A New Florida Character
So it finally took Urban Meyer leaving Florida to start caring about the character of their student athletes.
Under new coach Will Muschamp, arguably the team’s very best defensive player, Janoris Jenkins, was dismissed from the team for legal troubles. His first problem stemmed from a fight when Jenkins was arrested for both fighting and resisting the Gainesville police. Jenkins was then charged with a possession misdemeanor two different times in subsequent brushes with the law. Coach Muschamp, knowing how valuable and irreplaceable Janoris would be on the field, was not going to put up with this type of behavior and ended Jenkins’ time as a Gator.
Meanwhile, under super coach Urban Meyer, who led the school to multiple National Championships, off the field trouble was becoming the norm for the Gators. Although Tim Tebow was the face of the school, the talent-rich players all over the rest of the roster were continually getting into trouble with the law and with the university. According to past reports, as many as 30 players were arrested during Meyer’s rein at the university. Among the players who had gotten into legal trouble or with the NCAA included Riley Cooper, Chris Rainey, Brandon Spikes, Louis Murphy, Brandon James and Carlos Dunlap, all high-production players for Florida.
The logical argument to make then is that Florida won under Urban Meyer because he recruited “bad guys,” getting the most talented players no matter their personal problems or personalities. This is not necessarily the case but it must say something that the very first player under the new regime to get in trouble was immediately kicked off the team.
Coach Muschamp is no Urban Meyer and that may be a good thing.
Fans are often very fickle in regards to this topic. A fan would saw aloud he or she does not want to root for a player who cannot abide by the law and gets in trouble. However, if said player is producing on the field, such indiscretions are overlooked. This was the case with Urban Meyer in charge. Players would get arrested, suspended for a few games and when they came back, the crowds would forgive and forget. Florida is by no means alone in this course of action; they simply had the most success at football while putting up peerless numbers in the court room if you will.
Should we applaud Mr. Muschamp for taking this stand so early in his Gators career? Most people would say yes. I am sure all Florida fans would say yes as well…until the wins stop.
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