In the recent past, the status of certain players has remained up in the air, with coaches and administrators remaining somewhat cryptic in regards to certain situations. Not in the case of Gabe Terry, though.
Head coach Al Golden was rather cut and dry earlier today when announcing that the sophomore linebacker was no longer part of the program.
“Gabe is no longer with our football team,” Golden said. “It’s done. Again, I apologize. I don’t know what [information] was released on our end, but he’s no longer with the team. He was suspended before the incident. We’ve separated and moved in another direction.”
One more time for the record, Terry was arrested last week after being found face down on the steps near his dorm at 3:48am. He had 26.8 grams of marijuana on him – just under an ounce – and had been suspended indefinitely from the program as a result.
According to the arrest affidavit, Coral Gables police work Terry, asked him to stand up and to put his hands behind his back, but he didn’t comply. He then argued with police, pushed an officer (with his body) and was shoved to the ground. Terry was warned he’d be tased, still didn’t comply, stood up and was tased in effort to subdue him. He was charged for felony possession of cannabis and resisting an officer without violence.
Terry is now the fourth defender and third linebacker to removed from the the squad since the end of last season, along with Eddie Johnson, Gionni Paul and cornerback Thomas Finnie.
To those who hoped Terry would get a second chance, unfortunately that’s not what this program needs. Guys like Terry, Johnson, Paul and Finnie all seemed to have issues with rules, guidelines, team-first, discipline and / or authority.
When rebuilding a program, that type of attitude is a flat-out cancer to the program and Golden absolutely did what needed to be done, in every case. How do you get a collective unit to buy in when those who don’t are afforded second chances and special treatment?
If guys like Terry, Johnson, Paul or Finnie were Gators or Seminoles, this fan base would be up in arms over anything less than dismissal, so let’s keep it in perspective. This program won’t be rebuilt proper if guys gets slaps on the wrist for illegal or improper behavior.
Kudos for Golden for the harsh lesson that will immediately hurt the program, but can prove to be a turning point in the lives of some guys who obviously needed some discipline and a swift kick in the ass.
#IStandWithTheU