A nother weekend, another arrest. The Strip was a problem for the football team last year, and has already made its mark this year with the early morning arrest of Rashad Johnson outside the Legacy.
That makes six arrests in the last year, according to Bamaonline.com. They also reported the Legacy was the venue where three players were arrested over the summer.
It is another black eye for UA. It gives the impression the inmates are running the asylum.
You don’t win SEC titles, and a national title without understanding the road to victory; victory requires discipline and control. There can be little doubt Nick Saban understands the importance of each. He isn’t an intellectual lightweight; he is a championship football coach.
Alabama hasn’t had discipline in a long time—probably since Gene Stallings walked the sidelines. And it has showed on the field.
You can look at what NFL scouts were saying about Alabama players prior to the NFL Combine. Scouting reports we posted last week on three key players off 2007 Crimson Tide. The NFL wrote damning things about the work ethic of DJ Hall, Wallace Gilberry, and Simeon Castille.
Bad attitudes are contagious. Like a plague they ravage even the healthiest morale.
What is wrong? Why do players continue to make foolish decisions, which embarrass themselves and the University? Why do players insist on partying constantly on the Strip?
Why won’t Saban make the Strip off-limits? What are his plans to end the seemingly endless arrests?
When you win, and players aren’t making the police blotter, you don’t have to answer questions like this. But with weekly arrests, it is hard to dodge the difficult questions. Saban hates these types of questions, but this is a time for answers.
Obviously, we don’t know exactly what went down at the Legacy early this morning, and there’s no excuse for Johnson’s behavior. That said, my brother did comment to me that the bouncers at Legacy are “jackasses” and scuffles there are frequent as a result.
But isn’t it interesting that every time an athlete gets in trouble (Elder excepted) it’s always at like 3 a.m. outside of a bar/strip club? Maybe … I don’t know … find somebody to go home with and get the hell out of there. Just saying.
wlh
I guess I’m old because I can’t remember why anyone would be out at 3 a.m.
“Why won’t Saban make the Strip off-limits? What are his plans to end the seemingly endless arrests?”
Okay, out of curiosity, if the players are willing to violate state laws (and city ordinances), what makes you think a team rule is going to keep them in check?
Maybe because players are sober when they visit the strip, but have had a few (or many) by the time these incidents happen? It is easier to prevent problems by setting boundaries before alcohol becomes involved.
In fairness to the players, many of the arrests are stupid (see Castille arrest), but it seems like the Strip has become a problem for the team. There has to be a solution. And a solution that doesn’t take fun away from the players. I may not want to stay out until 3 a.m., but if they want…there should be a safe place for them to do it…I’m betting that isn’t the strip right now.
i think the answer lies in saban’s own words. his words after the loss to ul-monroe last year. i write about this and the pattern that seems to be emerging here on my blog, http://finebammer.blogspot.com
I swear I would rather have an under .500 team than to see this crap in the papers every month about my School. Give these punks a two strikes and your OUT rule.
Nothing but a bunch of unappreciative punks down there.