Urban Meyer's Florida Gators have put together an impressive record — on and off the field.
While winning two Bowl Championship Series titles, 24 Gators have been arrested in four years under Meyer's watch. Yes, former coach Ron Zook shares some of the blame. Six of the arrests involved players he recruited.
Andrea Adelson of the Orlando Sentinel puts the numbers into context: "The arrest rate for the football team going back to Meyer's first season in 2005 is roughly 10 percent (24 arrests out of 239 players listed on the official roster).
"Compare these numbers to the general population. In 2004, the last year statistics are available, the Uniform Crime Reporting Program of the Department of Justice reported the arrest rate in the United States to be 4.7 percent (4,752.4 arrests per 100,000 residents)."
Thus, Florida players are more than twice as likely to be arrested than a member of the general population.
Although Adelson points out that seven of the Gators eventually had their charges dropped, that doesn't mean the problem should be ignored. "Think about it — how many people do you know who have been arrested? How many of your friends have been arrested? Ten percent?"
What's funny/sad about all of this is that you barely hear a peep from DisneyCo (ESPN, ABC, et al) about this because it would tarnish the lavish coverage and praise they're heaping on them.
But schools like Nebraska in the 90s, who were reported to be corrupt institutions, had nowhere near the problems or arrests that Florida had, and they were crucified (and supposedly without a chance to retort in some cases) without mercy or objectivity.
I guess it is becoming all about money and people watching the 'tube now, and not butts in seats at the stadium and fan base.
Posted by: Matt | June 08, 2009 at 05:54 AM
One difference being, most of UF's arrests have been minor incidents.
Not attempted homicide or sexual assault a la Christian Peter, Lawrence Phillips, etc. at Nebraska.
Apples and Oranges....
Posted by: g8rgrad98 | June 08, 2009 at 07:31 AM