((((((((((((((((( hahahahahaha ))))))))))))))))))))
Hershall
September 15th, 2010
5:50 pm
Hey Todd, Do I need to challenge the ole ball coach to another fist fight
Shreveport Bowl Selection Committee
September 15th, 2010
5:52 pm
Our hands are tied Georgia. You’ll have to make it to another bowl on your own this year.
Shreveport Bowl Selection Committee
September 15th, 2010
5:53 pm
GO TECH!!!!!! We beat Kansas!!!!!!
Is Georgia still ranked 3rd in that one poll?
September 15th, 2010
5:53 pm
CFA or something?
hahaha…..HAHAHAHA…… BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
amg
September 15th, 2010
5:55 pm
WOW, so when UGA has 10 players with simple battery charges its ok, but when a florida player makes a threat you should kick him off the field. This is not a Florida UGA thing? Really? Are you sure? Why is it you are sooo high and mighty about this one incident but so low and unconcerned with the 15 UGA has had this year?
Is TECH ranked behind North Dakota State still?
September 15th, 2010
5:55 pm
hahaha…..HAHAHAHA…… BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Robert Hall
September 15th, 2010
5:58 pm
Did I give you women permission to speak? If you come near a Ga Tech game, I will beat you to a bloody pulp!
amg
September 15th, 2010
6:01 pm
GO GEORGIA TECH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
d1reality
September 15th, 2010
6:04 pm
“This is not the typical driving or underage drinking violation that has become to norm in college towns”
Don’t rationalize uga’s football players wilding sprees this way. If this was the norm, we would see it at most schools – and we don’t. I’m tired of every time these uga rascals get caught, the rationale is everyone does it – they don’t.
NOLA
September 15th, 2010
6:06 pm
this is why dem gators be winning, they got straight up gangstas on their team, ballers with a mean streak who ain’t scared o’ sh#t.
rainey is old school, he likes to keep his women in check unlike the rest of the male population who have been neutered to the point that at times you can’t tell who is wearing the pants in certain relationships.
what was left out of this is the fact that the police instructed her to contact him. why would the dumb ho ho ho contact him if she claims she doesn’t want anything to do with him?
stupid cops and the girlfriend all schemed to make the news.
cops win and another woman finally gets to claim to be a victim.
Robert Hall
September 15th, 2010
6:07 pm
“Or does it take an actual physical assault to get kicked off the team?”
In the SEC or ACC? Because actual physical assualt at Ga Tech gets you a free weekend when they play Savannah State.
d1reality
September 15th, 2010
6:08 pm
Go Tech! GO
d1reality
September 15th, 2010
6:09 pm
Roll Tide
MATHDAWG
September 15th, 2010
6:09 pm
Urban Meyer has no class! He will do anything to win, including letting felons play on his team. Florida was frustrated over the football team’s inability to win the SEC for so long that they will put up with anything in order to win. I think the number of NCAA violations under coach Charlie Pell is still the record for any school (over 50). The Spurrier era was a brief moment of sunshine for this bunch of losers. Now they are back where they seem to belong.
d1reality
September 15th, 2010
6:10 pm
Bring Back Jan Kemp
d1reality
September 15th, 2010
6:10 pm
Bring Back Damon Evans
Dr. Phil
September 15th, 2010
6:11 pm
If coaches continue to wink at violent crime, or in Meyer’s case, death threats and eye gouging, presidents must step in a take action. These criminals are students in the university. Bobby Knight kept his players in line, but clashed with administrators, and that sent Knight on his way. I think that Knight did threaten a student. In spite of the fact that I like Bobby Knight, he needed to go. The president must run the university, not the football coach. That disciplinarian, Mike Adams, dumped Jim Donnan because Adams said that Donnan’s players were out of control, ooops.
amg
September 15th, 2010
6:11 pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5576288
Just like UGA would handle this if you ask me.
World's Largest Cocktail Party
September 15th, 2010
6:15 pm
With or without Rainey. It’s fun to get drunk and watch the dogs get slapped around on the field and obnoxious dog fans get slapped around in the parking lots. Would not miss this game for the world.
aladawg
September 15th, 2010
6:15 pm
Just a Fan you must have been dropped on your head shortly after birth because you are damn sure are a nit-wit simpleton.
d1reality
September 15th, 2010
6:17 pm
Geaux Tigers
NOLA
September 15th, 2010
6:19 pm
schultzie is up to his dirty tricks again. what else is new.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/gators/os-florida-chris-rainey-arrested-20100914,0,1037060.story
d1reality
September 15th, 2010
6:19 pm
It’s great to see the social concern of all the uga folks over the UF players actions.
Very noble from a program that has a lock on the Fulmer award.
omg
September 15th, 2010
6:20 pm
Or Tech.
http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/12758/georgia-techs-hall-suspended-for-opener
NOLA
September 15th, 2010
6:21 pm
“i will bust out the window” is not the same as “I will bust out your window.” if you feel threatened maybe you should have paid attention in english class.
d1reality
September 15th, 2010
6:23 pm
At least AJ Green had some initiative and got some profit from his illegal dealings with an agent.
d1reality
September 15th, 2010
6:24 pm
No harm no foul – so let’s get AJ back for Arkansas