It was only a matter of time... Like clockwork, another pair of Georgia football players are in the news for the wrong reasons once again. On Wednesday night, linebackers Chris Cole and Darren Ikinnagbon were arrested by the Athens-Clarke County police for reckless driving. Both players were booked late on Wednesday night and were released on bonds in less than an hour by the ACCPD.
Cole and Ikinnagbon are being charged with reckless dirving and speeding-maximum limits. These are both misdemeanors. Ikinnagbon is also being charged with driving too closely. Per the ACC jail log, Cole was booked at 9:59 p.m. ET and released at 10:39 p.m. ET on $26 bond. Ikinnagbon was booked at 10:27 p.m. ET and released at 11:08 p.m. ET on $39 bond. The univeristy is aware of this.
The following statement was released by a representative of Georgia's sports communication team.
"We are aware of the charges and are actively gathering additional information. As this is an ongoing legal matter, we will not be providing further comment at this time."
It is the same sort of issue that is plaguing this football team, but these two arrests land differently...
Chris Cole and Darren Ikinnagbon arrested on reckless driving charges
While the rest of the college football world is harpooning Kirby Smart and his program over this like a 19th century New England whale, anyone who has lived in Athens, gone to school at Georgia, or has spent any time in The Classic City knows it is different there. Now is not really the time to have this discussion. What is frustrating is Cole is expected to become one of the emerging stars on defense.
Yes, Georgia football players need to stop putting themselves into situations where the ACCPD can continue to make an example out of them. That being said, having two players be in custody for only 40 minutes apiece and be released on bonds for less than what a growing man could spend on a trip through a Taco Bell drive-thru is fishy. Could this have just been a speeding ticket? This is maddening!
Overall, spring practice cannot get here fast enough. Athens is a tremendous college town with so many fun things to do. That being said, the ACCPD has made it a point to stands it ground on this particular issue. It may be an attempt to keep players safe, but that clearly does not seem to be working. Every program has its issues, as Georgia's under Smart has been well-documented of late.
For now, let's just be thankful nobody got hurt and that we have some decent weather to go enjoy.