I’m not posting this to defend Jeremiah Holloman’s behavior, or to knock Smart’s decision to dismiss Holloman from the team. I would have done the same thing Kirby did, and just as quickly. But I’m not gonna lie and say this little tidbit doesn’t bug me a little:
The victim didn’t file a police report until June 2, 2019, more than a year after the incident occurred on the day after the 2018 G-Day Game at 4 a.m. on April 22.
Holloman agreed to speak with the University of Georgia Police Department on June 6.
Later that day, without legal representation, Holloman confessed to striking his former girlfriend after an argument grew physical in his dorm room. [Emphasis added.]
The article doesn’t note if he was told he had the right to speak with a lawyer, but I can’t say that really matters much. You’ve got a football player going up against what Jimmy Williamson built and that’s hardly a fair match under the best of circumstances.
I guarantee you that isn’t how it works at most SEC schools.
Get The Picture 
I don’t think Kirby is required to give Miranda rights.
He didn’t have representation with the Athens cops. They aren’t the ones that took any action against him
I’m guessing Kirby asked Jeremiah if he hit her, JJ said he did, and Kirby took action. Same outcome if the girl goes to Kirby instead of the cops
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s sad that there are no winners in this story except possibly the young lady. She apparently wanted revenge a year later and she got it. In this “Me Too” world lives are destroyed while the real problem goes unaddressed.
I don’t blame Kirby or the school for taking the action they took my problem is that the action does nothing to correct the real problem. From all of the studies one thing comes to light – it is a cultural problem. Until that is addressed we will continue to see these situations pop up.
LikeLike
What is the “cultural problem” of which you speak?
LikeLike
Would love to know how the young lady is a possibly a winner? And like Derek requested, please do explain this ‘cultural problem’.
LikeLike
I don’t mean to speak for him, as he may have very different ideas in mind. However, given that rates are significantly higher among certain minority groups, I’d say it’s the same as most of the underlying cultural problems that feed off each other generationally: poverty, drug use, unemployment, lack of education, not getting married, etc. Obviously, men should be held accountable when they beat women, but if you could untie that Gordian Knot of issues you’d solve a hell of a lot of problems for the worst off minority groups in this country, along with the same kinds of cyclic problems that many rural white folks are facing.
LikeLike
Here in West Ga white meth addicts hit women. It isnt a race thing,
LikeLike
Pretty sure they’d fall into the rural white folks I mentioned.
LikeLike
Hitting women is not a “cultural problem.” Certain men have been hitting women for as long as man has been on this Earth.
LikeLike
Studies prove your position is weak at best.
LikeLike
My study of you today establishes that you are being intentionally vague so as to not be called on to support your position. The subtext of which appears to be based on race. But who knows? You aren’t saying, you’re just saying.
LikeLike
Derek I assume you know how to use search engines – so give it a go. I’m not picking a particular race or ethnicity just stating a fact that is out there if you care to look.
Statistics (I hate them but) show domestic violence is more likely in specific groups.
LikeLike
My position is that age, poverty & education levels factor heavily into intimate partner abuse, both of the attacker, the victim and the parents of each. You know who really gets beat disproportionally? Native American women. You know who commits a large portion of the violence against those Native women? White men. Pointing to a particular culture as the sole cause and calling it a day is lazy.
LikeLike
Oh look, another “lives destroyed” because they were held accountable for violence against women take.
How 2019.
LikeLike
How is it again that the young lady wins? Please explain.
LikeLike
She doesn’t. She was still assaulted, has probably been ostracized, and now has assholes saying that she made it up.
LikeLike
Sorry, a 21 year old, American born, college student in 2019 knows his Miranda rights This isn’t even a valid requirement of police officers any longer to me. Probably a good idea if they are illegals who were born, or grew up, elsewhere. Of course, how do we determine that anymore? So many blurred lines, o little concern for right, or wrong.
Kirby handled it right, not even sure he had any choice. Hate it for Holloman, he likely threw way not just the remainder of his collegiate experience but probably any NFL chance he had as well. I support coming down harder on violence, and not just when it is against women. The concern is the way it gets administered, and the media’s obsession with select “cause” cases. I have no concern about this being about Jimmy Williamson’s lingering effect, or whether Holloman needed an attorney in this situation. Technicalities don’t change whether Holloman did the wrong thing here.
LikeLike
The issue that you, and probably most, don’t bother to consider is how your casual attitude extends the contrast between rich and powerful folks in the criminal justice system and poor and powerless people in the presumably same system.
I personally don’t like our two track system of justice that treats, for example, the Central Park Five in one way and Jeffery Epstein in another.
That is to say that a wealthy person in Holloman’s shoes hires a lawyer who tells the police to “fuck off” and he suffers zero consequences from the fact that he, like Holloman, is guilty.
At a minimum, we can read the poor bastard his constitutional rights can’t we? Is it really too much to ask?
LikeLike
Now that is something we can agree with. As things stand now we have TWO systems of justice – one for the common folks and a very different one for the rich and or powerful.
LikeLike
Hmm, it’s more complex than that. There’s actually 3 systems: 1 for the incredibly poor, one for the fat part of the bell curve, and one for the super wealthy and powerful.
LikeLike
Sorry, a 21 year old, American born, college student in 2019 knows his Miranda rights This isn’t even a valid requirement of police officers any longer to me.
Yes, we’re fully aware you’re a full blown boot-licking fascist. Duly noted.
LikeLike
I thought that was well-established.
LikeLike
Ugh. It’s a terrible situation. JJ seemed to be a good guy from a really good family and made a terrible mistake. No woman regardless of the situation should be subject to physical abuse. Kirby had no choice in the situation. Once it came out, he had to act swiftly.
I hope the woman can find some some peace and JJ gets an opportunity for redemption.
LikeLike
C’mon ee don’t give us that “he seemed like a nice guy” line. Many abusers have gotten away with crimes because they seemed like good people. Good guys don’t hit women. Period. It’s not hard, especially if you are an elite athlete with no reason to fear for your physical safety.
LikeLike
Did you read the whole comment? Did I make an excuse?
LikeLike
To answer – “The Cultural Problem” do some research. I fully expected the blow back from a predictable group – shoot the messenger and refuse to read multiple studies that identify the groups most likely to suffer domestic abuse and the likely perpetrators.
LikeLike
You’re the one who referenced these studies, then when asked what they are, you say “go do research”. According to you, the research has already been done. So why not share the studies you’re referring to?
LikeLike
Why not do your own research. Then you can offer a point of view based on facts rather than emotions.
LikeLike
Because I’m not the one on here with an agenda. I’m just legitimately curious what you’re talking about. You were pretty vague in what your point is.
LikeLike
One study https://www.verywellmind.com/domestic-violence-varies-by-ethnicity-62648
LikeLike
Ok. Is this controlled for income level? Given changes in state law where someone has to go to jail, it would stand to reason that higher income people are probably less likely to report due to stigma, career impact, etc.
Regardless of all of this, I’m still not sure I see your point or understand your argument.
Is your position that domestic violence are only problems in the black and Hispanic community? If so, just say that. Don’t pussyfoot around it.
I tend to disagree and think that again, it has more to do with class and status, especially with what gets reported or not, but you can certainly disagree. Just be clear in your position.
LikeLike
What in this link in your mind lends credit to your statement that “Me too” is to blame for lives being destroyed, or that the young lady was a “winner,” in your words? Or that she was “out for revenge?” Because I’m not seeing anything here to support that.
LikeLike
Come, didn’t you know that even though the vast, overwhelming majority of violence against women, sexual and otherwise goes unpunished that the instance where it is reported are all just cases of women wanting revenge and not at all legitimate? Everyone knows that. Mega dittos.
LikeLike
Don’t worry about the blowback. They don’t really care. They just love to act as if they do. These are the kinds of guys who try to get laid by portraying themselves to whatever woman they have a thing for as being safe and a guy they can trust. It’s creepy as hell but make feminist types play that sort of game.
LikeLike
I read that the two broke up and that’s when she filed a report. The night the incident actually happened, although she sought medical attention, she said her injury was the result of an accident. It seems a year later was the first time anyone thought to ask JJ if he hit her. To his credit, he told the truth. One of the most difficult lessons any human being has to learn and learn to live by is to take responsibility for our own actions. Especially when those actions come with negative consequences. JJ has clearly learned this at a young age. This is good. Now, about hitting women. It’s never okay under any circumstances. I’ve gotten into this conversation on this blog before and I have no desire to rehash it. In my opinion it’s never okay to hit a woman. Even in self defense. You don’t hit a woman. Period. That’s the way I was bought up. I’m sticking with it. Please don’t try to convince me otherwise. I’m not going to respond to it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The University of Georgia is a public institution. It’s police force is a government entity. And the cops didn’t read the kid the Miranda warning? Anything he said to them is inadmissible in court. Plus now that the circumstances of this are known I don’t trust the accuracy of the so-called confession as recorded by the cops. I know Kirby’s got to do what Kirby’sgot to do but this is a really shitty way to lose your best WR.
LikeLike
If you’ve watched “The First 48”, you know that cops are extremely adept at getting “witnesses” to come in and “share their side of the story”. This ruse brings some degree of trust. A cop will say “if you want to call your lawyer you can do that, I just want to hear your side…”
I’m not anti cop, but I don’t like how they often ply these people with sweet words when they are in fact the subject of the investigation.
LikeLike
Mayor, so then the question becomes, was JJ in police custody? If someone is not in police custody, no Miranda warning is required and anything the person says can be used at trial. I have not followed this closely so I do not know if JJ was in police custody.
LikeLike
I just wish that the university was doing the right thing and protecting these students and making sure that they had proper representation.
I wouldnt answer questions without representation, you shouldnt, and student athletes at UGA shouldnt be doing it either.
LikeLike
Unless you’re the one that called the cops, then have a lawyer present.
LikeLike
Two steps to contacts with law enforcement:
Step 1:
“I want a lawyer and I gotta go pee.”
Step 2:
Repeat. Steps 1 and 2.
LikeLike
You should have a lawyer present even if you ARE the one who called the cops. The cops are just as likely to respond to your call by shooting your dog and arresting you. Cops are not your friends and they do not exist to serve or protect you.
LikeLike
I don’t believe that. A few bad apples ruin the entire batch. That said, we are slipping further and further towards authoritarianism. It’s a go idea to have a lawyer there to hold the government to their burdens.
LikeLike
It’s not a few bad apples. When the system is constructed to protect “bad apples,” it’s the whole batch that is spoiled.
https://www.apnews.com/3c72405c9f874844a84b0ca658402078
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dogs-shot-by-police_n_59638593e4b02e9bdb0e2b6e
https://thefreethoughtproject.com/cop-tries-kill-dog-shoots-11yo-boy/
LikeLike
I understand, and a lack of accountability and transparency amongst law enforcement is a massive problem. Mistrust is well earned.
That said, most people want to do their job well and go home. Including police.
The fact is that the attracts 2 distinct personality types: those who legitimately care about public service, and those who want to be authoritarian bullies.
Unfortunately that actions of that later influence what we think about the former. Which is why reform and oversight are so critically important.
LikeLike
Here’s the problem – if the majority of cops were “good people” who cared about doing their jobs right, we wouldn’t have a system that protected the bad cops who don’t do their job right. At best, cops are people who got into it for the right reasons but consider their allegiance to the fraternal order of police of higher importance than their obligation to the people they serve; at worst they are jackboots and thugs.
Every video you see where one cop is acting wildly out of control or violently toward someone, there’s always AT LEAST one other cop (usually multiple cops) in the video who are doing nothing to stop him. Or they’re joining in. You’d be hard pressed to find a case where one police officer testifies against another. Except for cases where the cop in question is one who is being run out for being a whistle-blower. Then the cops will line up to testify against that person. Today’s law-enforcement operates much like the old mafia. Loyalty to the “family” over everything else. That’s an institutional problem, not one that’s isolated to individuals. I don’t even know where you begin with combating that, but I suspect breaking up the police unions would be a good place to start.
LikeLike
Yeah, like I said, major reforms are need. People need to be prosecuted and convicted.
But I’m not ready to burn down the entire system. YMMV of course.
LikeLike
With all due respect (for real), if you’re regularly reading long think pieces at the Huffington Post, it’s no wonder you have that opinion of police officers. The Huffington Post is rated past center-left. It’s the media arm of the professional grievance industry.
LikeLike
Just strictly from a legal perspective, I said before and will repeat that this will not be prosecuted. I am not defending his actions – like most seem to think, JJ was wrong, but his statement won’t be admissible, and he will not be convicted. That is my prediction.
Kudos to Kirby for doing what needed to be done, and good luck to JJ in his future, and now, NEXT MAN UP.
LikeLike
Predictably Derek and Chili turned this into a race thing…prime for pot stirring. Too bad I had to earn a living today. Could have really gotten them worked up
Kind of surprised nobody was told to save it for the playpen
LikeLike