🏈 Jonathan Taylor commits to play at Alabama
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bama alum
Member
He is going to be a monster on the line! Can you imagine the damage he, Reed, and Pettway...Robinson, Allen, Liner...What all they can do??
Yes, he'll be on a very tight leash. I imagine Saban is going to take a bit of a PR hit for taking this kid in, but if he keeps him straight, this is definitely Bama's gain.
PhillyGirl
Member
As long as he sticks to the rules and keeps his nose clean, I have no problem with this.
"1) He'll be required to regularly volunteer at a battered women's shelter. 2) He'll be required to attend weekly anger management counseling sessions. That is not the exhaustive conditions placed upon Taylor, but they are a couple of the main ones."
(man I hate the phrase "battered women" .. but it's good he will get to see this stuff up close and personal.)
I sincerely hope he takes this second chance and utilizes all of the opportunities he is being given to improve his life and the lives of others.
"1) He'll be required to regularly volunteer at a battered women's shelter. 2) He'll be required to attend weekly anger management counseling sessions. That is not the exhaustive conditions placed upon Taylor, but they are a couple of the main ones."
(man I hate the phrase "battered women" .. but it's good he will get to see this stuff up close and personal.)
I sincerely hope he takes this second chance and utilizes all of the opportunities he is being given to improve his life and the lives of others.
Alibamoone
Member
a couple of the guyshere been talking about it on the recruiting page for several days now. think it came up with saban talking about second chances and dj
BamaHubMan
Member
planomateo
Member
Same here. Can't throw stones at Auburn for taking UGA's problems and be ok with this. I'm all about second chances (more like his 3rd chance), just don't think his second chance should be representing the University.
Interesting that a battered women's shelter is going to let him volunteer there...
Thanks @Alibamoone I don't check the recruiting thread that often. I fear Saban's going to get beat up over this one.
With all the heat the NFL's taking over their women-beaters, I'm surprised the admistration allowed this.
I agree with @planomateo and @riz on this. I don't like it. I hope the dude now has his head on straight, but if domestic violence statistics are any indication, it will continue to lean.
With all the heat the NFL's taking over their women-beaters, I'm surprised the admistration allowed this.
I agree with @planomateo and @riz on this. I don't like it. I hope the dude now has his head on straight, but if domestic violence statistics are any indication, it will continue to lean.
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PhillyGirl
Member
That is my concern too. If he does have his head on straight and follows the guidelines and truly learns, I have no issues with it. But I am wary of the hypocritical attitude some fans have had towards other schools (as plano mentioned). I am also very wary of whether he will truly learn or not ..
I want to believe that Saban truly, honestly thinks he is a changed man. As I said, I sincerely hope that he takes this opportunity to change for the better.
University statement on Taylor:
"Jonathan Taylor was admitted to The University of Alabama following the same procedures that the UA Admissions office uses to evaluate any student who has dealt with legal issues. The admissions process includes representatives from academic, legal, student affairs, student conduct, UAPD and counseling. Athletics is not involved in the admissions process. Taylor's continued enrollment depends on his ability to fulfill all requirements the University has specifically mandated for him during his time as a UA student."
"Jonathan Taylor was admitted to The University of Alabama following the same procedures that the UA Admissions office uses to evaluate any student who has dealt with legal issues. The admissions process includes representatives from academic, legal, student affairs, student conduct, UAPD and counseling. Athletics is not involved in the admissions process. Taylor's continued enrollment depends on his ability to fulfill all requirements the University has specifically mandated for him during his time as a UA student."
Last edited by a moderator:
Thankfully, God gives us second chances, and third, fourth, etc. I take the U of A at its word that it places the same conditions on Taylor's enrolment with an arrest record as it would any other student. The stupid things that I did when I was 19 generally involved alcohol, and I am very fortunate that I did not do any lasting harm to myself or anyone else. Clearly this was ery close to the line over what you can accept in bad behavior, and I am not sure just where the break point is.
Jeremy Elder obviously crossed the line, as did Jimmy Johns, and after their acts they were quickly dismissed from the team. It is a tough call, and I am sure that CNS is trying to help the young man, much as CGS did with David Palmer. I have to trust his judgment that this young man can be salvaged, both as a person and as a player. Still, the risk is great, and we all know what will be said if Taylor has another incident. As others have said in this thread, he will be on a very short leash.
Jeremy Elder obviously crossed the line, as did Jimmy Johns, and after their acts they were quickly dismissed from the team. It is a tough call, and I am sure that CNS is trying to help the young man, much as CGS did with David Palmer. I have to trust his judgment that this young man can be salvaged, both as a person and as a player. Still, the risk is great, and we all know what will be said if Taylor has another incident. As others have said in this thread, he will be on a very short leash.
planomateo
Member
Max
Member
The University of Alabama issued two statements Wednesday explaining the enrollment of Jonathan Taylor, who was dismissed from the University of Georgia in the summer of 2014 after an arrest on domestic violence charges, as part of UA's 2015 signing class.
Taylor, a 6-foot-5, 335-pound junior college transfer from Millen, Ga., who plays on the defensive line, was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault/family violence. Local police said Taylor "choked" and "struck with a closed fist" a 5-11, 170-pound female victim.
Earlier in 2014, Taylor was one of four Georgia football players arrested for theft by deception for "double-cashing" meal reimbursement checks. For that incident Taylor received a pretrial diversion treatment and community service.
Domestic violence perpetrated by athletes, particularly football players, has been in the forefront of the news since former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice knocked out his then-fiancee in an Atlantic City, N.J., elevator. In response, the National Football League indefinitely suspended Rice and made a major public relations push to raise awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault, including promotion for the website nomore.org.
Alabama Nick Saban did not make a comment on Taylor's admission to UA, but the university released the following statement:
"Jonathan Taylor was admitted to the University of Alabama following the same procedures that the UA Admissions office uses to evaluate any student who has dealt with legal issues. The admissions process includes representatives from academic, legal, student affairs, student conduct, UAPD and counseling. Athletics is not involved in the admissions process. Taylor's continued enrollment depends on his ability to fulfill all requirements the university has specifically mandated for him during his time as a UA student."
UA Director of Athletics Bill Battle also issued a statement.
"One of our priorities is to make every effort to help develop young people into well-adjusted, well-rounded people," Battle said. "In this particular situation, we thoroughly investigated numerous sources regarding the young man. I had extensive discussions with several people who have been very close to him, including a lengthy visit with this young man.
"Our coaches and I feel he is worthy of a second chance at completing his college football career at this level, and that he fully understands the position in which he has placed himself. All of us in the university community have a role in helping student-athletes reach their potential - in competition, in the classroom and in life. It's important to note that the young man will become a part of our program after going through an extensive process conducted by the University. As one of our state's most high-profile entities, we are acutely aware of our responsibility to the University, our student-athletes, our community and our state."
Taylor is the second student-athlete in as many years to be accepted into Alabama and onto the football team after legal troubles. Junior defensive end D.J. Pettway was dismissed from Alabama in February 2013 after being arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree robbery. Pettway re-joined the team in January 2014.
Recently asked about the progress Pettway made in the past year, Saban, with an eye towards Taylor's situation, spoke passionately about the benefits of student-athletes being given second chances.
"There's always a lot of criticism out there when somebody does something wrong, everybody wants to know, 'How are you going to punish the guy?'" Saban said. "But there's not enough - for 19- and 20-year-old kids - people out there saying, 'Why don't you give them another chance?' So I'm going to give a speech right now about this.
"Where do you want them to be? Guy makes a mistake. Where do you want them to be? Want them to be in the street? Or do you want them to be here, graduating?
"When I was over there at the Nagurski (Award banquet), Muhsin Muhammad, who played 15 years for the Carolina Panthers, played for me at Michigan State. Everybody in the school, every newspaper guy, everybody was killing a guy because he got in trouble and said there's no way he should be on our team. I didn't kick him off the team, I suspended him, I made him do stuff. He graduated from Michigan State, he played 15 years in the league, he's the president of a company now and he has a seven children and his oldest daughter goes to Princeton. So who was right?
"I feel strong about this now, really strong, about all the criticism out there about every guy who is 19 years old and makes a mistake and you all kill them. And then some people won't stand up for them. So my question to you is, where do you want them to be? Want to condemn them to a life sentence? Or do you want a guy to have his children going to Princeton?"
The Tuscaloosa News has learned that there were conditions placed upon Taylor's admission into the university, including some which were to be met prior to him applying to school and others that will be ongoing during his time on campus.
Chuck Conley, who was Taylor's coach at Jenkins County High School, said he's happy Taylor will get another chance at an education and a higher quality of life.
"I know he's stubbed his toe a time or two, but I don't know anybody that hasn't," Conley said.
Conley recalls Taylor as a caring individual who got caught up being a small fish in a big pond.
"The folks that are going to read the media, the stuff that you guys write, they don't know Jonathan and they're going to take what I say with a grain of salt and say, 'Yeah, you're just sticking up for him,'" Conley said. "They don't know Millen, Ga., where he's from. You're talking about a town with, what, three stop lights in it. You're talking about a naive young man. I don't even know if he has his driver's license. You're talking about a kid that's sheltered, and he gets off into a big environment and, in my opinion, gets led a stray a time or two. You get up there and you have people that want to be associated with you ... it's just a lot to throw at a young man that's never been anywhere."
Taylor's charges have not yet been adjudicated, but Conley said he is confident that the whole story hasn't been told.
"The Jonathan that I know, I would trust with my grandchildren, my daughters," Conley said. "I have three daughters and six grandchildren and I'd leave him with them for the weekend any time, any place.
"I am certain that the whole story hasn't come out and he hasn't gotten a fair shake on this. I'm 100 percent certain that everybody doesn't know the whole story. And some will never know. And it wouldn't matter if you told some folks the whole story. They're not going to buy into it."
Conley is just glad he has another opportunity.
"My advice to him would be to work hard, do right and let tomorrow take care of itself."
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1723147#sthash.q9oQqTnx.dpuf
Taylor, a 6-foot-5, 335-pound junior college transfer from Millen, Ga., who plays on the defensive line, was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault/family violence. Local police said Taylor "choked" and "struck with a closed fist" a 5-11, 170-pound female victim.
Earlier in 2014, Taylor was one of four Georgia football players arrested for theft by deception for "double-cashing" meal reimbursement checks. For that incident Taylor received a pretrial diversion treatment and community service.
Domestic violence perpetrated by athletes, particularly football players, has been in the forefront of the news since former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice knocked out his then-fiancee in an Atlantic City, N.J., elevator. In response, the National Football League indefinitely suspended Rice and made a major public relations push to raise awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault, including promotion for the website nomore.org.
Alabama Nick Saban did not make a comment on Taylor's admission to UA, but the university released the following statement:
"Jonathan Taylor was admitted to the University of Alabama following the same procedures that the UA Admissions office uses to evaluate any student who has dealt with legal issues. The admissions process includes representatives from academic, legal, student affairs, student conduct, UAPD and counseling. Athletics is not involved in the admissions process. Taylor's continued enrollment depends on his ability to fulfill all requirements the university has specifically mandated for him during his time as a UA student."
UA Director of Athletics Bill Battle also issued a statement.
"One of our priorities is to make every effort to help develop young people into well-adjusted, well-rounded people," Battle said. "In this particular situation, we thoroughly investigated numerous sources regarding the young man. I had extensive discussions with several people who have been very close to him, including a lengthy visit with this young man.
"Our coaches and I feel he is worthy of a second chance at completing his college football career at this level, and that he fully understands the position in which he has placed himself. All of us in the university community have a role in helping student-athletes reach their potential - in competition, in the classroom and in life. It's important to note that the young man will become a part of our program after going through an extensive process conducted by the University. As one of our state's most high-profile entities, we are acutely aware of our responsibility to the University, our student-athletes, our community and our state."
Taylor is the second student-athlete in as many years to be accepted into Alabama and onto the football team after legal troubles. Junior defensive end D.J. Pettway was dismissed from Alabama in February 2013 after being arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree robbery. Pettway re-joined the team in January 2014.
Recently asked about the progress Pettway made in the past year, Saban, with an eye towards Taylor's situation, spoke passionately about the benefits of student-athletes being given second chances.
"There's always a lot of criticism out there when somebody does something wrong, everybody wants to know, 'How are you going to punish the guy?'" Saban said. "But there's not enough - for 19- and 20-year-old kids - people out there saying, 'Why don't you give them another chance?' So I'm going to give a speech right now about this.
"Where do you want them to be? Guy makes a mistake. Where do you want them to be? Want them to be in the street? Or do you want them to be here, graduating?
"When I was over there at the Nagurski (Award banquet), Muhsin Muhammad, who played 15 years for the Carolina Panthers, played for me at Michigan State. Everybody in the school, every newspaper guy, everybody was killing a guy because he got in trouble and said there's no way he should be on our team. I didn't kick him off the team, I suspended him, I made him do stuff. He graduated from Michigan State, he played 15 years in the league, he's the president of a company now and he has a seven children and his oldest daughter goes to Princeton. So who was right?
"I feel strong about this now, really strong, about all the criticism out there about every guy who is 19 years old and makes a mistake and you all kill them. And then some people won't stand up for them. So my question to you is, where do you want them to be? Want to condemn them to a life sentence? Or do you want a guy to have his children going to Princeton?"
The Tuscaloosa News has learned that there were conditions placed upon Taylor's admission into the university, including some which were to be met prior to him applying to school and others that will be ongoing during his time on campus.
Chuck Conley, who was Taylor's coach at Jenkins County High School, said he's happy Taylor will get another chance at an education and a higher quality of life.
"I know he's stubbed his toe a time or two, but I don't know anybody that hasn't," Conley said.
Conley recalls Taylor as a caring individual who got caught up being a small fish in a big pond.
"The folks that are going to read the media, the stuff that you guys write, they don't know Jonathan and they're going to take what I say with a grain of salt and say, 'Yeah, you're just sticking up for him,'" Conley said. "They don't know Millen, Ga., where he's from. You're talking about a town with, what, three stop lights in it. You're talking about a naive young man. I don't even know if he has his driver's license. You're talking about a kid that's sheltered, and he gets off into a big environment and, in my opinion, gets led a stray a time or two. You get up there and you have people that want to be associated with you ... it's just a lot to throw at a young man that's never been anywhere."
Taylor's charges have not yet been adjudicated, but Conley said he is confident that the whole story hasn't been told.
"The Jonathan that I know, I would trust with my grandchildren, my daughters," Conley said. "I have three daughters and six grandchildren and I'd leave him with them for the weekend any time, any place.
"I am certain that the whole story hasn't come out and he hasn't gotten a fair shake on this. I'm 100 percent certain that everybody doesn't know the whole story. And some will never know. And it wouldn't matter if you told some folks the whole story. They're not going to buy into it."
Conley is just glad he has another opportunity.
"My advice to him would be to work hard, do right and let tomorrow take care of itself."
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1723147#sthash.q9oQqTnx.dpuf
I'm wondering if that's part of a a pre-trial agreement to get the charges reduced?
As for the topic of this whole thread, while I'm not a huge fan of the signing, it's been in the works for the last several weeks. There are guys on the team now (and not just the ones people know about), who have had serious issues with that law, and been given a 2nd chance and made the most of it. There is also a big difference to me from hitting a woman with a closed fist and choking her, to a guy breaking into vehicles or taking a guy's wallet. The fact is though, he was going to sign somewhere... MSU, LSU, etc. (even auburn had they been able to handle the PR of it despite what they might act like). The other thing that shouldn't get lost in all this, the reason he is at UA now is because he is projected to be a stud on the field. This is the SEC. He's in a good spot if he really is interested in making the most of this "2nd chance", but bottom line is, he's here to occupy blockers and free up linebackers, and by all accounts, he's damn good at that. With 85 scholarships, we don't really have room for a charity spot. Hopefully, this works out well for us, and him.
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