Josh Jarboe didn't even strap up for a practice at the University of Oklahoma before he was released from his scholarship...and he committed no crime.
Coach Bob Stoops and the school revoked the scholarship after a video of the All-American prep wide receiver from Georgia surfaced on the Internet.
In the video, Jarboe freestyle raps about profane subjects such as murder and sex.
The lyrics are little different than the songs we hear on the radio and on TV. The lyrics made no promises, named no names and had no direct threats. He was kicked out for doing what teenagers do and listen to all over the country.
It should be known that Jarboe was arrested in March and expelled from his high school for a gun charge. Jarboe pleaded guilty and the charges were reduced to misdemeanors, allowing him to keep his scholarship with Oklahoma. Needless to say, he was on thin ice.
But should the ice crack because he exercised his right to freedom of speech? Sure, it doesn't represent the Sooners in the way they'd like, but he's 18 years old. Teenagers do things like that. Does anyone remember the Seventh Floor Crew at Miami?
Stoops said in a statement:
"We are disappointed in this outcome, but our complete review and this final decision is in the best interest of our program."
"We outlined for Josh the expectations we had for him when he arrived and, unfortunately, those expectations have not been met. Josh needs to learn from this experience. We hope he can move forward in a positive manner."
A couple of things stick out:
1. It's safe to assume there were long discussions and the decision-making process behind his dismissal was long thought through and investigated. Maybe there's more to the story -- we'll likely never know.
2. The school hopes he can learn from this and move forward. What's he supposed to learn? Do exactly what thousands of teenagers do in this country, something not against the law, and pay a price? No, what the school would say is always represent yourself in the proper manner. But what's the lesson in kicking him out of school? Every season we see kids from schools all over the country sit a game or two out for failing drug tests, and yet the price is a game where they can't strap on the pads. What's the lesson here?
Oklahoma hopes he moves on in a positive manner. I hope he does, too. I hope he continues to be himself and that he lands at another school and contributes in a positive manner on and off the field.
If that happens, maybe Oklahoma will learn from this experience.
--AA
Comments (5)
Josh Jarboe couldn't even finish high school without bring a gun to school. He finished highschool on-line. This boy is nothing but trouble looking for a place to roost. His rap on the video is proof positive of his mindset and attitude. I say, "Way to go Bob!" There's no reason Oklahoma should have to put up with this guy, since it seems that they have learned from their previous mistakes with cocky, misguided football players thinking that anything is fair game with no regard for the school which is allowing them to play, and get a free education to boot.
William,
There's definitely a school of thought that says nip the problem in the butt before it nips you.
The one contention I have is his right to freedom of speech.
To counter that, though, one could say a college scholarship is a privilege, not a right.
Either way, it's Oklahoma's decision to make and everyone there made it. From a football standpoint, the school doesn't need Josh Jarboe to be successful, but Josh Jarboe needed an institution like Oklahoma to be successful (on and off the field).
OU football players represent the entire OU community and the state of Oklahoma. The least that one can ask of someone who has the priveledge to play for the Sooners, or for any team for that matter, is that he not disgrace the university, his teammates, and the state. Supporting human decency, good behavior and honor should always come before winning. Coach Stoops gave Jarboe a big second chance and he blew it. As for anyone that says "What about what happened at this school, or that scool?" OU has much higher standards, and if you can't hold yourself to those standards, then you don't deserve to be in the program. It's really as simple as that. I hope this sends a message to the current students as well the students who will be starting their first semester.
I thought about life differently now than I did at 18, who didn't? I hated school, but slowly I progressed and matured. As many people do. I believe it is an atrocity when we (the people) prosecute a person for what they may do as opposed to what they do. It isn't our job to judge an amateur athlete. Sure, maybe it's coach Stoops job. But he gets paid 20 times more than the top professors at that "academically minded institution", so my bad!
Freedom of speech may be a right. But, as you've already mentioned Adam, playing football for Oklahoma is not.
The "Seventh Floor Crew" probably crossed Stoops mind when this decision was made. Obviously Stoops wants no part of those types of shenanigans in the OU football program. I applaud Stoops decision.
This sends a message to the rest of the OU roster. If you want to 'represent", recognize that you represent the team not the "hood".
let's not forget the lessons learned on the campus of your own VT, when someone makes menacing statements or presents themselves as being capable of violence, you don't take those things lightly.