Dec 1, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Tyler Hayes (36) celebrates after defatting the Georgia Bulldogs 32-28 in the 2012 SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Four Alabama Crimson Tide players were arrested earlier in the week and three of the players — linebacker Tyler Hayes, defensive lineman D.J. Pettway and defensive back Eddie Williams – were hit with felony robbery charges and the consequences for their actions have been handed down.
According to the Birmingham News, a school spokesman said that the three players facing robbery charges have been banned from the University of Alabama campus pending a judicial review which is expected to conclude at the end of the week.
The fourth player, running back Brent Calloway, was charged with fraudulent use of a credit/debit card, but he was not involved with the robbery. He is still permitted on the campus.
All players have been suspended from the football team indefinitely.
Hayes and Williams have both admitted to attacking and beating the first victim, while Williams admits to beating a second as well. A friend of the victim gave some insight on the injuries and it sounds like the Alabama players put a pretty serious beating on the Alabama student.
“His left side of his face was gigantic,” Alabama student and friend of the victim, Chris Burks, said. “The jacket he was wearing and his headphones were completely drenched in blood, the bottom half of his face was completely covered in blood; he was bleeding badly from his lip. He had clearly been badly beaten.”
Let us hope that these players are held responsible for the crimes that they committed and that Alabama head coach Nick Saban has enough sense to boot the kids from the team. This behavior is unacceptable from anyone, but especially members of one of the most prestigious and successful programs in college football.
That is not how you handle yourself like a champion.
