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re: More driving arrests
Posted on 2/26/26 at 8:17 am to Bradb5291
Posted on 2/26/26 at 8:17 am to Bradb5291
You still don’t get it. There is a perceived culture issue at UGA because our players get arrested more than they do in most programs. It was at the top of the complaints of Richt and used as a proof source as to why he could not win a Natty. Now, we have won a Natty and have arguably one of the most disciplined coaches in NCAA Football…yet, we still have players getting arrested for speeding and self checkout violations at Walmart. So, one can take the simple way and agree that UGA is an outlier in team discipline or you can ask yourself if there are other reasons beyond Mike Ridge losing control of the program.
1
Posted on 2/26/26 at 10:03 am to Bradb5291
quote:
But someone died in the football program doing exactly what Cole and the other player were doing the night they were arrested. It seems some people forget that and their minds are too simple to understand that.Also it has turned into a public safety issue at this point.
Another attack on UGA's head coach, by someone who claims to be a UGA fan but never sounds like a UGA fan. If I'm wrong, tell me something being done elsewhere that UGA is not doing. Kicking players off the team for speeding? Make a list and post it here. Suspending players for half a season for speeding; make a list. Eliminating NIL money? Give us the names. Oh, I know; giving strong lectures and Kirby refuses to do that, because he's callous and cold and doesn't care if someone dies.
What you want is for UGA to adopt a zero-tolerance policy and that's not gonna happen. It won't stop young men from driving aggressively, every new crop will have to relearn the same lessons. It won't improve public safety. Better to teach, use discipline, and when violations occur allow the legal system to run its course. That's a key component in training young people to drive responsibly. Talk about simple-minded, you're a prime example of that.
quote:
But I guess since they are football players they are suppose to let this slide by all the time?
Same (lack of) logic; letting players face justice is letting them slide. Nope, just the opposite. Kirby's doing his job, including discipline, and he doesn't stop law enforcement from doing their job; nobody is "sliding" at UGA. Citations and arrests are the evidence. If other college towns are letting players slide, that's their problem. The bad news is that they can hide their lack of discipline off the field, but it will still show up when Kirby beats them next season for the (what is it now?) 9th or 10th time in a row.
This post was edited on 2/26/26 at 10:31 am
Posted on 2/26/26 at 10:28 am to Bradb5291
OK, let's level the playing field so to speak.
I got curious about arrests of non-football student athletes at UGA over the last 5 years. Surely law enforcement in the Athens area aren't singling out only football players.
Here the results of my query:
======================================================
Arrests of UGA student athletes other than football players over the last 5 years and how the numbers compare with the arrests of football players:
Reported arrests of UGA (University of Georgia) student-athletes other than football players from February 2021 to February 2026: Only one publicly documented case in major media and local news sources (Athens Banner-Herald/OnlineAthens, AJC, Red & Black, ESPN affiliates, etc.).
The single known non-football case
Davis Rokose (baseball – left-handed pitcher)
Date: Arrested ~January 6, 2023 (incident on New Year’s Day 2023, shortly before 3 a.m.)
Charges: Felony aggravated assault (domestic violence)
Details: 21-year-old Rokose allegedly argued with his 21-year-old girlfriend after drinking, then choked her; she had visible injuries to her neck and shoulders. Athens-Clarke County police responded to the domestic call.
Outcome: Booked into jail, released on $5,700 bond. UGA athletics issued a statement that it was aware and monitoring; Rokose was no longer listed on the baseball roster afterward. No further public updates on resolution.
No other arrests of current or rostered UGA athletes in basketball (men’s or women’s), gymnastics, swimming/diving, track & field, soccer, volleyball, tennis, golf, softball, or any other sport appear in searchable news reports or police logs during the 5-year window. Minor or non-publicized local incidents (if any) would not show up in these sources, but none rose to the level of coverage seen with football cases.
Comparison to UGA football player arrests (same period)
Football has far more — conservatively 25–35+ publicly reported arrests (exact totals vary by source because some involve multiple charges or group incidents). The program has faced repeated criticism for an “arrest epidemic” or “troubling pattern,” especially post-January 2023 fatal crash that killed teammate Devin Willock and staffer Chandler LeCroy.
Key breakdowns (not exhaustive):
Driving-related (reckless driving, speeding >100 mph, DUI, fleeing, etc.): 20+ documented, with at least 13 since the 2023 crash. Recent examples include:
Feb 18, 2026: Linebackers Chris Cole (reckless driving + speeding) and Darren Ikinnagbon (reckless driving + speeding + following too closely) — both clocked at 105 mph.
Nov 2025: OL Nyier Daniels (3 felonies including fleeing/eluding + 2nd-degree cruelty to children; 10+ misdemeanors in a high-speed chase with kids in car).
2025: Multiple others (Smael Mondon, Bo Hughley, Daniel Harris, Trevor Etienne DUI — later dropped, etc.).
Other notable:
Feb 2026: Freshman DL London Seymour — 11 felony counts of 2nd-degree criminal damage to property (dorm doors).
Dec 2025: Freshmen Dontrell Glover & Bo Walker — misdemeanor shoplifting at Walmart.
Media descriptions: “Over 20 UGA football players arrested on driving-related charges” (Red & Black, 2026); “32 player arrests since winning the national title 3 years ago” (various 2026 reports); repeated “off-field issues continue to plague Georgia football.”
Bottom-line comparison
Non-football athletes: ~1 known arrest (serious domestic case in baseball, 2023).
Football players: Dozens (mostly traffic-related misdemeanors/felonies, plus shoplifting, property damage, etc.), concentrated in 2023–2026.
The disparity is stark and widely noted in local/ national coverage — football accounts for essentially all the high-volume, repeated headlines. Most non-football sports at UGA have had clean public records in this timeframe.
I got curious about arrests of non-football student athletes at UGA over the last 5 years. Surely law enforcement in the Athens area aren't singling out only football players.
Here the results of my query:
======================================================
Arrests of UGA student athletes other than football players over the last 5 years and how the numbers compare with the arrests of football players:
Reported arrests of UGA (University of Georgia) student-athletes other than football players from February 2021 to February 2026: Only one publicly documented case in major media and local news sources (Athens Banner-Herald/OnlineAthens, AJC, Red & Black, ESPN affiliates, etc.).
The single known non-football case
Davis Rokose (baseball – left-handed pitcher)
Date: Arrested ~January 6, 2023 (incident on New Year’s Day 2023, shortly before 3 a.m.)
Charges: Felony aggravated assault (domestic violence)
Details: 21-year-old Rokose allegedly argued with his 21-year-old girlfriend after drinking, then choked her; she had visible injuries to her neck and shoulders. Athens-Clarke County police responded to the domestic call.
Outcome: Booked into jail, released on $5,700 bond. UGA athletics issued a statement that it was aware and monitoring; Rokose was no longer listed on the baseball roster afterward. No further public updates on resolution.
No other arrests of current or rostered UGA athletes in basketball (men’s or women’s), gymnastics, swimming/diving, track & field, soccer, volleyball, tennis, golf, softball, or any other sport appear in searchable news reports or police logs during the 5-year window. Minor or non-publicized local incidents (if any) would not show up in these sources, but none rose to the level of coverage seen with football cases.
Comparison to UGA football player arrests (same period)
Football has far more — conservatively 25–35+ publicly reported arrests (exact totals vary by source because some involve multiple charges or group incidents). The program has faced repeated criticism for an “arrest epidemic” or “troubling pattern,” especially post-January 2023 fatal crash that killed teammate Devin Willock and staffer Chandler LeCroy.
Key breakdowns (not exhaustive):
Driving-related (reckless driving, speeding >100 mph, DUI, fleeing, etc.): 20+ documented, with at least 13 since the 2023 crash. Recent examples include:
Feb 18, 2026: Linebackers Chris Cole (reckless driving + speeding) and Darren Ikinnagbon (reckless driving + speeding + following too closely) — both clocked at 105 mph.
Nov 2025: OL Nyier Daniels (3 felonies including fleeing/eluding + 2nd-degree cruelty to children; 10+ misdemeanors in a high-speed chase with kids in car).
2025: Multiple others (Smael Mondon, Bo Hughley, Daniel Harris, Trevor Etienne DUI — later dropped, etc.).
Other notable:
Feb 2026: Freshman DL London Seymour — 11 felony counts of 2nd-degree criminal damage to property (dorm doors).
Dec 2025: Freshmen Dontrell Glover & Bo Walker — misdemeanor shoplifting at Walmart.
Media descriptions: “Over 20 UGA football players arrested on driving-related charges” (Red & Black, 2026); “32 player arrests since winning the national title 3 years ago” (various 2026 reports); repeated “off-field issues continue to plague Georgia football.”
Bottom-line comparison
Non-football athletes: ~1 known arrest (serious domestic case in baseball, 2023).
Football players: Dozens (mostly traffic-related misdemeanors/felonies, plus shoplifting, property damage, etc.), concentrated in 2023–2026.
The disparity is stark and widely noted in local/ national coverage — football accounts for essentially all the high-volume, repeated headlines. Most non-football sports at UGA have had clean public records in this timeframe.
This post was edited on 2/26/26 at 1:59 pm
Posted on 2/26/26 at 10:31 am to Peter Buck
quote:
at the top of the complaints of Richt and used as a proof source as to why he could not win a Natty. Now, we have won a Natty and have arguably one of the most disciplined coaches in NCAA Football…yet, we still have players getting arrested for speeding
-are the players in athens any different than all other college kids across america? No
-Is athens any different, generally speaking, from other college towns? Not really.
-Are our two most recent coaches spanning 25 years any more or less strict on speeding? Yes, likely far more so than others
-Does UGA do more or less advanced awareness on driving infractions? More, I'm nearly certain
It seems to me that when you look at all the variables, the major differences are 1) our PD compared to others, and 2) our local media compared to others.
I am NOT excusing any of the behavior itself. I'm just saying the whole reason we have a perception problem is because of how the law enforcement and media involved after the offense occurs are wildly different than that of other programs. Our players are not behaving any fundamentally different than the players anywhere else in america, at all levels.
This post was edited on 2/26/26 at 10:54 am
Posted on 2/26/26 at 10:42 am to GurleyGirl
Georgia football players have been heavily cited for traffic violations going back a long time, even when they were riding mopeds. Now they have faster cars. So do football players elsewhere. After a fatal accident and extreme coverage by some media outlets (tailing players, documenting every citation for years, unverified insinuations), UGA has every incentive to make players drive responsibly. Zero interference with the legal system is part of that process. The perceived discrepancy in violations between UGA and other programs is due to enforcement and coverage, not lack of discipline.
This post was edited on 2/26/26 at 11:37 am
Posted on 2/26/26 at 10:49 am to wdhalgren
quote:
Another attack on UGA's head coach, by someone who claims to be a UGA fan but never sounds like a UGA fan
lol where exactly did I attack Kirby? Haven’t mentioned him once, he can’t control what players do outside of football and classroom hours. And they don’t pay him enough to be a full time babysitter for all these players.
This is a problem that goes on outside of Athens as well and I fully realize that. Just like I realize that the ACC PD has a hard on for UGA football players, but to act like it’s not ok for players to get arrested for racing/ going over 100 only bc they are football players is wild to me.
Posted on 2/26/26 at 10:54 am to Bradb5291
quote:
lol where exactly did I attack Kirby?
You said
quote:
I guess since they are football players they are suppose to let this slide by all the time?
If you're not criticizing Kirby, then who? Nobody's letting anything slide. Nobody said they should. What are you complaining about; the punishment showing up in the news? That's evidence of legal discipline without interference from UGA. And, it's also evidence that some news organizations covering UGA have been very aggressive in their coverage, to the point that one of them had to fire a writer for exceeding the limits of good journalism. When a news organization starts running surveillance operations on football players, I do wonder who is directing their priorities.
What exactly are you asking for? If it's Zero-tolerance, kick them off the team for a first offense, it's not gonna happen, for the reasons I cited above. Football players die on a recurring basis; shootings, car wrecks, drugs, heart problems, heat stroke, etc. Just like the general population. That doesn't mean that draconian new rules like expulsion will fix the problem or change human nature. Young people learn from discipline, usually after they make bad decisions. We have systems in place for that and those have been strengthened.
This post was edited on 2/26/26 at 11:24 am
Posted on 2/26/26 at 10:55 am to wdhalgren
quote:
perceived discrepancy in violations between UGA and other programs is due to enforcement and coverage, not lack of discipline.
exactly this
Posted on 2/26/26 at 11:37 am to GurleyGirl
Takes a different kind of person to play a violent sport where fans cheer the blood lust. Same as boxing or MMA. None of them are choir boys, pour gas on the fire with large sums of money and ego.
Posted on 2/26/26 at 11:42 am to wdhalgren
quote:
quote: lol where exactly did I attack Kirby? You said quote: I guess since they are football players they are suppose to let this slide by all the time? If you're not criticizing Kirby, then who?
I wasn’t criticizing anyone!?!? People on this board seem to have more of a problem with the players getting arrested than what the players were doing leading up to the arrest.
Posted on 2/26/26 at 11:55 am to Bradb5291
quote:
People on this board seem to have more of a problem with the players getting arrested than what the players were doing leading up to the arrest.
Yes. Blame the roads and the cops, not the drivers.
Posted on 2/26/26 at 11:56 am to Bradb5291
quote:
But someone died in the football program doing exactly what Cole and the other player were doing the night they were arrested. It seems some people forget that and their minds are too simple to understand that.
The deaths resulted from racing on a curvy residential surface street while intoxicated.
The recent arrests were just speeding on an open highway. No intoxication mentioned. No racing mentioned.
I think that's more than a subtle difference.
Posted on 2/26/26 at 12:00 pm to deeprig9
Years ago, Atlanta news set up on the North East quadrant of 285 to see what the speeds looked like, this had to be before 285 became completely dysfunctional but they said the average speed was 93 mph... No secret why the Bandit was shot in Georgia....
Posted on 2/26/26 at 12:19 pm to New Money
quote:
Yes. Blame the roads and the cops, not the drivers.
And all of Athens bc they aren’t “all in” like Tuscaloosa
Posted on 2/26/26 at 12:28 pm to Bradb5291
Again, you sound like you are 12.
Posted on 2/26/26 at 12:43 pm to lewis and herschel
13 actually, and growing up in a society that can’t handle consequences for their actions
Posted on 2/26/26 at 1:33 pm to New Money
quote:
Yes. Blame the roads and the cops, not the drivers.
You typically seem intelligent, but this is really what you are getting from this?
Posted on 2/26/26 at 4:08 pm to Bradb5291
It's obvious you were a Star Student at the Learing Center....
Posted on 2/26/26 at 5:04 pm to Peter Buck
quote:
You typically seem intelligent, but this is really what you are getting from this?
That has actually been posted in this thread.
Posted on 2/26/26 at 10:22 pm to New Money
Are you saying I am not the only one surprised you are missing the point? If so, I guess that is personal growth you can reflect upon.
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