I laughed when I came across the above photo of Geno Hayes in a vulnerable, fetal position during the Noles season opening loss at Clemson. It made me wonder if Hayes did a similar crouch after being Tasered by Tallahassee police last Friday outside Potbelly’s bar.
Seems Hayes and teammate Joe Surratt were out raising a little pre-weekend hell on a Florida State off-week. Surratt was hit with a felony count of battery on an officer and misdemeanor chargers of disorderly conduct and resisting an officer without violence. Hayes took it a step further and faces three misdemeanor chargers of assault on an officer, resisting arrest without violence and disorderly conduct.
According to police reports, Hayes was lurking outside the hell hole dive bar, shirtless and trying to get back inside. He was restrained by quarterback Drew Weatherford and others while “screaming profanities and waving his hands wildly”. A bar employee told police Hayes was involved in an “altercation” inside the bar and his crew was trying to take him home.
As an officer tried to calm Hayes, he allegedly broke free from his friends, running towards the officer with fists clenched and yelling threats. Once down on the ground, Hayes continued his attempts to break free and was shot with the Taser. At this point, Surratt tried to play the role of hero, rushing up on the scene. When he refused the first order to back away, he was physically pushed back and hit the ground.
In an effort to arrest Surratt, the air cast-wearing fullback decided the best play at the time was to punch a cop square in the mouth, splitting his lip.
As of Friday night, both players were suspended indefinitely until a full review of the case. By Monday morning, Bobby Bowden laid down the law by demoting Hayes to second team. Hayes is bar none the Noles most talented linebacker and with #22 Alabama on the docket this week, no way in hell Saint Bobby takes a stand with a season-defining game on the line and it’s hardly the first time we’ve seen such cowardice out of this man who is oft praised for his ethics, morals, faith and what not.
Ironically, it was two different out of control Noles linebackers in the summer of 2005 who decided to raise a little off-season hell. A.J. Nicholson was arrested for DUI the previous February and was arrested and Tasered in June when running from officers outside a Tallahassee bar. A month later Ernie Sims was in hot water over domestic dispute charges against a live in girlfriend. A witness told police Sims “slammed her to the ground”, straggled her and “repeated shoved her back to the ground” when she tried to get up.
Both Sims and Nicholson were immediately suspended at the time of the incident, yet both were on the field Labor Day for a season opening 10-7 win over Miami. Bowden joked off the fact that he doesn’t suspend players for big games and caught no flak from the media in 2005 for his laid back approach. One can assume the same will happen two years later with Hayes and Surratt.
Bowden’s Noles went 7-6 last year, just like Miami – yet starter the season in the top 20 while the Canes started unranked. The old man continues to get the benefit of the doubt, but it’s time to call his ass out. Coach, you’re a Biblical man, right? Ever come across the passage saying, you reap what you sow? Look it up in Galatians if you need a refresher.
Bowden isn’t attempting to please a ‘sinful nature’ here, but turning a blind eye by recruiting talented players who lack character – it’s all starting to come full circle for this lack of a disciplinarian. Florida State has been in a boatload of hot water this decade and conversely, that’s when the wheels started falling off. Five-loss seasons became the norm and local police have been working overtime taking down CrimiNoles since this program started backsliding in 2001.
Many of us Miami folk are considered conspiracy theorists or rather thin-skinned regarding the perceived media bias against the Canes. The U seems to take grief for anything and everything, while other schools get away with murder. Case in point, the lack of discipline up in Tallahassee these days versus the NCAA contacting Miami regarding – of all things – interviewing recruits on the sideline during game day.
Let me get this straight. Florida State catches no flak suiting up a linebacker eight days after being Tasered and arrested on a slew of charges, yet Miami hears from the NCAA when local media members interview recruits at a Thursday night game, because “other” schools complained.
Still, forget Miami for now. This is about Florida State. Bowden and athletic director Dave Hart should be ashamed of themselves for how they’re handling this current situation with some roughneck players. Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.
Bowden has turned a blind eye way too long and I’m praying for some serious redemption. I want the old man to go out with a whimper regarding how he’s run that program with a “win at all costs” mentality – actually “lose at all costs” these past few years. Any respect I had for Bowden is long since gone. I’m tired of the old man’s charade. He’s absolutely full of it and he’s working the media every time he opens his mouth.
I hope the Canes absolutely kick the Noles a new ass on October 20th. Miami is doing things the right way, while Florida State continues to operate by their own code. If there’s any justice, The U prevails in Tallahassee a few games from now.
To be fair, its not like we exactly “laid down the law” last year after the brawl. We gave our players a slap on the wrist, and many around the country felt that the punishment didn’t fit the crime.
That being said, coach Shannon has made it clear that if he were in charge, the punishment would have been much more appropriate and severe. Of course, if coach Shannon had been the head coach last year, I don’t think the brawl would have happened in the first place.
So, in that respect, I agree with you. You reap what your head coach sows! Coker’s teams were undisciplined, and often played sloppy and mistake-laden football. Coach Shannon’s teams will be disciplined, committed, and much less likely to give up when the going gets tough.
Chris, don’t just stop in Tallahassee, look at Gainsville as well. There have been plenty of players running afoul of the law under Urban Myth as well. But since this is about FSU, I totally agree with you. The media continually gives Bowden a pass since he comes across as everyone’s grandfather and is personable. Hayes being ‘demoted’ to second team just means he won’t start in the first series. He could easily come on after the first snap. He feels the pressure to win at any cost in his last few years left and as long as they produce on the field, he will protect them. Pathetic. They have been overrated for the last 10 years in the preseason and continually get the benefit of the doubt for some unknown reason, as you point out. It comes down to if the media likes or respects your program. For us, they never liked how we changed the game back in the 80’s and that is still held against us to this day. They have always feared our brand of ball and when they have a chance to stick it to us, they do. We can play right throw that crap the right way, while FSU flounders and looks past players’ transgressions. You are totally right in them reaping what they sow. I love it and hope their record continues to suffer because of it as well. When you do wrong, wrong comes back to you.
-Columbus Cane
GTDX2003, sounds like you answered your own questions there. Randy re-righted the ship. Butch Davis had us on track and Coker, while a “nice” guy and a “good man” – had absolutely no clue how to reel this kids in and instill that fear/respect that Shannon has. Miami was a disciplined program 1995-2002 with Davis’ kids and slipped a bit the past three seasons. No mas.
As for: Chris, don’t just stop in Tallahassee, look at Gainesville as well. There have been plenty of players running afoul of the law under Urban Myth as well.
I absolutely haven’t forgotten about the Gayturds. It’s just not the time to pick on them right now. I was quick to pounce when they had guys fighting in an parking garage melee, Wilson being charged with shooting off a semi-automatic weapon, another guy busted for weed and another for ripping the parking boot off his illegally parked car.
What’s going on at Florida State is a joke. Think about recent arrests. A few guys getting Tasered the past few seasons (Nicholson and now Hayes) and Bobby again turning a blind eye. It’s becoming an utter joke.
Guarantee that if Hayes and Surratt played for Miami, Shannon would’ve thrown their sorry asses off the team. Come on now. Bruce Johnson missed the first two games this year for being late to a practice and late to a study hall. Hayes gets hit with a half dozen charges, goes to the clink, is bailed out and is back on the practice field by Monday.
F all things Florida State. Bowden is an absolute farce. He will get his. I wish him nothing but failure these final years of his career as he’s taken on that “win at all costs” mentality. He knows he can ‘get away’ with not doing a damn thing to his players as he’s immune from media scrutiny.
Chris, I’m sure you saw this, but Willie Williams just got kicked off the Louisville football team for felony tampering among other things. To me, it’s a sad possible ending for a player that had the world at his fingertips. I think back to the movie Bronx Tale and what DeNeiro’s character always said: ‘There’s nothing worse in life than wasted talent’ To me, that’s what Willie has become. Miami took a chance on thr troubled teen (I even understood in a way, since his father died while he was in school, as a kind of lashing out at the world). He was used to getting everything handed to him and being treated with kid gloves as they say. He wasn’t good enough to crack the starting line-up at The U, during a down period at that, so he leaves school. He turns up and some community college, and then next thing you know, he’s at Louisville. I think he had trouble starting there as well. I don’t know, but maybe he just wasn’t willing to work. He was an Army All American, 5 star recruit. He could have received a degree from Miami AND been in the NFL if he was willing to work for what he wanted. He was not. Very sad, and such a waste. I’m sorry it never worked out for him.
-Columbus Cane
Don’t forget the peter warrick/lavernus coles incident, same crime, warrick was heisman candidate and back on the field while coles, who wasn’t as important, was kicked off the team…then there was date-rapeakowski, and they needed the kicker to win the national championship, then bobby bowden said, “boys will be boys” and, “i made em run extra windsprints…”..it’s a farce and a joke, and makes me sick every time they rip the Canes!
Who cares about FSU and Bowden?? In that rivalry we OWN them, they no longer even merit discussion. Also, must agree with gtdx, you dont mention the years prior to 95 when we had already the majority of our championships where you cant say we were disciplined. But what kept everyone shut is THE CHAMPIONSHIPS, THE SWAGGER, THE ATTITUDE, THE PERSONALITY, AND THE MYSTIQUE. None of which is unfortunately present with this group. I’m hoping the overachieving personality of our coach transcends to the team and results in a positive and progressing year.
Here’s another Gator punk, the starting safety no less which just happened today. I wonder if he’ll play since it’s LSU week?
Florida safety Tony Joiner, a starter on the Gators’ defending national champion football team, was arrested by Gainesville Police and charged with burglary on Tuesday, according to the Gainesville Sun.
Joiner is accused of going into an impound lot to retrieve his girlfriend’s car at approximately 4:30 a.m. Tuesday. His girlfriend’s car was being held at Watson’s Towing, the Sun reported, in lieu of a $76 towing bill, according to the police report.
The police report said witnesses saw a man push open the gates of the towing service and drive a car out. As he was trying to close the gates, one of the witnesses confronted the man, who then drove the car back in the lot.
Police arrived and arrested Joiner, who has 17 tackles and an interception for the Gators, who travel to face No. 1 LSU on Saturday night. Florida lost to Auburn last weekend.
-Columbus Cane
Awwww come on, man.
Cut Ol Bobb-uh a break!
He can’t be held responsible for what he’s doing.
He can’t even remember what he just did five minutes ago.
Hell, he needs to slam two Flomax, three Viagra and 17 Tylenol every morning just to make it out to the practice field.
What a joke. Trailerhassee is a Scary Neck Hell Hole on par with The Worst Of Alabama!
GIT R DONE …