Jonathan Taylor Arrest Proves Mark Richt was Right, and Nick Saban Doesn’t Care
Former Georgia football player Jonathan Taylor was arrested on domestic violence and assault charges on Saturday night, proving once again that Mark Richt is doing it right, and Nick Saban could care less.
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When Nick Saban and Alabama signed Jonathan Taylor, the former UGA defensive tackle who was dismissed after being charged with aggravated assault and family violence last year, it looked like yet another highly touted Georgia recruit was going to head elsewhere in the SEC and make the Bulldogs and Mark Richt look silly.
Personally, I thought it was a poor move by Saban, who is obviously more motivated by winning regardless of the cost than he is in the welfare and safety of his school.
Now Taylor has once again been arrested, and once again domestic violence and assault are the charges he faces.
Now, let’s see…what was it that Alabama athletic director Bill Battle said when the Tide signed Taylor?
"“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”"
Our coaches feel he is worthy of a second chance? Seriously?
This kid was involved in a double-dipping of stipend check scam, walked away from that relatively unscathed, and then beat up his girlfriend, knowing he was already treading on thin ice with the institution who was paying his ride through school.
But he deserves a
second
third chance, right?
For Saban’s part, he didn’t say much about the situation when Taylor was signed, other than the typical canned responses with useless dribble like “university decision” and “personal development”. Deep down inside, he probably knew this one could come back to haunt him.
Dec 30, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban at the media day for the 2015 Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Welcome to your ghost story, Nick Saban.
This one still has to play out in courts and lawyer’s offices and conference rooms, but Alabama will likely end up with egg on its collective faces regardless of how things turn out.
If they dismiss Taylor now (which they should), they’ll be admitting a mistake and potentially opening themselves up for lawsuits from the victim.
If they don’t dismiss Taylor, and he (somehow) beats the rap, Saban will be accused of harboring someone who is potentially making campus life unsafe for females.
If (for whatever reason) the charges are dropped, everyone but everyone will accuse Saban and Alabama of manipulating the situation in order to save face.
Open wide and hold your nose, Alabama, because you’re probably going to just have to take your medicine on this one.
And what about those who chided Mark Richt, saying he had too quick a trigger finger and wasn’t waiting for things to play out before dismissing Taylor (among others)? Richt is looking like the smart one now, isn’t he?
But Nick Saban could probably care less about images.
Saban is like Andrew Clark’s father.
Image – youtube.com
“Andrew! You’ve got to be number one! I won’t tolerate any losers in this family!…Win! Win! Win!”
It’s all about winning, and all about doing whatever it takes to remain on top, regardless of the cost to others.
But should Saban not be held accountable? Not only to his team, but to the entire University of Alabama for failing to help keep a safe environment for students?
Domestic violence and sexual assault are in the spotlight in our nation now for a reason, and part of that reason is because coaches like Nick Saban fail to recognize that while everyone makes mistakes, not everyone is entitled to be rewarded, despite those mistakes.
A second chance for Taylor would have been allowing him to even set foot on a college campus and continue his schooling. Allowing him to play football under scholarship is just reinforcing his poor behavior and the thought that people in his position can get away with anything.
The sad part is that both Alabama and Nick Saban will endure, despite this ugly situation. There will be some brief public outcry, some plastic apologies from those involved at the university, and then it will go back to business as usual in Tuscaloosa, with Saban coming out smelling like roses the next time he wins a championship.
They’ll all avoid punishment.
Of course they will. They’re Alabama, and he’s Nick Saban.
Yeah…Roll Tide.
If you’re a female Alabama fan…can you still say that without cringing?
I hope not.