Florida coach Urban Meyer is still trying to get his offense kick-started as the 10th-ranked Gators (2-0) prepare for their SEC opener Saturday against Tennessee (1-1) in Knoxville.
But he took an unexpected hit following the arrest of starting wide receiver Chris Rainey. According to Gainesville police, Rainey sent a woman he dated on and off for three years a text message that said, "Time to Die (expletive)" after leaving her home Monday night.
When the police arrived, Rainey allegedly told the woman, "Wait and see what happens when they leave."
Rainey was taken into custody the next morning and charged with aggravated stalking, a third-degree felony, later in the day before being released from Alachua County jail on his own recognizance. The alleged victim asked for the charges to be dropped, claiming her sister filed the report. But Meyer, after hearing the facts, made a wise decision to suspend Rainey indefinitely.
Meyer has said in the past that he will not accept abusive treatment of women. If Meyer wants to send a message about treatment of women, maybe he should suspend Rainey for the rest of the season and let him return only after he has completed a course in anger management/sensitivity training.
Florida has been plagued by run-ins with the law since Meyer arrived. He has won 59 games and two national championships in just over five seasons in Gainesville. But his resume also includes 30 player arrests.
That's way too many arrests, and as the South Florida Sun-Sentinel points out, 29 more than the University of Miami, which held the ultimate renegade image throughout the '80s and early '90s, has had in its four years under Randy Shannon.
Maybe it's time for Meyer to send a message!
But he took an unexpected hit following the arrest of starting wide receiver Chris Rainey. According to Gainesville police, Rainey sent a woman he dated on and off for three years a text message that said, "Time to Die (expletive)" after leaving her home Monday night.
When the police arrived, Rainey allegedly told the woman, "Wait and see what happens when they leave."
Rainey was taken into custody the next morning and charged with aggravated stalking, a third-degree felony, later in the day before being released from Alachua County jail on his own recognizance. The alleged victim asked for the charges to be dropped, claiming her sister filed the report. But Meyer, after hearing the facts, made a wise decision to suspend Rainey indefinitely.
Meyer has said in the past that he will not accept abusive treatment of women. If Meyer wants to send a message about treatment of women, maybe he should suspend Rainey for the rest of the season and let him return only after he has completed a course in anger management/sensitivity training.
Florida has been plagued by run-ins with the law since Meyer arrived. He has won 59 games and two national championships in just over five seasons in Gainesville. But his resume also includes 30 player arrests.
That's way too many arrests, and as the South Florida Sun-Sentinel points out, 29 more than the University of Miami, which held the ultimate renegade image throughout the '80s and early '90s, has had in its four years under Randy Shannon.
Maybe it's time for Meyer to send a message!
