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What bothers you most about the Jimmy Johns case?

June 24, 2008

krogers

The most difficult part of the Jimmy Johns arrest story is trying to identify which facet of this saga is most disturbing.
Maybe it’s the story itself. The facts are jolting. Johns sold cocaine to undercover investigators five times before his arrest Tuesday morning. Two of those incidents occurred on campus, two more at his residence and one more was a car-to-car exchange.
Or maybe it’s because another black eye has been applied directly to the University of Alabama football program, and certainly to the university itself. If you don’t think other SEC schools are laughing hysterically at this latest gaffe, check out some fan comments at the tail end of internet stories.
Maybe it’s the frustration of thinking a corner had been turned regarding disciplinary issues and then realizing that that corner is the start of a series of S-turns. Coaches had expressed hope that character issues were improving. Maybe they are. But an arrest of a senior football player for selling cocaine sure sets back the perception that discipline has been restored to the program.
Maybe it’s the embarrassment that Johns is the 10th Crimson Tide football player to be arrested in the past year.
Maybe it’s the puzzling revelation that Johns lived alone off campus. How was that possible? No roommates? Actually, I’m not sure I could’ve survived college without roommates, either in a dorm or off campus. I know I couldn’t have afforded it. And we’re in the part of the year when supervision is considerably different than it will be when the team reports to fall camp. Idle hands ...
Maybe it’s the skepticism that must be felt the next time we hear about the Peer Intervention Group, a Nick Saban innovation that lets team leaders be a watchdog and a disciplinary committee for the team. That is a great idea and sounds real nice, but Tide fans can be forgiven for wondering where were Johns’ peers were as one of their own was tainting them all with his criminal activity. Was every player completely blind-sided by Johns’ arrest? There weren’t warning signs? No change in his behavior? Johns betrayed his teammates. Hopefully, no teammate betrayed him by failing to act on a suspicion.
Maybe it’s the cynical reaction to Saban’s statement Tuesday. “This type of behavior obviously will not be tolerated, and he is no longer a part of our program.”
Maybe a little late there. But at least players know there’s a no-tolerance policy for drug trafficking.
Maybe it’s the realization that Johns had so little regard for his teammates, his school and his coaches that he’d risk criminal activity. Folks, his arrest, while repulsive, should be welcome. Because if a guy will sell coke to undercover cops, you’d better believe he’d take money if a gambler wanted him to miss a tackle at a key moment of a close game.
Maybe it’s the disappointment that a guy who had a wonderful opportunity to improve his life, both through football and education, chose to go the other way.
What a shame.

Tide football player Jimmy Johns arrested on drug charges

krogers

Jimmy Johns, a linebacker on the University of Alabama football team, was arrested Tuesday morning on several drug charges.
The Birmingham News is reporting that among the charges are several counts of selling cocaine, according to Tuscaloosa Police Department spokesman Capt. Greg Kosloff.
Johns, of Brookhaven, Miss., was taken to the Tuscaloosa County Jail, the web site reported. Police said cocaine and marijuana were involved, and that ecstasy was found at Johns’ residence.

Stabler should keep his job, but seek help

June 13, 2008

krogers

With Nick Saban voicing support for Kenny Stabler, the Crimson Tide’s radio analyst hardly needs mine.
But I’ll give it, anyway.
Stabler’s third DUI arrest since 1995 has the rumor mill spinning about whether he will — or should — return to his position this fall.
Here’s my first impression of this situation: If you are predisposed to be offended or are easily mortified, you probably are inclined to take a “three strikes and you’re out” stance against Stabler.
Provided he is guilty, he’s certainly provided ammunition to those calling for his dismissal.
Three DUIs in 13 years is three too many. Driving under the influence taints Saban’s description of Stabler as “a great ambassador for this university.”
I think great ambassadors need to blow under a .08.
But I don’t think he should be fired.
Stabler’s image — deserved or not — is a likable guy who loves to have fun. Who can begrudge him that? That part of his fun is spent with a beverage in his hand shouldn’t surprise anyone.
“That’s just Snake,” people say.
And it is.
You take the good with the bad, but you work on those flaws. I think the guy needs help.
The way to do that isn’t to fire him. Instead, he should have to start and stay with an alcohol program — and I don’t mean 12 ounces at a time.
Just as Saban said there are conditions on suspended linebacker Prince Hall before he returns to the team, that’s one condition that should be put on Stabler before he returns to the booth.
Don’t think it’s going to be easy. Don’t think he’d be getting off easy.
But if he does seek help, he needs to be supported by his fans, his friends and his employer.
This way, it’s kind of up to him.

Gottfried signs point guard from Mississippi JUCO

April 25, 2008

krogers

Alabama basketball coach Mark Gottfried addressed a huge need Friday when he announced the signing of junior college point guard Anthony Brock.
The 5-foot-9 player from Little Rock, Ark., has played the past two seasons at Itawamba (Miss.) Community College.
The Tide has a huge need at the point. Last year’s freshman starter Rico Pickett has transferred and senior Ronald Steele has declared for the NBA draft, but could still return.
Brock averaged 18.5 points, 4.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 steals last season at Itawamba, which was 30-4 last season. He was a second-team All-America for junior college this past season.
“Anthony is a very good point guard,” said Gottfried in a statement released by the university’s media relations office. “He has shot the ball extremely well, handles the ball well and can run a team. I like the fact that he is a tough competitor and winning is important to him. He finds a way to help his team win.“
Brock was a 47.3 percent (86-182) 3-point shooter this past season, shot 48 percent (196-408) from the field and 76.7 percent (151-197) at the free throw line.
He will have talented teammates. Gottfried signed three high school players during the November signing period — including 2008 McDonald’s All-American JaMychal Green, a 6-foot-9 center/forward from Montgomery. Green was voted the 2008 Mr. Basketball in the State of Alabama by the Alabama Sportswriter’s Association and led St. Jude to the Class 1A state championship. In early July Green has been invited to participate in the USA Basketball tryouts for the USA’s 2008 U18 FIBA American Championship Team that will compete in Argentina.
The other signees included Andrew Steele, a 6-foot-3 guard from Birmingham’s John Carroll Catholic who was the Class 5A Player of the Year., and Tony Mitchell, a 6-foot-7 small forward from Swainsboro, Ga., who averaged 19 points, 8 rebounds and 5 blocks a game his senior year. Mitchell was the Class AA Player of the Year and the region Player of the Year in addition to being selected to Georgia’s 2008 North-South All-Star game squad.

Tide, Tiger fans can back Saban’s plan for better Iron Bowl

April 24, 2008

krogers

How to make college football’s most intense rivalry even better?
Alabama head coach Nick Saban shared a quick thought on the Iron Bowl before meeting with several hundred Crimson Tide fans Thursday night at the Crimson Caravan stop in Dothan.
Asked how many questions he anticipated fielding from the audience about the Auburn game, the coach said, “They did’t ask about it at the last one,” referring to Tuesday night’s Caravan trip to Mobile. “We’ll see.
“I know it’s an important game and it’s a great rivalry. Probably the best thing that can happen to that rivalry is that one of us were (No.) 1 and one of us was 2 when we went into the game.”
It’s not like he’ll be pulling for the Tigers. But Saban isn’t a guy who thinks bad news for Auburn is good news for Alabama.
“So tearing the other one down doesn’t necessarily help us be any better,” Saban said. “We try to focus on what we need to do to be the best we can be.”
That starts with talent. Recruiting for 2009 hasn’t stopped, even though Saban and all head coaches can’t visit high schools.
“This is a recruiting time for spring evaluation,” Saban said Thursday night. “We spend a lot of time on that. It’s important to next year’s recruiting we do a good job making good decisions now.”
The Tide has picked up three big early commitments from Darius McKeller of Jonesboro, Ga., Kellen Williams of Snellville, Ga., and D.J. Fluker of Mobile. Big as in large bodies. McKeller is a 6-foot-6, 280-pound lineman. Williams is 6-5, 288. Fluker is listed at 6-6, 327.