🏈 Bama dismisses arrested freshmen

[doemasters]

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama has dismissed four freshmen charged with either second-degree robbery or credit card fraud.

Defensive back Eddie Williams, 20, and linebackers Tyler Hayes and D.J. Pettway, both 18, were shown the door after being charged with second-degree robbery for their involvement in the separate robberies of two students on the Tuscaloosa campus on Feb. 11. They were subsequently barred from campus while awaiting a ruling from the Student Judicial Board.

Redshirt freshman H-back Brent Calloway was also dismissed after being charged with use of a stolen credit card taken from one of the students allegedly robbed by his teammates. It was the second run-in with the law for the Alabama native. He was charged with second-degree possession of marijuana as a true freshman in 2011.

"UA's judicial review has been completed," Deborah M. Lane, Alabama associate vice president for university relations, said Wednesday. "The four students involved in the robberies on campus are no longer enrolled in UA."

"Based on all the information we've received and going through and trying to determine the future of the four guys that got in trouble, those guys are no longer associated with the football program," Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban said on Wednesday. "Their actions do not reflect the spirit and character that we want our organization to reflect. It's obviously very disappointing and unacceptable what happened."

Williams, a former five-star athlete from Florida, confessed to robbing a student who was punched in the head and face and kicked in the ribs and back. Williams said Pettway and Hayes watched him commit another robbery, according to court records. Calloway admitted to using the stolen credit card for snacks from a vending machine.

Saban would not characterize the dismissal of the players in absolute terms, saying only, "They're not associated with the football program, that's the way I'd put it."

Said Saban: "Some people learn by words. Some people can learn by consequences. Some people can't learn."

All four players were backups during Alabama's run to a second straight national championship this past season. Pettway, who recorded 2.5 sacks and four tackles for loss as a defensive end, was named to the All-SEC freshman team. Hayes had 14 tackles as a freshman, primarily on special teams, including two in the BCS National Championship Game against Notre Dame. Calloway carried the ball just 10 times and Williams was not used at all as the staff opted to redshirt him.

 

[bamascw]

This is precisely what they should have done. Kudos

 

[PhillyGirl]

Finally. Now my friends can stop ragging on me.

 

[JoshB]

Pettway's "statement":

In light of Wednesday's news that his client, D.J. Pettway, was among the four former Alabama football players dismissed from the university, Pettway's attorney Jay Stuck released the following statement. "While certainly disappointed in the University's decision announced earlier today, DJ wishes to convey his sincerest gratitude to everyone who has provided him assistance, guidance, and well wishes throughout this process. He wishes to express particular gratitude to his family and friends that have and continue to provide unwavering support.
"Although his journey at Alabama is over for now, DJ is excited about the opportunities that may present themselves as he moves forward with his studies and personal growth.
"DJ would like to convey to his teammates his sincerest disappointment in not being able to join them on the field as they prepare for the upcoming season. He also wants both his teammates and his coaches to know that he considers them all extended family members and that due to their friendship and support his time at Alabama has been the best of his life. He truly regrets any pain, distractions, or other problems that this incident has caused any of them.
"DJ is committed to putting this incident behind him and to proving to all of those fans, coaches, and teammates that were disappointed by this incident that it is not a reflection of the man he is. He has already learned a great deal from these issues and is eager to begin the long road of proving to his family, friends, coaches, teammates, and the fans of the University of Alabama that he is worthy of the trust and faith they placed in him.
"Due to the ongoing nature of the proceedings surrounding this incident, neither DJ nor his family will be commenting publicly. DJ hopes the media will respect this decision that was made on the advice of counsel. As this matter proceeds, DJ eagerly awaits his opportunity to present his side of the story."
Pettway, 20, is charged with two counts of second-degree robbery. He has requested to be tried as a youthful offender and his preliminary hearing is set for March 19.
A Pensacola, Fla., native, Pettway redshirted the 2011 season before playing a prominent role as a pass-rushing defensive end in 2012. He had four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks this past season.

 

[PhillyGirl]

Pettway's "statement":

In light of Wednesday's news that his client, D.J. Pettway, was among the four former Alabama football players dismissed from the university, Pettway's attorney Jay Stuck released the following statement. "While certainly disappointed in the University's decision announced earlier today, DJ wishes to convey his sincerest gratitude to everyone who has provided him assistance, guidance, and well wishes throughout this process. He wishes to express particular gratitude to his family and friends that have and continue to provide unwavering support.
"Although his journey at Alabama is over for now, DJ is excited about the opportunities that may present themselves as he moves forward with his studies and personal growth.
"DJ would like to convey to his teammates his sincerest disappointment in not being able to join them on the field as they prepare for the upcoming season. He also wants both his teammates and his coaches to know that he considers them all extended family members and that due to their friendship and support his time at Alabama has been the best of his life. He truly regrets any pain, distractions, or other problems that this incident has caused any of them.
"DJ is committed to putting this incident behind him and to proving to all of those fans, coaches, and teammates that were disappointed by this incident that it is not a reflection of the man he is. He has already learned a great deal from these issues and is eager to begin the long road of proving to his family, friends, coaches, teammates, and the fans of the University of Alabama that he is worthy of the trust and faith they placed in him.
"Due to the ongoing nature of the proceedings surrounding this incident, neither DJ nor his family will be commenting publicly. DJ hopes the media will respect this decision that was made on the advice of counsel. As this matter proceeds, DJ eagerly awaits his opportunity to present his side of the story."
Pettway, 20, is charged with two counts of second-degree robbery. He has requested to be tried as a youthful offender and his preliminary hearing is set for March 19.
A Pensacola, Fla., native, Pettway redshirted the 2011 season before playing a prominent role as a pass-rushing defensive end in 2012. He had four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks this past season.

I know he didn't personally write this statement, but from the gist of it, he sounds like a real dope. How can you be disappointed that you are cut from the team? And that you won't be able to join them on the field? You brought this on yourself, with the other guys. Notice he didn't apologize for the incident itself, or to the victims. No sense of regret. He just sounds like a guy who got caught doing a bad thing, will miss playing football, and doesn't want people to judge him for the incident. He doesn't sound like he cares about what he did at all.

But I suppose you can't eek out every little emotion/feeling when your attorney is creating a press statement for you. I guess it just sounds like a bad press statement IMO.

Also, what does 'youthful offender' mean? If he's in college, he's over 18; he's an adult.

 

[JoshB]

Yeah the fact that he didnt show any regret to what happened was what jumped out to me, then again it was his attorney putting it out there and i highly doubt he would want that. Either way, good riddance. Just glad that a certain poster on here got banned before all this nonsense happened. Good lord I can only imagine the posts.

 

[porkchop]

This is precisely what they should have done. Kudos

Couldn't agree more.

 

[bamaraider]

Good

 

[UAgrad93]

We all knew it was coming, it was just the matter of when it would happen! It would've been a real S*^% storm if we had canned them and then eye witnesses come out and even the victims point the finger at other people and these 4 actually had been innocent. As CNS said, some learn by listening, some by seeing, and some suffer the consequences.

 

[JoshB]

Also, what does 'youthful offender' mean? If he's in college, he's over 18; he's an adult.

I'm not really sure but I think sometimes kids over 18 (to a certain extent) can still get youthful offender if they have never been in trouble before and are in school. I may be wrong tho.

 

[tidentrue]

I'm not really sure but I think sometimes kids over 18 (to a certain extent) can still get youthful offender if they have never been in trouble before and are in school. I may be wrong tho.

pretty much nailed it, and also they get their records sealed as if they were juvenile offenders