40 Acres Sports

Bobby Tatum & Michael Houston have been rumored for a while. Jerrell Wilkerson is surprising and disappointing.

The Austin Police Department has released information that it is investigating multiple Texas football players over two separate incidents. The incidents allegedly involved robbery and assault and occured on September 4th and on December 10th, with at least three players under investigation. So far the names that have surfaced are Cedric Griffin, Ramonce Taylor, and possibly one other starter.

I should state again that no charges have been filed and may never be, let’s hope for the sake of the student athletes involved that they’re all cleared of any wrongdoing because they committed no crimes. I really hope people with as much to lose as these guys would be smart enough not to get involved with anything like this. We’ll see.

Not a ton of information right now so I’m going to hold off commenting further until there’s at least a little more information. We will obviously continue to update this story as details become available, but for now some quotes that make me feel slightly less panicked.

From Texas Athletic Director DeLoss Dodds’ official statement:

“We were surprised by the APD release of allegations concerning one or more of our student-athletes. We have followed up on the rumors that we are hearing and spoken with the two student-athletes who are alleged to be under investigation. Within the limited time we had this evening, we have gathered as much information as possible. Based upon what we know at this time we have no reason to believe that the university or the athletics department need to take any action. We will continue to monitor the matter and we will cooperate fully with those who are conducting the investigation.”

Statement from a lawyer advising Cedric Griffin:

“I have agreed to advise Cedric Griffin although no criminal charges have been filed against him. He is the subject of an investigation – and I stress it is an investigation. I believe no charges will be filed against him. They’re saying this is assault and robbery, and it sounds hideous, but this is a trash-talking incident on the street involving Cedric and that’s it. I know this is a big game and they’re focused on it. But in fairness to Cedric, this was nothing more than a verbal incident in as much as it involves Cedric.”

Related Links

• Police investigating Horns (AP)
• UT football players under investigation (Orangebloods.com)
• Police investigation focuses on UT players (AAS)
• Texas cornerback part of assault, robbery probe (ESPN)

Updates

It’s starting to sound more and more like essentially nothing occured during the December incident involving C. Griffin and Taylor. Griffin got into an argument and there might have been some pushing and shoving but that sounds like the extent of things. The strangely quiet September incident still sounds much worse and I’ve heard the same player’s name mentioned in it everytime, but since I haven’t seen any of the major news sources mention his name I won’t either. I will say that he has already been dealt with and is no longer with the team. (12/17/2005)

Taylor and Griffin’s lawyer (and former assistant DA) Ken Oden says that the Austin Police Department has informed him that no charges will be filed against the two Texas players. The APD refused to confirm the report and now ESPN is reporting that an APD source told them that “investigators have set a deadline of the national championship game between USC and Texas on Jan. 4 to decide whether to press charges.” That’s a pretty telling sign about what’s going on here and this whole thing is a sham. (12/19/2005)

Sounds like Mack Brown and UT athletic department also believe that no charges will be filed over the December 10th incident as they’ve announced any discipline of Griffin and Taylor will be handled in-house. Good news for the players involved as well as the team’s national title hopes. (12/20/2005)

Received this in an email…

THE NIGHT OF THE ROSE BOWL

T’was the night of the Rose Bowl…and all through the land,

All the Longhorns were stirring, even the band.

The tickets were purchased for the game, room, and air…

In hopes that “Saint Vincent” would soon be there!!

The fans were tailgating from their truck beds,

While a vision of a championship danced in their heads.

And Bevo in his bridle, and me in my cap…

Had just popped a cold one before the first snap.

When out on the turf there arose such a clatter,

I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter!!

My eyes fixed on the tunnel, and the thundering herd;

The roar of the fight song; I sang every word!!

They ran to the end zone, and knelt to their maker…

Giving thanks for TEXAS, and the victory later!!

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear.

Coach Mack in his glory, “THE HEAD COACH OF THE YEAR”!

And our hero from Houston that I haven’t seen since;

I knew in a moment it must be “Saint Vince”!

More rapid than eagles his posse they came…

And he whistled and shouted and called them by name!

Now, THOMAS! Now, TAYLOR! Now, PITTMAN and SWEED!

On, CHARLES! On, GRIFFIN! ROSS, HUFF and McGEE!

To the top of the world for a championship crown!

Now dash away, dash away, to a TEXAS touchdown!

They fought with fury! They fought with might!

They fought like champions on this championship night!

Oh! The bombs they flew, and the holes blew open…

The Longhorns ran the ball just as we were hope’n.

The defense attacked, and oh, they played hard!

Stopping the Trojans, in their own back yard!

Mack’s eyes how they twinkled, his dimples, how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, the “crystal ball” he did carry!

He embraced his coaches, he embraced his team!

And “The Eyes of TEXAS” we all did sing

A season that will live forever in lore;

COME EARLY, WEAR ORANGE, STAY LATE, once more!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, TEXAS and HOOK ‘EM HORNS

I can’t tell you how pumped I am about going to the Rose Bowl. We will be hitting up Vegas a couple days before and after the game, which will be just enough time to place our bets on the Texas moneyline and then collect the winnings. It’s official now. See you there!

Former Tennessee fan is auctioning off his football loyalty on eBay, bids are up over $700.

Just like during the season, the Longhorns dominate.

Great choice, surprised he hasn’t gotten a big time job sooner.

Rose Bowl obviously #1. Several other good matchups and a lot of duds.

ESPN has decided to try and find out where the 2005 USC Trojan team fits in history, pitting them against the all-time Top 10 teams in college football. The funny thing is, they haven’t even proven that they are the best team THIS YEAR. And to make things even more ridiculous, they threw in the mediocre 2002 Ohio State team just to make sure that USC would win at least 1 matchup. Did Sean Salisbury come up with this crap or what?

Seriously though, where did all of this ESPN West Coast homerism come from? Did ESPN feel bad about only showing Reggie Bush highlights 12 hours a day during the Heisman race that now they feel they must kiss-ass to a USC team that hasn’t even won the National Championship yet? I can’t even comprehend what ESPN is thinking with this one.

Read the Ridiculousness

The 2005 Associated Press All-America team was released today and the Longhorns definitely had a good showing on the first team with four players, tops of any team. Surprisingly not a single second teamer and only three Horns named to the third team. I’m a little surprised neither Cedric Griffin or Michael Griffin got a third team mention, as both were pretty lights out all season for one of the nation’s best secondaries.

Congratulations to the seven Horns who were honored. Here’s the full list:

Offense

Defense

Third team Longhorns – OL Justin Blalock, OL Will Allen, and LB Aaron Harris.