If ever there’s a moment when Mark Richt says to himself, “there but for the grace of God go I”, it’s probably about now.
Alabama defensive tackle Jonathan Taylor was arrested Saturday night and charged with domestic violence third degree assault and domestic violence third degree criminal mischief, according to the Tuscaloosa Police Department.
This time, it’s somebody else who’s lost control. (I eagerly await Kirk Herbstreit’s condemnation.)
“We recruited this young man out of high school,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said in February. “We felt that what we knew about him, what his high school coaches said about him, from what people at the school he was at said about him and where he came from in junior college that he was the kind of guy that deserved a second chance. “But with that chance we also have stipulations and things that he needs to do from a personal-development standpoint so that he won’t make any kind of mistake like this again. That’s an on-going process with him. That’s something that we continue to monitor, and it’s something he’s done a very good job with.”
So much for the Process. You can assume Taylor’s gone, because Saban doesn’t have time for that shit. But tomorrow’s presser ought to be epic.
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UPDATE: PAWWWLLL!!!
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UPDATE #2: The deed is done.
Zero-tolerance for some who was already in trouble with the law? Hokay.
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UPDATE #3: Mark Schlabach rips Saban and ‘Bama a new one. And here’s a great quote:
Make no mistake: Alabama’s decision wasn’t about rehabilitation and second chances. It was about winning, and now the Crimson Tide look like big losers — from the top down. It’s not like Alabama is Louisville, where Cardinals coach Bobby Petrino seems to take any SEC reject as he tries to build his program. The Crimson Tide have the pick of the litter when it comes to recruiting. For whatever reason, they chose a troubled prospect with fleas.
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UPDATE #4: The AD’s statement.
First Rule of Holes, dude.
Get The Picture 
Just DAMN. The amount of bs Saban pushed out when he brought this kid in was epic. I cant imagine what the presser is gonna be like. Wow.
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Self-immolation is the best way to prepare crow, IMO.
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I’m really curious to see what angle Saban will take. Where do you go from “we looked into his soul and saw goodness and gave the kid a second chance. How dare you question the fact that he can ball as a primary motivating factor driving this second chance?” The last thing I expect is them to come clean and say that there desire for a good football player blinded them to the realities of his behavioral issues. Get ready for some serious logic gymnastics.
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Has Taylor made the 2 deep? That should tell you whether he’ll be expelled. The Tuscaloosa PD made a big faux pas, letting this get out and not immediately turning it over to the on duty fixer at the football office. Somebody besides Jonathan Taylor is gonna pay.
Geno Smith’s regretful tweets aren’t that regretful. C’mon, 24 hours after? He roughly said ‘let’s move on,’ a la Corch. “I made my apology, now shutup!”
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Gawd, with that hypocrisy, I wonder what his apology sounded like?
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Nemmind. Insincere and false with the wrong words indicating atonement. He just states the word “apology” without really giving one.
The good news for Bama is reinstatement of Smith before the UGA game. But they may have their hands full keeping him sober if he comes to Athens Fri nite. That means they probably will fly in Sat morn.
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Dammit Man! Saban is the head coach of a National Championship winning team! He ain’t got time for that shit. He is not a man of moral fiber! He’s a “great corch” Get your priorities straight! GOTDAMN SIR!!!
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Why will the presser be epic? The Bama media cowers in the presence of Saban
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I expect that crack journalist Cecil Hurt to all over this mofo.
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Wonder what the over/under is on the number of “aight?”s Saban offers.
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What a bunch of bullshit. The assault in Athens wasn’t the first time he hit a woman and this time won’t be the last. The POS should save everybody some time and check into the nearest prison.
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Suspend’em from the spring game! That’ll learn’em!
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Word is, he’s already been suspended from at least one baseball game.
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My question is why has domestic violence become a huge deal in the NFL but is still a relatively minor issue in college?
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No college player has been videoed knocking a woman out in the elevator and dragging her unconscious body around. Snatching a little boys britches down and switching his bare backside and testicles might piss off even the most ardent Rammer Jammer fan
just sayin’.
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If that’s the reason (I’m afraid you may be right), then people are disgustingly shallow and thoughtless. When a giant man is going around choking women, I don’t need to see a video to be outraged.
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I wouldn’t go so far to say that. It is more of an issue regarding the national visibility of the NFL.
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Unfortunately, I doubt it. If the player in question can make a play for Alabama to beat Auburn or win a national title, they will gladly overlook whatever transgressions might be involved. When it’s all you have in life, it means THAT MUCH.
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Well, here’s another thing I can rebut all the insufferable Bama fans around here when they snark that Georgia recruits thugs. Of course, that will be followed by “Well, we win championships with those thugs, Roll Tide, blah blah blah!!!”
God, I can’t wait for the Tide to be put on 10 years probation.
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I think it’s worth pointing out that Georgia won the exact same number of playoff games Alabama did this past season.
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Glad Finebaum took him to task. Wonder if national media will follow.
(I can’t believe I sadi something positive about Pawlll)
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You know it’s bad when you can’t get Finebaum to cover for you.
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To be fair, Finebaum has been critical of the whole thing since the start.
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What about the guy with the 2nd DUI. Think he stays?
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A projected starter. No doubt he stays.
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Auburn will take both Alabama players!!!!!
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I can see it now: Rodney Garner, “I recruited Jonathan. I know he’s had his problems, but I know him. I trust him. He’s just misunderstood. Auburn ‘University’ is proud to have him.”
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I want to see this headline:
SABAN’S TIDE: OUT OF CONTROL
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So when does the Meme change to “Nick Saban has lost control of…”? He better have time for this shit..
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The “Saban will be embarrassed” crowd is missing one small bit of the puzzle: He can’t be embarrassed, because Bammer fans can’t be embarrassed. It’s really that simple. Does anyone who’s been paying attention really think there are ten Bammer fans that are really upset over this?
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I don’t know if Saban is embarrassed but, yes, there are more than ten Bama alums who are. Embarassed by his signing and this latest charge.
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How embarrased are they? Are they embarrassed enough to change anything in any way? Will they support Saban any less because of it? If not, then that’s not what I’m talking about.
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This sucks for everybody.
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This.
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Well he still has Auburn and Louisville to enroll in for his next 2 chances.
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Good ole Finebaum. That would be two facts, Paul.
Looks like Bama’s character classes aren’t appropriate to rehab a guy given 3 chances. When this happened last July, Taylor was gone by this time the next day. Does anyone know if he was on continuing probation? If so, would imagine a warrant will be out sooner than Saban can say “We’re considering in-house punishment.”.
Richt didn’t need no stinkin’ warrant. He also left him in jail. When you have exceeded Richt’s sense of right vs wrong that quickly, then you know there is more to the story. Saban should have known that also, but the blinders go on the weak when faced with the outcome of having no warm body. And this whole incident with Taylor makes Saban look mighty desperate and weak.
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And this whole incident with Taylor makes Saban look mighty desperate and weak.
You’re right. There are more than a few Bama alums and supporters who yet have not been satisfied with the answers given as to why Taylor was brought in.
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I’m surprised nobody has mentioned Hugh Freeze/Ole Miss yet as the next destination for Taylor. After all, Freeze himself said he’s all about 3rd and 4th chances, as was the case with former Clemson QB Kelly.
If he can take in Kelly while invoking Christian principals of forgiveness, surely he can find room for Taylor.
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More room to greyshirt. But, seriously, WHY WHY WHY would ANY program pay this kid to “go to school?” He is a criminal and belongs in prison. It’s time to send a message. This was not a bad decision. Not a lapse in judgment. It is now an established pattern. LOCK HIS ASS UP!
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Guy needs to go to jail, rehab, counseling.
Does NOT need to play football for at least 2 years.
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Some people learn from the mistakes of others.
Some people learn only from their own mistakes.
Some people never learn.
Saban bet Taylor was a 2. Turns out he’s a 3.
I was actually hoping things would turn out well for Taylor, as I would hope for anyone. Sad. He wasted two incredible opportunities.
Oh wait, he just avoided being turned into a slave for athletic department overseers. So I guess that’s a good thing?
Dammit, now I am all confused. Curse you, CFB. I’m going to go take a lovely walk on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.
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What is the point of mentioning us in their press release. Trying to share blame? Total BS
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Good troll by Alabama but it can’t hang with the AJC.
The AJC references the University of Georgia six times in its article.
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That’s why never EVER read the AJC is rule #1.
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The part that chaps my ass about this whole situation is that the athletic department went out of its way to tell us all that Taylor was evaluated the same as any other student with a legal history.
As an aside – unless Taylor is some sort of Fullbright scholar, I’m pretty sure that an average to mediocre out of state student with a felony charge pending wouldn’t be admitted. I’m SO CERTAIN that his ability to shed blocks and tackle running backs had NOTHING to do with it.
Anyways, my point being that the University of Alabama clearly admitted somebody to their campus with a questionable legal history that endangered their own student body. If I’m the parent of a daughter attending Bama, I want them to tell me why they admitted a known woman beater on campus. I bet Saban doesn’t have time for that shit, either. But ya know – he was clearly evalulated at the same merits as any other student. Nope – athletics had not a thing to do with it.
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Scratch that first sentence – meant to say the admissions side of UA. Not the athletic department.
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There is one reason and only one reason why Taylor was allowed to compete at Bama. Ohio State 42 Alabama 35. The Buckeyes mauled the Tide defensive line and Nick was not going to see that happen again.
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I’m sure the prosecutor from Athens will be getting a warrant and Mr. Taylor will get to meet the US Marshals when they pick him up. He will have to be tried of course but should he be found guilty Auburn/Ole Piss will have a hard time using him unless they can work out a work release program.
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No one has mentioned what is likely Taylor’s biggest loss in all this. It won’t be the opportunity to suit up for Bama this Fall. It will be the free, best defense lawyers that the Bama $$$ could provide for the charges in Georgia.
Coming soon: request for withdrawal
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