FULMER CUPDATE: HAWGS DRIVING DIPSOMANIACALLY
This week’s update was to be a placid affair, with little but a Hawggish DWI to interrupt the lazy pace of what seems to be a beach week for everyone…until Georgia Tech came along and had to have a player commit an extremely unfunny crime. Credit for the board to Brian, who is hung like Reggie F’n Nelson, for the board.
You see, initially it was just going to be a simple DWI for Arkansas, the kind of crime we like to refer to as a “summer classic” here in the Fulmer Cup Season. Freddy Burton, 19, a linebacker for the Razorbacks, goes off and blows a .13 after being pulled over by local cops, earning Arkansas a quick three points, and then we’re out, and Brian doesn’t have to redo the board, and we can go back to shooting rocket launchers at imaginary airplanes in Liberty City in between mugging prostitutes and launching ourselves off overpasses. In other words, doing what we do best in the month of July.
But no, Georgia Tech has to make things both pesky and extremely unfunny at the same time. Cornerback Jerrard Tarrant was arrested for rape and sodomy, two things that are by rule only funny when a clown is involved, meaning Georgia Tech gets on the board with eight points (four for each charge, since both are way, way bad in FC scoring, trumped only by actual murder)
Tarrant has been suspended from the team indefinitely by Paul Johnson pending the results of the investigation. His Facebook page allegedly read: “Jerrard Tarrant is truly MISUNDERSTOOD, when will they see the real me????” Rule one: if accused of a sex crime, Facebook use is verboten. Sincerely, your stroking-out attorney.
Just because they’re attention whores, Georgia decided to respond by having not one, not two, but three football players arrested in the same week for varying degrees of spicy assault. Simple battery–which offensive linemen Justin Anderson and Trinton Sturdivant are charged with–is worth a point by itself, but the plain ol’ battery Michael Lemon got hit with (see what we did there!) may be a three point felony charge, meaning the Bulldogs tentatively earn five points in the Fulmer Cup.
Georgia fans may take solace in the fact that none of them drove with a suspended license in these crimes, a first for the driving regulation-prone Bulldogs. So, at least it’s a different variety of petty Fulmer Cup charge to gnaw on, Bulldog fans.
Update: Yeah, that’s a three-pointer with some stank on it:
The report states Jackson was grilling food when Lemon approached him. Lemon allegedly inquired why Jackson was “talking to his girl”…Jackson told Lemon “he didn’t know what he was talking about” but Lemon continued to question him, the report says…Witnesses, who spoke to The Red & Black, said they saw Lemon turn as if walking away, but then turned back and headed toward Jackson.Jackson was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital and treated for a blowout fracture to the eye. He was released early Sunday. According to medical Web sites, a blowout fracture occurs when the eye suffers significant blunt force trauma, typically from being hit by a baseball bat or getting kicked in the face.
Yes, that’s four SEC teams on the big board. ESS–EEE–SEE SPEEDing drunk through roadblocks.









1
DoubleDawg05 says:
So what is Georgia’s total now… 8?
July 1st, 2008 at 10:58 am
2
UF Ghostal says:
I saw Vulgar. It had clowns, sodomy and rape. It was decidedly unfunny.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:58 am
3
yoyofutbawl says:
O, is this new math? I count three esseeecee teams – Bammer, Phat Phil & UPig. Unless [NAME REDACTED] and another honoree count as half-points each.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:59 am
4
The Legacyx4 says:
totally ignoring our fulmer cup standing but saw this link you gators might be interested in…
Is Tim Tebow gay? http://haloscan.com/tb/jeffiehusker/5603274196553055192
gasp!
July 1st, 2008 at 10:59 am
5
Orson Swindle says:
Apologies—used the wrong image link. Fixed.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:04 am
6
blon57 says:
Schools should demand that players live in a very secured dorm on campus, away from other students. A lot seems to happen in apaprtment complexes…and incidents seem to happen over girls. Whoever Lemon’s girl is, I would dump this guy FAST. He is a domestic abuse charge waiting to happen.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:12 am
7
OrangeRedBlueBlack says:
Is it weird here to say that I kind of sort of know Michael Lemon? And that I played against him in high school? And that he always seemed like a really nice guy? And that he’s been through a lot this year? Whatever. Beatin up folks will get you arrested. It doesn’t help if you’re a conspicuously enormous black man in north Georgia.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:18 am
8
Miss HornDawg says:
Yeah! Go Dawgs! Ugh…. Apparently fielding a team full of thugs is a pre-requisite to the BCS elite.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:21 am
9
DevilGrad says:
BCS money is screwing up the Fulmer Cup. Not a single mid-major on the big board this year.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:25 am
10
J. Sample says:
Predictions: Tarrant will get to see what its like to be a regular student, as he will get kicked off the team to “send a message”.
Anderson, Sturdivant, and Lemon will be back for the tilt at Williams-Brice against the ‘Cocks.
Also #6: BBQ+Pool+Girls+Drank usually equals fight.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:35 am
11
RRTX Coug says:
I think the board might be wrong. I’m pretty sure Penn State got Wazzu’s 3 points for the frying pan incident.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:36 am
12
Paul says:
Why does everyone assume that the chick that Sturdivant and Anderson touched was pregnant? On AJC.com, redandblack.com, and onlineathens.com [Banner-Herald] all just say that they touched the woman on the stomach.
Am I really the only creeper that thinks maybe they just were missing rubbing UGA VI’s belly, so they had to find a replacement?
July 1st, 2008 at 11:48 am
13
NativeSon says:
Wonder if Lemon and his boys did a little jig around the grill after the play.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:54 am
14
allaha says:
When a player is dismissed from the team, does he automatically lose his scholarship? What about when he is suspended?
Are the answers to the above questions regulated by the NCAA or the individual universities?
July 1st, 2008 at 11:57 am
15
Teddy Dupay says:
lemon + party (or bbq) = who know’s what the hell will happen. just sayin’.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:59 am
16
Theskipster says:
#11
You are not mistaken. It should be Penn State with 14 and Washington State with 17
July 1st, 2008 at 11:59 am
17
spartanmike says:
How is this any different than what they did to Colt Brennan?
July 1st, 2008 at 12:02 pm
18
Crazy Joe says:
Interesting how the rape/sodomy was reported to the Dekalb County police rather than Tech campus cops…maybe someone thought the campus cops would try and keep things quiet.
July 1st, 2008 at 12:03 pm
19
jakldawg says:
“when will they see the real me????”
Apparently we have staggeringly different interpretations of Quadrophenia.
July 1st, 2008 at 12:06 pm
20
J. Sample says:
#17
Well played Sir…
+1
July 1st, 2008 at 12:10 pm
21
Doug says:
Based on what I’m hearing, Anderson’s and Sturdivant’s points may get taken back due to the sketchiness of the charges, but Lemon is probably in deep ka-ka.
Paul @12, this ESPN.com story says the owner of the, uh, touched stomach was in fact pregnant. What bearing that ultimately has on their fates, of course, I have not the slightest clue.
July 1st, 2008 at 12:11 pm
22
Brian O'Blivion says:
Two counts of felony vandalism for UCF doesn’t get a FC mention?
And Vulgar should never be watched, by anyone, under any circumstances. You cannot unwatch that scene. Kind of like that scene at the end in Audition.
July 1st, 2008 at 12:12 pm
23
blon57 says:
#17
What do you mean what they did to Colt Brennan? Who is they?
July 1st, 2008 at 12:24 pm
24
NRBQ says:
Purple drank is the new Purple Jesus (190-proof grain alcohol and grape juice or kool-aid, usually mixed in a bath tub)?
July 1st, 2008 at 12:27 pm
25
MaconDawg says:
Orson, this may come as a shock (especially to the poor guy who is sitting at home hoping his eyeball pulls back together again) but battery is, per section 16-5-23.1 of the Georgia Code, a misdemeanor not a felony. Weird huh? Or was the extra pointage for the general stank of the offense, not its status as a felony?
July 1st, 2008 at 12:42 pm
26
pasta troy says:
Why would they report something that happened on the GT campus, in Fulton County to the Dekalb county Police?
It does seem that UGA is just trying to keep up with the BCS Joneses, they obviously figured out FSU’s secret from the earlier part of this decade. Is this why the 04 Auburn team wasnt recognized to their full potential, not enough thuggery?
July 1st, 2008 at 12:45 pm
27
Orson Swindle says:
MaconDawg, misdemeanor charges are explicit in the first two charges, listed as “simple battery.” We believe the third is described as “battery,” which may from the severity of the incident be a felony.
Perhaps we should get the Mayor in on this one for a ruling….
July 1st, 2008 at 12:45 pm
28
Picture Me Rollin says:
I don’t think UA will end up getting to keep the 13th National Title, um.. I mean Fulmer Cup. Had lunch with an attorney today somewhat familiar with the case – he said Johns can probably get youthful offender on most of the charges and will plea down the one that remains adult. At any rate, there will be a reduction in charges. Of course that is pure speculation but what isn’t is that Rashad Johnson’s charges were dropped and therefore should not count in the team total. Hey.. I’m just looking out for the t-shirt vendors. It’s late in the year to go to the press with the “got 13?” designs.
July 1st, 2008 at 12:45 pm
29
The underrated Sorola Palmer says:
I know there had been some discussion about it in the past, but shouldn’t every FC update come with the link the to Fulmer Cup theme song?
I’m dying to hear that again. If you can also re-post the Poinsettia Bowl song again, that would be great.
K. thx. bai.
July 1st, 2008 at 12:53 pm
30
whatdafunk says:
Rape / Sodomy is only worth 8 while pushin illegal drugs being worth 20?!?
Something’s wrong here….
July 1st, 2008 at 12:55 pm
31
DevilGrad says:
Re #28: This is why I’ve always been an advocate of leaving Fulmer Cup points intact, except in rare circumstances. We should *reward* programs who excel in getting hometown plea deals for their student-athlete-felons — not drop them off Brian’s big board.
July 1st, 2008 at 12:58 pm
32
Picture Me Rollin says:
Devil Grad- Point of order here- Johns is from Brookhaven, MS and thus Tuscaloosa is not his hometown. And if your referring to the fact that T-town is the home town for the university then every plea deal that takes place in any college town is a “hometown” deal – and it not like plea deals only take place in college towns. I’ve seen “Law and Order” my friend, I know how our justice system works. Plus the DA may not take a deal – it sounds as if they got him on some pretty good stuff.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:13 pm
33
DevilGrad says:
Re #32: My point is that plea deals obviously happen everywhere, but I’ve long suspected that they’re unusually sweet for high-profile athletes in college towns where the local football or basketball team is the biggest form of entertainment.
(For example, I know of at least one official county court website that contains a front-page link to the athletics home page for the local Division I school. That’s the kind of coziness I have in mind.)
July 1st, 2008 at 1:20 pm
34
hobeg8r says:
#17 – point of order…I think it should read what they did *for* Colt Brennan…not *to*. He was convicted of xexual battery.
To Blon – The “they” you asked about was the Judge who set aside the jury conviction. He, by all accounts, was very lucky.
@ DevilGrad – I think the biggest problem JJ is facing as it relates to any plea deal is the “enhancement” factor – he sold the drugs [repeatedly] within 3 miles of an elementary school and on campus. I think it would be hard for a DA to drop the enhancement charges since most DA’s are above all else – politicians. Although not directly on point – just ask the Duke lacrosse players.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:36 pm
35
hobeg8r says:
I meant to say that Colt was convicted of sexual assault. [not xexual].
July 1st, 2008 at 1:40 pm
36
MaconDawg says:
Ans. Orson @ 27: Unless it’s the third time he’s beaten up the same guy, or they change the statute he’s charged under according to the police report, I’m pretty sure it’s a misdemeanor.
But if you want to submit it to the Mayor, I’d propose a gentleman’s wager on his answer. What are your terms, dear sir? I propose that the loser be required to post for an entire day as either Buzz Bissinger or “The Daves” from Lincoln Financial Sports.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:42 pm
37
Coop says:
hobeg8r
Given that all of that woman’s, I think it is a woman, posts are Texas related…
I guarantee she/he thought you were referencing Texas QB Colt McCoy.
Just saw Colt, and the sirens went off in her/his head.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:44 pm
38
spartanmike says:
re: #34
My reference was to Mr. Lemon et al. and his treatment of the cook. He and his boyz were the “they” I spoke of…and the parallel to Colt Brennan, who I believe to this day has to watch a special DVD every morning that gives him a rundown of what has happened in this world since he faced UGA, a la Drew Barrymore in 50 First Dates.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:46 pm
39
blon57 says:
#34
Thanks. I just wanted to make sure that I was reading it coorectly. That SOB Brennan got off light.
I knew the reference was Colt Brennan, not Colt McCoy. And no, sirens didn’t go off.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:54 pm
40
Picture Me Rollin says:
Concerning the enhancements – There is not a place within the city limits of Tuscaloosa that is more than three miles form a school (despite national perception of our educational system- 31 schools that fit that category between the two systems). That’s why the law was written at three miles – I had a family member on the PRIDE board when that law was passed, they considered it a big victory. If you are charged with selling drugs in the city limits you are also charged with the enhancement. I’m not suggesting that it diminishes the crime but rather that the DA sees the same thing on virtually every charge of selling – it shouldn’t be a “special” factor and certainly not unique.
And Devil Grad, I’m certainly not trying to disagree with you, because I think you’re dead on but reducing charges isn’t really going to help JJ in relation to the team – he’s gone no matter what. The regional/national perception is not going to change at this point so the only two places a deal helps are if you’re:a) Jimmy John looking at prison time (or quick prosecution/ guilty plea instead of trial is the DA’s viewpoint of that)) and b) the Fulmer Cup standings. I am pretty sure that Tommy Smith (Tuscaloosa DA) doesn’t care about the Fulmer Cup.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:59 pm
41
Women and Cookies says:
A bj in Ga. is considered sodomy. If thats worth 4 points on the big board, I do believe the totals are a little low, by several hundred.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:18 pm
42
BamaCPA says:
Johns is more of a one man team here than Vick was against FSU.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:27 pm
43
Doug says:
Actually, Georgia’s sodomy laws were struck down by the Supreme Court in 2003, so all beejer recipients both on and off the Fulmer Cup board can breathe easy.
This resulted from the Supreme Court’s decision in Lawrence v. Texas (2003). Mark Richt, incidentally, filed an amicus brief drawing on his own experience in the matter of Gailey v. Richt I (2002), in which the Court declared that some instances of sodomy are permissible when the “recipient” is merely a passive participant.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:30 pm
44
yoyofutbawl says:
40
My cousin, who played for Ears back in the mid-50s & has lived in the Hysterical District all his life, thinks Johns is dead meat. Finebaum’s column today states that JJ was selling PIT BULLS on his Facebook site.
JJ, welcome to Atmore.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:44 pm
45
hobeg8r says:
His “boyz” were apparently members of the UGA football team. When I read the police report (and witness statements) all I could think of was Kermit Washington and Rudy Tomjonovich (with the cook being Rudy).
I apologize in advance for bringing basketball into this discussion.
What no one has mentioned was the fact that Lemon’s mother had been murdered by her boyfriend and that the NCAA allowed a “Lemon” fund to be set up to financially care for Lemon and his brother following her murder. I guess they didn’t spend any of the money on counseling.
July 1st, 2008 at 3:03 pm
46
shanensga says:
I was pulling for Lemon to make it at UGA. Now I am afraid He is through. A kid with His background has the deck stacked against Him. The other two guys deny any wrong doing, so, We shall see.
July 1st, 2008 at 5:08 pm
47
The General says:
For MaconDawg, O.S., and any other lovers of the nuances of Georgia law, one might assume the charges coming for Lemon will be Aggravated Battery, a felony, because of “serious disfigurement” or rendering a member of his body, to-wit, his eye, useless. O.C.G.A. § 16-5-24. We’ll see what the DA’s office wants to do with it, though.
July 1st, 2008 at 5:24 pm
48
NCT says:
Yet another Law Dawg chiming in here…
Doug @ 43: Georgia’s sodomy law was actually dealt the blow (heh) by our own Supreme Court, not the U.S.’s, in 1998 in Powell v. State, 270 Ga. 327, 510 S.E.2d 18 (1998), well before the SCOTUS got into the act in that Texas case. (I still chuckle at least on the inside whenever I think of the aptly named Georgia case which led to the U.S. Supreme Court’s upholding of sodomy laws in 1986: Bowers v. Hardwick — get it?)
The General @ 47: I think MaconDawg was basing his “misdemeanor” evaluation on the fact that the charge in the police report was, in fact, O.C.G.A. Sec. 16-5-23.1 and not 16-5-24. Now, whether the indictment reflects an upgrade to the felony charge of aggravated battery remains to be seen. Criminal law is in no way my specialty, but I assume nothing’s set in stone by a mere police report.
Please forgive me if my formatting codes don’t work out. I’m lawyer. And I’m over 40.
July 1st, 2008 at 7:18 pm
49
The General says:
As it happens, criminal law actually is my specialty. The arrest charge is not binding. The Athens jury pool and hence the DA’s office can be rather forgiving, but if the orbital bone was broken, I would expect a felony indictment. That, however, wouldn’t foreclose the possibility of a plea offer to a misdemeanor. Alls I know is the pregnant belly rub charges sound like bullshit to me.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:18 pm
50
Women and Cookies says:
A new article has come out. The sodomy charge is for him going down on her. Both parties agree that there was no intercourse at all. She felt guilty for cheating on her boyfriend and asked him to stop. Then she said he didn’t and he said he did. So no rape took place and the sodomy charges are for oral sex. Which you lawyers have proven isn’t a crime anymore. So all he did was go down on a girl that felt guilty once things got started and because they were both drunk its his fault for some reason. Also I was right, all you oral sex loving athletes out there, be afraid because its $40,000 bond and a rape case.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2008/06/30/georgia_tech_tarrant_rape.html
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:18 am
51
mace says:
A brother ‘going down’ on a girl ? Wow. That’s a rare act indeed.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:55 am
52
J. Sample says:
#46
His mother dying was indeed a tragedy, but I dont understand the “stacked deck” analogy.
By all accounts, he was a pretty bright kid who was afforded an opportunity that many black youth in Macon dont get, which is to go to a school worth a darn(the very affluent private school Stratford Academy). When you add in the fact that while Stratford wins lots of games, its not seen a D-1 pipeline, so he was doing better than most of his peers and has been for a while now.
I’m not totally sure that he gets kicked off the team, mainly because there have been much worse offenses in Athens with much more lenient punishments, and not because of people thinking of this as “lashing out”.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:21 pm
53
Dawg Fan says:
Didn’t your beloved Gators have a felony more disgusting than any of this? You know the player stealing a dead girls CC and using it for 6 months after! I guess you don’t include Florida on your board since this is a Florida Blog?
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:53 am
54
Orson Swindle says:
Yup. We completely ignored that, Dawg guy dude sir.
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:57 am
55
Read the fine print says:
The Tech SA turned himself in, in DeKalb. He wasn’t charged there. You can turn yourself in any jurisdiction once charged. The campus police didn’t hide anything, it was being investigated. Plus, oral sex is considered sodomy in Georgia. So there’s a whole lot of sodomy going on between your parents. Oh what fun sodomy is in Georgia. Read the latest report from the AJC, there’s a lot of reasonable doubt in this case. I hope his lawyer went to Emory or Georgia State.
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:55 pm
56
Jeff from LA says:
Re: #54: Since no one else has bothered to:
Oh Snap!
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:00 pm
57
roy says:
regarding ga tech, when a former star player and current coach gets a dui and leaving the scene of an accident, then pot possesion, doesn’t that add a point or two?
July 4th, 2008 at 9:16 am
58
FloridaTider says:
Ronnie Wilson a UF football player firing an AK -47 during an arguement should help Florida push to the number one spot! Dustin Doe fighting in public UF guy. Don’t forget about the five UF football players charged with theft april oof 2007. Brandon James a UF football player,charged with drug possession . Monroe another UF football player was arrested for theft! NINE Gator Football Player arrested should exceed UA and I left out your Basketball players. Play Fair Guys
July 6th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
59
chsybwlr says:
Ohio State’s finest….Typical buckeye….cant get any so they gotta buy it.
GO BLUE
http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2008/07/07/osu_clifford.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=102
July 7th, 2008 at 10:42 pm