Florida’s Meyer: WR-RB Rainey will play against Dogs; K Sturgis out
Florida wide receiver/running back Chris Rainey will play Saturday against Georgia, Gators coach Urban Meyer said at a news conference in Gainesville, Fla., tonight.
Rainey is likely to split his playing time 50-50 between slot receiver and running back, Meyer indicated.
Also tonight, Meyer said running back Jeff Demps, who has been bothered by a sprained foot for the past five weeks, is making progress and will play against Georgia. But Meyer said placekicker Caleb Sturgis will not play after aggravating a back injury.
Rainey has not played since his Sept. 14 arrest on a felony charge of aggravated stalking for allegedly texting his former girlfriend, “Time to Die [expletive].” The charge subsequently was reduced to misdemeanor stalking as part of a deferred prosecution agreement, and Rainey was reinstated to the Florida team on Oct. 11. He did not play in the Gators’ Oct. 16 loss to Mississippi State, but Meyer said last week that Rainey would be eligible to play against Georgia if he met the conditions of his reinstatement.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
254 comments Add your comment
Ricky 4
October 29th, 2010
6:15 am
Suprise Suprise.
'76Dawg
October 29th, 2010
6:50 am
Urban has morals…………Lol
Bulldog Joe
October 29th, 2010
6:55 am
62-10 Urban
52-18 while Urban at Florida
Who is the better coach ?
Alabama Jack
October 29th, 2010
6:55 am
Rainey needs to be in prison! Meyer is mental..he has proved that with the phoney health problems! Pay back time for the slimey gators!
lawdawg
October 29th, 2010
6:55 am
Hey Tampa idiot,you sound like you know everything Meyer has thought or done to settle this thing,does he discuss everything with you before he does it?
Robert
October 29th, 2010
7:06 am
Fl has had over 30 arrests in the last 5 years. Is Meyer recruiting thugs and lawbreakers too. Look at the Fl arrests (theft, using credit card of dead girl, felony stalking although reduced, etc)and they are much worse than the stupid things UGA got arrested for. You can’t compare what King did (not showing up 4 traffic court) to rainey (threat to a young ladies life). Meyer is playing Rainey because they have lost 3 in a row. Rainey deserves a second chance to get himself together but Meyer should not have let that be at Florida. Meyer put winning over all else.
WITNESS
October 29th, 2010
7:07 am
I am going to church on Sunday and pray that Urban is not as big of a-hole as he seems.
NorthGaDawg
October 29th, 2010
7:07 am
This is no suprise to me. Urban would play a convicted murderer if he could. If AJ Green could be suspended for selling a jersey, this a-hole should be permanently suspended. Anyway, just another reason why apparently Florida is the “class” of the SEC………….
Insert Comment Here
October 29th, 2010
7:13 am
Urban would not mind at all if someone texted his daughter at GTU – “TIME TO DIE BITCH”. Shows what kind of father he is.
Gator Mike
October 29th, 2010
7:28 am
The entire situation with Rainey is a huge disappointment to me. Were I the coach, I would not play Rainey, but it is none of my business. To a far greater extent it is not any business of any UGA Fans. I recommend the UGA Fans worry about the Dawgs while we UF Fans worry about the GATORS. The vast majority of the Gator Fans could not care less what goes on in the Dawg Nation, but a lot of Dawg Fans appear to be obsessed with everything in Gainesville concerning the Gators.
Go Gators!
Sally
October 29th, 2010
7:42 am
We already let one get away by reprimanding him for stealing computers, and look where he is now, #1 Auburn and 2010 Heisman Trophy Winner!! Cam Newton! Bringing back Rainey is a smart move! Farve got to play didn’t he??
Itstheshoes
October 29th, 2010
7:48 am
Back in the 50’s, Johnny Ray released a hit song: “Cry.” Have a good one after the game, Dawgs. Then you can resume the admonitions of Urban and Rainey. (Don’t mention those 11 ugly little incidents, though.)
Insert Comment Here
October 29th, 2010
7:49 am
Dear Gator Mike:
“To a far greater extent it is not any business of any UGA Fans.” What? I thought UGA has to play this scum bag this weekend. Your analysis leads to paralysis. Go text your wife (if a loser like you has one) “TIME TO DIE BITCH” and tell us what response you get.
Moonpie
October 29th, 2010
7:51 am
Gator Mike,
Where I coach not only would he not play,he would not be part of the team!
Moonpie
October 29th, 2010
7:53 am
Sally,
I dont wish harm to any football player on the field. I can assure you this,if Rainey gets laid out on Sat in this game alot of UGA and UF fans will not be sad.
poopdawg
October 29th, 2010
7:55 am
Gator Mike , obsessed ? Your the one on a AJC blog. One comment about Rainey’s girlfriend , she said she was more afraid of Gator fans due to their reaction of Rainey’s arrest than to Rainey. Way to go Gators blame the girl. How many games would Rainey have missed due to his concussion? Makes you wonder if Rainey was suspended or just hurt.
TampaGator
October 29th, 2010
7:58 am
I personally hope that Rainey does not see the field Saturday…but…if he does…I personally hope he scores 5 TDs (he is more likely to fumble 5 times) on your arses…..and the entire Florida team rushes onto the field every time he does. Go Gators.
….and…yes…what King did has no comparison to what Rainey did….as does the timing of both Rainey and King both coming back for this big rivalry game…which WAS my point. But you can irrationally sway my post anyway you want….by not reading accurately and overreacting completely…which is generally what many Georgia fans do on here.
…..Probably none of you have met and spoken for any amount of time with Chris Rainey. I have. I also have had the opportunity while spending a lot of weekends in the Tampa area over the years…to watch Rainey grow up playing football in Lakeland. I know the kind of person Rainey has been for years. One stupid, angry moment in time does not make him what most of you want him to be. But keep on posting spite and hate…and see what that gets you.
TampaGator
October 29th, 2010
8:03 am
Sally….
Cam Newton left Florida because he was behing Tebow and Brantley on the depth chart at the time…and not because he had to leave. It was his choice. And Cam made an innocent mistake by buying a stolen computer…and then did something irrational by tossing it out the window. But he committed no crime and is a wonderful person. I think Rainey made a stupid, one time mistake as well…although a really bad mistake….but I also think Rainey is a good person as well…and will prove it over time.
Now…I have to pack for Jacksonville. Go Gators.
Big Harry
October 29th, 2010
8:16 am
If Rainey met his conditions for re-instatement. (?)
I guess he has to obstain from hitting any women for another day or so….
Dawg_Mike
October 29th, 2010
8:18 am
Urb = wins no matter what.
Tampa Gator = blind loyalist no matter what.
Dawg_Mike
October 29th, 2010
8:20 am
Look, the FL offense has been, well….offensive.
Rainey gives Urb his bast chance of making his offense work better, so the rest of the story is whatever it is. Urb wants wins no matter what. Wins over character. Wins over morals and ethics.
Dawg_Mike
October 29th, 2010
8:21 am
best, sorry……………
Dawg_Mike
October 29th, 2010
8:21 am
One more item:
UGA 26
UF 10
Aaron Ice will rock ….
Rainey's Blackberry
October 29th, 2010
8:22 am
3 predictions:
1. UF wins a close one 31-28.
2. I score the winning TD with 12 seconds left in the game.
3. The entire Humper Nation whines their usual trail of tears back to Jawja, except this time they send me death threats by text.
Rainey's Blackberry
October 29th, 2010
8:23 am
Dawg_Mike= UGA fans preparing their excuse before game.
Pete
October 29th, 2010
8:23 am
Tampa Gator-How old are you because either you are a fossil or a teen? Your team is fulkl of criminals of this piece of crap texted those terms to my daughter he wouldn’t have to worry about football ever again. What else you got to say punk!!!! I will be at the game this year-lets meet.
Rainey's Blackberry
October 29th, 2010
8:25 am
Pete=Brave man challenging on the internet. How old are you punkette?
jasont13
October 29th, 2010
8:25 am
First off the woman who Rainey made the threats to was asked why she didn’t want to press charges and she clearly stated that she has already been threatened by other people as well. Just goes to show she was already feeling heat not to press any charges. Any way you spin it, a lapse in judgement doesn’t clear this kid from playing. Opps I had a lapse in judgement and I texted my bos time to die. Guess what I don’t have a job anymore. As for he did everything the school asked him to do. Its been a little over a month. He was already in good academic standing so academics can be thrown out. Truth is Urban was going to let him play against Miss State but decided not to as he felt they didn’t need him.
Oh the shame of the Bulldog Nation
October 29th, 2010
8:30 am
Let’s see what happened. A college boy and his girlfriend had a fight and he sent her a text which sounds very similar to the BS crap that these kids listen to in Rap music. If he wasn’t playing against the leg humping nation they wouldn’t care. In fact if he missed this week they would all be praying for him to play against South Carolina. Typical, just a bunch of hypocrits just like their suntanned Helen Hunt look alike fake preacher of a Head Coach!
Dawg_Mike
October 29th, 2010
8:31 am
No excuse needed.
Ga will win.
Put down the blackberry Chris- haven’t you learned how much trouble you can get into by texting?
Otis My Man
October 29th, 2010
8:37 am
Urban… you a little worried?? You should be cause your losing with or without your felon!
Gator Mike
October 29th, 2010
8:38 am
Poopdawg, Moonpie and Insert a Comment Here: I did not properly articulate my position on Rainey. He should not play; nor, should he ever again be part of the team. What he did is inexcusable to me, but I do not make the decisions at UF. The entire situation infuriates me. I have a wife and daughters, and this entire hip hop culture of violence is alarming to most of us Gator and Dawg Fans.
I just hope it is a clean game for a change without any dramatics from either coach (i.e. useless time outs and dancing).
Have a great day and I sincerely hope everyone on both sides has a good time in Jax this year.
Go Gators!
robodawg
October 29th, 2010
8:38 am
Don’t understand the “ALLEGEDLY texting” — that he sent the text is clearly established.
And what is a “deferred prosecution agreement” — does that mean, “until football season is over”?!
robodawg
October 29th, 2010
8:40 am
Hope every Dawg defender is thinking of their sister when they see Rainey on the field.
1eyedJack
October 29th, 2010
8:40 am
Gator Mike: “Were I the coach, I would not play Rainey, but it is none of my business.”
Yes it is your business. If you are a fan, alumni, cheerleader, contributor or anything else associated with the team then it is your business. The lack of accountability is what enables these kinds of things. And yes I know UGA has these problems too, but it appears that CMR and the McGarity regime is trying to put some clamps on it.
TampaGator: “And Cam made an innocent mistake by buying a stolen computer…and then did something irrational by tossing it out the window. But he committed no crime and is a wonderful person.”
If Cam was so “innocent” then when he saw the police why would he even think that they were looking for a stolen laptop? And if he didn’t know it was stolen why would he throw it out the window? And isn’t receiving stolen property a crime in Florida?
Dawgs 26 Reptiles 20. Deja vu all over again.
Oh the shame of the Bulldog Nation
October 29th, 2010
8:43 am
robodawg
October 29th, 2010
8:40 am
Hope every Dawg defender is thinking of their sister when they see Rainey on the field.
When they see Rainey they will see a black player who talks just like them, listens to the same music and culture as them. Do you get my drift brother?
Oh the shame of the Bulldog Nation
October 29th, 2010
8:45 am
The Hump Nation would feel just the opposite if one of their players played against Florida; oh wait he is, no one wants to talk about Caleb King black mailing the girl about the loan that he owed her! You are hypocrits just like your disgusting coach.
Gator Mike
October 29th, 2010
8:57 am
1 eyed Jack: I see your point (you are correct), and I have already voiced my concern to UF officials. Allowing Rainey back on the team is only going to continue the unacceptable antics of some of Meyer’s players. Coach Meyer had a chance to send a strong message to the team had he booted Rainey off the team, but he obviously made a selfish decision which will probably haunt him and the UF program.
takedowndawg
October 29th, 2010
9:01 am
tampa gator, have you ever threatened to kill your girlfriend while you attended college? Did you have any of your friends or roommates or family members threatened to kill their girlfriends? Do you not fully understand Rainy’s actions were bizarre and could have been viewed as felonious by more a conservative-based judge. To compare Caleb King’s traffic violation to Rainy’s is bizarre on your part. I believe that you are smarter than that. Let this argument go. It is a loser for you on any level. Coach Meyer is very desperate, it would appear, this year. I hope that it will be a great game, regardless, of who plays. Go DAWGS!!!
DJ Dawg
October 29th, 2010
9:01 am
Tampa Gator i thought you were leaving?
Gatorbait
October 29th, 2010
9:09 am
To all the holier than thou dawgs, I guess you forgot how you embrassed Odell Thurmond after multiple arrests and his dismissal from school. Richt even took him back after his time at the JUCO.
So please get off your high horse, no one like the behavior, but it happens.
Bo
October 29th, 2010
9:12 am
Tampa Gator, King was suspended for 2 games for not paying a ticket and having a bench warrant. That suspension seems to fit the crime as far as I’m concerned. Rainey made death threats and agreed to plead to a lesser sentence in exchange for prosecution at a later time. They aren’t the same thing, you can’t win that argument.
I agree that GA’s arrests have gotten way out of hand but at least Richt is suspending these kids. Meyer had 2 players get in trouble for alcohol related reasons this summer but didn’t suspend them. The media reported that he praised those kids as “leaders”.
Also, Meyer said Rainey would play RB and reciever earlier this week IF he was allowed to play. Were we supposed to believe that Meyer hadn’t already made up his mind that he would play then? What a jackass.
Bo
October 29th, 2010
9:13 am
Gatorbait, Odell Thurmond had to go to GA Military to be allowed back on the team. Rainey just had to play his Playstation for a few weeks and say he was sorry.
messin with...
October 29th, 2010
9:17 am
time to lose, dogboi’s……………..
Typical Gator Fan
October 29th, 2010
9:17 am
I don’t see what the big deal is, I’d let Rainey date my daughter. He just made a mistake. What do you expect from someone who was born unto a crackhead mother in jail? Sure wish we had Tebow here to take the stink off this moral and ethical farce.
bjohndawg
October 29th, 2010
9:27 am
I only care about the UGA program. Let Florida do what it wants. Meyer does not hold players to the same standard as Richt. so be it.that is his right if the school that pays him condones it.Dont like the abuse of women verbal or otherwise, but decision is made and Florida, Meyer and their fans have to live with it.
Prepare the Georgia team to play the best game that it can and beat Florida. dont and lose. Simple as that.
the rest is just bitchin and whining and pointing fingers and casting first stones at glass houses.
makes for poor blogging.
Oh and about tim tebow….I think he was three and one against Georgia. I would say he damn near owned us. heck of a college player. And nothing wrong with a man crying now and then.As a Georgia fan I tip my hat, wish him well, and am glad his eligibility as a college competitor is complete.
Now Go Dawgs, and prepare for the war in Jax.
timthebrave
October 29th, 2010
9:28 am
TampaGator, You want to compare King getting suspended 2 games for not showing up for a speeding ticket to Rainey threatening to kill his girlfriend…Really…Than you try and defend his actions just because his ex forgave him…really…He may have earned a 2nd chance but threatening to kill a woman is very different than threatening to throw a woman out of your house…You see…one is legal and one is a felony……Really
Hunker Down
October 29th, 2010
9:31 am
All gators are saints in the making. Don’t believe me jjust ask Tampa Gator.
Pmanissoopa
October 29th, 2010
9:32 am
TampaGator is a loser and should get a life. Stalking is no big deal, only winning is a big deal – “Urban;s Way.”
258DAWG
October 29th, 2010
9:33 am
Tampa gator is absolutely ignorant!
make sure you show yourself come monday!
you think you’re the only one fired up, you think we forgot about the poking the eye out and the extra TO’s?
I’ve been saying all spring your run is over. now get ready for our RB’s the run right up your A-gap.
you should be ashamed! Rainy should be kicked off like your boy that used dead girls credit card!
GO Dawgs !!!! GATA