GATOR GRIDIRON
ROGER FRANKLIN WILLIAMS
In case you missed it, Cornerback Janoris Jenkins was arrested over the weekend and charged with possession of marijuana....for the second time in the last 3 months. While close observers have commented that Gator players have taken to Coach Will Muschamp and his new staff, Janoris, apparantly, has taken his celebrating to a whole new level.
Ironically, Jenkins first arrest came just days before the launch of the then-fledgeling (now highly acclaimed, of course) Gator Gridiron blog. In an early post Gator Gridiron (misguidedly) urged the new HC to resist the urge to, as we termed it, "overreact" by responding to Media-types and other Gator Haters who were calling for draconian penalties for the talented rising Sr CB. In other words we urged Coach WM to go easy on Janoris.
Obviously, the "velvet glove" approach did not work with Janoris Jenkins.
After being arrested, reportedly, for rolling a "joint" in the mens room of a downtown Gainesville nightclub in January, Jenkins on Saturday was arrested after he, reportedly, attracted the attention of a Gainesville Police officer while smoking a "marijuana cigar" in a parked car....on Main Street, no less. Is it just me, but does Janoris seem to be flaunting his drug use/law breaking?
Now it is time, regretfully, for significant....no, not significant....harsh discipline. While marijuana use among college students is certainly not an earth shattering situation, it is against the law. Not to mention the fact that recreational drug use in no way helps prepare one to achieve peak performance on the football field. It's not a great example of leadership or respect, either.
As a Senior and argueably the best returing veteran player, in fact, one of the last remaining starters from the '08 National Championship team, if not the only one, Jenkins is---or was---in a position to provide leadership for a Gator program that sorely needs leadership during this period of turbulance and transition.
Needless to say, leadership is the last thing on Janoris Jenkins mind. Jenkins has no desire to serve as a leader for his younger teammates, to ease the challenges facing first time Head Coach Will Muschamp, or to even demonstrate respect for his new HC.........But he will take another toke.....
Time for CWM to forget the original advice of Gator Gridiron. Throw away our ill-advised "velvet glove", Coach.
Six game suspension....and if Janoris Jenkins is arrested or caught with illegal drugs again, expell him from the program. NFL prospect or no-NFL prospect.
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