Remember back when University of Miami football players were getting locked up pretty much every week?
Oh wait … that still happens? Our bad …
Anyway, remember back when University of Miami football players were getting locked up pretty much every week but the Canes were winning beaucoup football games each year (like the 2001 Sugar Bowl over Steve Spurrier’s Florida Gators, for example)?
Well, at the University of South Carolina, Spurrier’s players have got the whole “getting locked up” thing down pat, it’s winning football games that’s been the problem.
Sadly, South Carolina has been every bit as mediocre under Spurrier as it was before he arrived five years ago, with back-to-back late-season collapses (and losses to Vanderbilt) sapping fans’ support and patience. Of course, that didn’t stop the school’s asinine Athletic Department from slapping a new surcharge on its long-suffering season ticket holders.
Because paying “more for less” is pretty much par for the course at (in) South Carolina.
Anyway, one of the few players we were actually looking forward to watching this season is 6’8″, 281-pound defensive end Clifton Geathers, who emerged as a defensive standout for the Gamecocks last season.
With his combination of speed, strength and agility, Geathers created havoc in opposing backfields … sort of like he created havoc with the Columbia Police Department over the weekend (allegedly).
According to The State newspaper’s Joseph Person, Geathers was involved in a brawl outside a Columbia, S.C. night club early Sunday morning, and is now facing three charges after he did not “go gently into that good police cruiser.”
Here’s a look at Geathers’ mug shot …
Nice, huh?
There’s no word yet on what consequences may be in store for the 21-year-old junior, but our guess is he’ll likely miss South Carolina’s season opener on September 3 in Raleigh against the N.C. State Wolfpack. And probably more games, depending on the resolution of the charges against him.
Also on Sunday, USC’s highly-touted freshman tailback Jarvis Giles was involved in an “early morning altercation” with a female student in a campus dorm.
No word yet on his status or the details of that incident.
Ah, August arrests … as predictable at this school as October collapses.
Oh, and to our buds over at Palmetto Scoop … you guys might want to rethink your intro on this story – or stick to writing fluff pieces for Henry McMaster (i.e. what you’re good at).
Geathers is a defensive end, not an offensive lineman.
Seriously, a blog’s gotta know it’s limitations.
Pic: Travis Bell, Sideline Carolina
Mug: Alvin Glenn (Richland County, S.C.) Detention Center
By Liberty For Me August 24, 2009 at 4:45 pm
What a shock….!! Now tell me how society is advancing when we lower standards to let these kind of people play college football.If they are good enough to play,let them go pro..Stop with all these fake college entrance standards.
By CNSYD August 24, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Haven’t you guys heard? Per the comments on The State web site, this whole deal is the bouncer, the police and Joe Person’s fault.
By Face August 24, 2009 at 7:55 pm
I’ve been a hardcore Gamecock fan for over 25 years and this is the first time I’ve dreaded an upcoming season, what a shame.
By Richard August 24, 2009 at 8:33 pm
This happened at Club Ice in the Vista.I googled it and what I saw made me want to hurl. No wonder there has been such an increase in crime in this area. If one of my children went to such a place he or she would be cut off from the family fortune.
By James the Foot Soldier August 24, 2009 at 8:55 pm
dang…looks like the poor m*f* slipped and fell and hit his head as he was being eased into the squad car…accidents do happen….
By chesterfield resident August 24, 2009 at 9:06 pm
What a shock—poor Gamecock fans will stop at nothing to attempt a “whinning” season. Sorry for the typo, I meant winning season. The savior “Darth Vader” seems to really be bringing the standards of the University to an exceptable level. Thugs and mediocrity—when will they get that coveted SEC Championship, what a joke!!!
By PBR man August 24, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Gamecock fans disheartened @ the time of the year that usually brings the most optimism. Maybe this is next year!
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' August 24, 2009 at 10:33 pm
It has been so long (in Gamecock time) since our last player arrest that I’d forgotten what a kick in the stomach it is. Geathers is an idiot and traitor for making himself unavailable to play. The Jiles incident is too vague to merit discussion or reporting, but The State has been hard up for news since it fired its reporters.
By Mike August 25, 2009 at 2:30 am
I guess the soccer fans over at Scoop didn’t notice in their own pic that Geathers was tackling the guy with the ball. I know- our offensive guys have to do that a good bit, but on most teams that generally falls to the defense…
By CNSYD August 25, 2009 at 8:30 am
Read the comments in today’s State paper. Mr. Geathers is highly educated. The bouncer and the cops are uneducated losers who are jealous that football players get all the women. Sounds like a logical explanation.
By Toyota Kawaski August 25, 2009 at 9:17 am
CNSYD not defending him at all but most cops and bouncers are uneducated losers who were picked on in school so now it’s there turn with some power.
By CNSYD August 25, 2009 at 9:51 am
Toyota, “qualifications” for being a bouncer I am not familar with. I understand in Charleston you have to have a college degree to be on the police force. I don’t know what is required in Columbia. My bottom line is that had Mr. Geathers been home in bed at that hour and not visiting a place of low repute we would not be discussing this. Also the police may have been called to this locale multiple times and were getting tired of it. It is sort of like us deciding to visit beautiful downtown Kabul and then being shocked that we were shot at.
By Tee August 25, 2009 at 10:05 am
Stick to politcs. USC doesnt have any more of a problem as Clemson or Florida. Spurrier’s punishment is no less than what Meyer or Dabo/Bowden. Yes Humphries was kicked off the team but it took two DUI’s to have that happen. Meyer has been under considerable heat for players consistently getting in fights and packing heat and and lets not forget about Jarvis Moss failing a drug test the week before playing Carolina in 2006 and was conveinently suspended the following week for Coastal Carolina(some team like that).
I think we have done pretty damn good the past year with arrests. What other school has the Columbia PD, USC PD, AET (Alcohol Enforcement Team), Sherrifs Dept, Cayce PD and live in a metro where there is a large portion of the population that has no ties to the university.
Seems like we have a bunch of saints on this blog this morning.
By one mo August 25, 2009 at 11:23 am
Here come the usual flurry or pre and early season arrests for this gang.
Ole Ball Sack is one Budweiser away from no QB at all. Three arrests for Car-Keyer err, Garcia and he’s still on the team.
Let’s revisit this subject again in late October and see how that ticket surcharge is working out.
By Barney Fife August 25, 2009 at 11:38 am
Gamecock fans already down on the team before the first snap of the season. Looks like a long, long season ahead. See you in November!
Go Tigers!
By Good Point August 25, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Read this on Gump for Heisman’s new post:
10) Making fun of rival player arrests as your entire D Line gets 5-10
“Man, can you guys believe that LSU player did a Diamond Dallas Page on his Econ teacher? What a bunch of thugs. I mean, sure, our strong safety roid-rufied a mascot, but I mean… that was bullshit.”
Odds are, this sounds like you. Bless our hearts, most college football fans couldn’t see the world straight with a team-sponsored leveler. We make fun of each other for doing the things, well, we do. Arkansas calls Mississippi inbred. Oklahoma calls USC cheaters. OJ calls Donte Stallworth a copycat.
Hey look, it happens. But when it comes to mocking player arrests, tread lightly. It’s like running for president when you’re a Bush: everybody gets their turn. And yours is right around the corner. So if you aren’t careful, you’ll end up with Dukakis on your face.
Besides, are you really that surprised that the guy who’s on scholarship because he really likes to hit people really likes to hit people?
If you’re in SEC country, heed this rule especially. Put down the stone and say hello to your glass house.
In the SEC, coaching salaries aren’t the only thing out of control. It’s like Hank Williams Jr. said. Only this time, all your rowdy friends are on scholarship.
It works like this: If you laugh at a rival guy for stealing a car, your guy will steal a tank. If you laugh at a rival guy for smoking a joint, your guy will smoke a pedestrian. That’s karma, that’s how it works. The second you make fun of a rival fullback who stumbles into an underage MIP, your favorite linebacker Lattimers an underage KD.
If you’re with a team outside the SEC, you have every right to look down in concern. In fact, you should be concerned about who SEC players are victimizing the worst: You.
By Mike August 25, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Hey Good Point-
Great post bro! Especially the, “are you really that surprised that the guy who’s on scholarship because he really likes to hit people really likes to hit people?” bit. Quality.
The fact that you spelled and punctuated “who’s” appropriately indicates to me you probably don’t hang around this website much…
By Bear August 26, 2009 at 9:28 am
USC should change their policy on football players. Spurrier should tell his players that if you get arrested, you are off the team and no scholarship. I am not saying that players can not go to Five Points to have fun, but if they get in trouble, they are on their own. Maybe once Spurrier kicks a few players on the team, the rest might get the point. Spurrier has enough to worry about this season, like keeping his job.
By Chris Hill August 26, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Pretty asinine article. USC has had a TOTAL of 2 arrest since the end of last season. I know Clemson has had at least 1, the DUI, but that’s not the point is it, just cool to be sensationalizing.