It was a bad weekend for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.
Everyone knows the old adage, “There’s no I in team.” Perhaps Notre Dame should have told their players that the M in team doesn’t stand for “marijuana arrest”.
This weekend, five Fighting Irish players were charged with misdemeanor possession of the controlled substance. Now, just two weeks before the Sep. 10 season opener against the Nevada Wolf Pack, the team could be without linebacker Te’Von Coney, starting safety Max Redfield, wide receiver Kevin Stepherson, cornerback Ashton White, and running back Dexter Williams.
Making matters worse, Redfield, Stepherson, and Williams were charged with possessing a handgun without a license, and could face additional misdemeanor charges.
The incident occurred on Friday night after an Indiana State Police trooper pulled the teammates over for going 73 mph in a 60-mph zone. According to the report, the officer — and his police dog — smelled marijuana. A search revealed that there were indeed drugs in the car, along with a loaded handgun.
As Amazing as it might sound, Coney, Redfield, Stepherson, White, and Williams might’ve had a much better weekend than another teammate, cornerback Devin Butler. In a separate incident, Butler was arrested on charges of battery of a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest after a night at the Linebacker Lounge.
The players charged with misdemeanors can continue on at Notre Dame. Butler’s situation, however, is far more serious, with the senior facing felony charges. According to Notre Dame spokesman Paul Browne, “any student arrested on a felony charge also faces dismissal from the university.”