2007 Texas Longhorns football suspensions

none August 2023 The 2007 Texas Longhorns football suspensions were separate incidents resulting in college football players being suspended from the 2007 Texas Longhorn football team at the University of Texas at Austin. Head coach Mack Brown suspended a total of seven players; six for alleged illegal activities, and one for a violation of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules. Prior to the season Four Longhorn players were involved in legal issues during the off-season. Defensive end Henry Melton and linebacker Sergio Kindle were both arrested during the summer on charges of driving while intoxicated.http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2007/08/03/Sports/Law-Seeks.Out.Texas.Football.Again-2929321.shtml Law seeks out Texas football, again The Daily Texan Jankowski, Philip 3 August 2007 2007-08-03 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070930184751/http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2007/08/03/Sports/Law-Seeks.Out.Texas.Football.Again-2929321.shtml 2007-09-30 http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5024080.html Houston Chronicle UT tackle turns self in on aggravated robbery charge Duarte, Joseph 3 August 2007 2007-08-03 Both players were suspended from the first three games of the season. They were required to do community service and also missed the first two days of practice to visit with a woman whose son was crippled by a drunk driver.https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=2962285 Melton, Kindle to miss first three games of season for DWI charges Associated Press 5 August 2007 2007-08-06 Freshman defensive tackle Andre Jones (who had not yet played for Texas but did join spring practices) and former UT player Robert Joseph were charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. Jones was one of the team's most highly touted recruits; his high school football career honors included Prep All-American, three-time all-state selection, first-team All-American by Parade Magazine, and Texas 4A Defensive Player of the Year by the Texas Sports Writers Association.http://texas.scout.com/2/622029.html Inside the Class of '07: Dre Jones Scout.com February 26, 2007 2008-03-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20080401100900/http://texas.scout.com/2/622029.html 2008-04-01 dead http://www.kvue.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/texas/stories/091407dnspoutlede.ce3e3483.html Longhorns safety arrested for drug possession Dallas Morning News September 13, 2007 2008-03-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20080319053825/http://www.kvue.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/texas/stories/091407dnspoutlede.ce3e3483.html March 19, 2008 dead mdy-all R Head coach Mack Brown suspended Jones from the team indefinitely.http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/08/03/jones_suspended_indefinitely.html Jones suspended indefinitely Austin American-Statesman Halliburton, Suzanne 3 August 2007 2007-08-03 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070929122000/http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/08/03/jones_suspended_indefinitely.html 2007-09-29 Joseph, a sophomore playing safety, had been suspended from the Longhorn team in June after being arrested on misdemeanor charges of breaking into vehicles,http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/08/03/andre_jones_in_custody_on_robbery_charge.html Andre Jones in custody on robbery charge Trubow, Alan Austin American-Statesman 3 August 2007 2007-08-03 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070929121829/http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/08/03/andre_jones_in_custody_on_robbery_charge.html 29 September 2007 and later announced that he was transferring. In suspending Jones, Brown said “I am extremely disappointed that four of our student-athletes have had issues with the law this summer. That is not reflective of the high standard of class, character and integrity we have established at Texas for many years. It’s a shame that these recent events have generated a great deal of negative attention, because I do think that overall, this is as good of a group of kids that I’ve ever coached. I think that will show over time.” right|thumb|Sergio Kindle (left) signing autographs for children from the Warm Springs Rehabilitation Center in San Antonio in January 2006. Brown apologized to the university's administrators, faculty, fans and students for the range of "embarrassing incidents" that occurred over the summer. "It's not what we have worked so hard for 9 ½ years to portray in our program of class, integrity and character," Brown said. "It's something we aren't proud of. But I can also assure you that it's not indicative of who this team really is. We're excited to be able to prove that." He allowed that something positive could come out of the troubles as it provides a learning and motivational opportunity. Brown said, "Our slogan [for the season] will be to 'earn the right,' because some people seem to have taken advantage of being at the University of Texas on a great team without [doing it] the right way. It's my job to make sure that the guys who are playing have earned that right."https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=2962514 Brown institutes 'zero tolerance' policy as embroiled Texas opens camp ESPN Griffin, Tim 2007-08-06 On August 31, 2007 the University of Texas suspended Billy Pittman for three games because he accepted the use of a friend's car over the summer. The school's compliance office determined the friend was not a booster or agent and was not connected with the university but that the use of the car violated NCAA amateurism rules. The NCAA signed off on the findings. Pittman said in response to the suspension, "I want to apologize to my coaches, teammates, fans and everyone at the university for making this mistake. I was driving a friend's car and since he didn't have any ties to UT, I didn't think I was doing anything wrong. As soon as the coaches asked me about it this summer, I told them everything." Mack Brown released a statement saying, "I'm disappointed for Billy. I am confident he wouldn't intentionally do anything to be a distraction to our team. We look forward to his return for the Rice game."http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/longhorns/09/01/0901texfoot_pittman.html Longhorns' Pittman suspended for 3 games - Officials say he has been driving car that belongs to a friend. Austin American-Statesman Cox Enterprises Halliburton, Suzanne September 1, 2007 2007-09-01 January 2017 medicmedic Pittman had been recovering from a sprained shoulder but had hoped to play in the season opener.http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/longhorns/08/19/0819texnotes.html Notebook: Pittman out of action indefinitely - He is latest UT receiver to suffer injury. Austin-American Statesman August 19, 2007 2007-08-19 January 2017 medicmedic During the season On September 13, 2007 the University of Texas suspended Tyrell Gatewood indefinitely after he was arrested on two drug possession charges.http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/09/13/former_longhorn_3.html Former Longhorn QB arrested for DWI Austin American-Statesman Cox Enterprises Halliburton, Suzanne September 13, 2007 2007-09-14 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080318224553/http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/09/13/former_longhorn_3.html March 18, 2008 A Travis County sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on Gatewood for "failure to signal within 100 feet before changing lanes. The deputy said the car did use its left-turn signal, but only after it had stopped at the intersection".http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/longhorns/09/14//0914gatewood.html https://archive.today/20110607104747/http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/longhorns/09/14//0914gatewood.html dead June 7, 2011 Longhorns suspend Gatewood after drug arrest Austin American-Statesman Cox Enterprises Halliburton, Suzanne September 14, 2007 2007-09-14 The deputy searched the car and found less than one-hundredth of an ounce of marijuana, along with two prescription drugs, Xanax and promethazine with codeine. The deputy did not find a prescription for the two-drugs so Gatewood was arrested and charged with two counts of possession of a dangerous drug, a Class A misdemeanor. Longhorn football player Ben Wells was also in the car. Wells was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor, but he was not taken to jail and the team took no disciplinary action against Wells. On September 17, 2007, James Henry was arrested on third-degree felony charges of "obstruction or retaliation and tampering or fabricating physical evidence."http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=7091356 Another UT Football Player Arrested KXAN.com KXAN September 18, 2007 2007-09-18 https://web.archive.org/web/20071006211707/http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=7091356 6 October 2007 dead His player biography describes him as a "Physical, athletic second-year player who worked at running back during spring drills [and] gained valuable experience working at safety as a redshirt in 2006".http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=15&change_well_id=17&member_id=146 James Henry #30 MackBrownTexasFootball.com University of Texas & Host Interactive September 18, 2007 2007-09-18 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070613164330/http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=15&change_well_id=17&member_id=146 June 13, 2007 Henry saw some action on special teams during the 2007 season. He was allegedly retaliating on behalf of teammate Robert Joseph, who was arrested over the summer on aggravated robbery charges. The Austin police department recorded a jail-house phone call Joseph made to Henry. Police say Henry told Joseph, “I went over there and whooped all them niggas last night, fool.” Police claim Henry went to the scene of the robbery and told one of the victims, “Bitches deserve to get kicked, so that’s what I am going to do!”. The witnesses said that Henry then kicked the victim six or seven times in the head and punched him repeatedly.http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/09/18/longhorn_james.html Longhorn James Henry arrested on felony charges Austin American-Statesman Cox Enterprises Halliburton, Suzanne September 18, 2007 2007-09-18 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071102211659/http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/09/18/longhorn_james.html November 2, 2007 Mack Brown issued a statement saying "It’s unfortunate that we have just been informed of the situation or we would have been able to address it when it allegedly occurred in July. We’ve talked with James and his family and have decided to suspend him indefinitely."http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/09/18/henry_suspended.html Henry suspended Austin American-Statesman Cox Enterprises Halliburton, Suzanne September 18, 2007 2007-09-18 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080318224604/http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/09/18/henry_suspended.html March 18, 2008 The Austin American-Statesman reported that police may have actually been seeking James Henry back in July when they arrested Andre Jones. When Robert Joseph was arrested, police said they were "police are still looking for a black man, described as 6-2 and weighing more than 220 pounds". One week later they arrested Jones, who was 6-foot-5 and 295 pounds. The Austin American-Statesman reported "That discrepancy led to some questions about possible mistaken identity regarding Jones in the days after his arrest. Now it appears that police were looking for Henry, who was listed at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds." Henry had been questioned and released on the day of the robbery.http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/09/18/arrest_clears_u.html Arrest clears up an old mystery from July case Austin American-Statesman Cox Enterprises September 18, 2007 2007-09-18 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080318224558/http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/09/18/arrest_clears_u.html March 18, 2008 After Jones' arrest, University of Texas President William Charles Powers Jr. issued a statement concerning the suspensions and the team discipline. Powers said in part: I applaud Coach Mack Brown for taking swift action in disciplining a member of his football team. I strongly endorse the penalties he has imposed on this player and others who have been arrested for various offenses. I know Coach Brown feels accountable for the conduct of his team and that these players must be held accountable for their own behavior on and off the field. It is important for these young men to understand that with the celebrity that comes with being part of the football program comes an inherent responsibility. When they get involved in criminal behavior or act inappropriately they embarrass themselves, their teammates and respected former players who have built the tradition of Texas football, their coaching staff and their university.http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/09/18/ut_president_re.html UT president responds to latest Longhorn arrest Austin American-Statesman Cox Enterprises September 18, 2007 2007-09-18 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080318224614/http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/09/18/ut_president_re.html March 18, 2008 On October 6, 2007, Tyrell Gatewood was arrested on two misdemeanor drug charges; marijuana possession and for possession on a controlled substance. Gatewood was still on indefinite suspension from the football team due to his arrest less than a month earlier.http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/10/07/gatewood_arrest.html Gatewood arrested again Halliburton, Suzanne Austin American-Statesman Cox Enterprises October 7, 2007 2007-10-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20071011002115/http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/10/07/gatewood_arrest.html 11 October 2007 dead dmy-all The team right|thumb|The 2007 Longhorns take the field on opening day against Arkansas State. The 2007 Texas Longhorn football team was two years removed from the school's most recent college football championship, won by the 2005 Texas Longhorn football team. The 2006 team finished with 10 wins, 3 losses, including a victory in the 2006 Alamo Bowl. It received a final-ranking of 13th in the nation by both the Associated Press AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches Pollhttps://www.espn.com/college-football/rankings 2006 College Football Rankings - Week 17 ESPN 2007-01-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20070125103700/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex 25 January 2007 live The Longhorns entered the 2007 season ranked third in the all-time list of both total wins and winning percentage.http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/doc_lib/090107_notes.pdf Game notes - Arkansas State MackBrownTexasFootball.com University of Texas & Host Interactive PDF September 1, 2007 2007-09-16 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071201072722/http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/doc_lib/090107_notes.pdf December 1, 2007 A 2007 pre-season ranking by ESPN writer Mark Schlabach had the Longhorns ranked eighth,Schlabach Mark Booty could return Trojans to No. 1 ranking ESPN 2007-01-11 https://www.espn.com/college-football/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=2725188 2007-01-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20070123142343/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=2725188 23 January 2007 live while College Football News had Texas ranked third.http://cfn.scout.com/2/609740.html CFN 2007 Pre-Preseason Rankings - Top 25 College Football News January 14, 2007 2007-01-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20070127160922/http://cfn.scout.com/2/609740.html 27 January 2007 dead The Longhorns came into the season ranked fourth in both the Coaches Pollhttp://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/08/03/longhorns_ranked_fourth_in_coaches_poll.html Longhorns ranked fourth in coaches poll Austin American-Statesman 3 August 2007 2007-08-03 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070929121903/http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/08/03/longhorns_ranked_fourth_in_coaches_poll.html 2007-09-29 and AP Poll.http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/shared-gen/ap/General_College_Sports_News/FBC_College_FB_Poll.html USC Is No. 1 in AP Top 25 College Poll Associated Press Russo, Ralph 19 August 2007 2007-08-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20070822025621/http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/shared-gen/ap/General_College_Sports_News/FBC_College_FB_Poll.html 2007-08-22 Texas struggled in the first three games of the season. Their opening game was UT's first contest against Arkansas State Universityhttp://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=36&url_subchannel_id=&url_article_id=298&change_well_id=2 All Time Record vs. Opponents MackBrownTexasFootball 2007-03-31 https://web.archive.org/web/20070426101811/http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=36&url_subchannel_id=&url_article_id=298&change_well_id=2 26 April 2007 dead and the team narrowly achieved a victory.http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/000_stats/07/ut1.htm Arkansas State vs Texas (Sep 01, 2007) MackBrownTexasFootball.com University of Texas & Host Interactive September 1, 2007 2007-09-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20070911011817/http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/000_stats/07/ut1.htm 11 September 2007 dead http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/gen/ap/FBC_T25_Arkansas_St_Texas.html McCoy tosses 2 TDS but Texas shaky in 21-13 win Austin American-Statesman Cox Enterprises Vertuno, Jim September 1, 2007 2007-09-01 May 2016 medicmedichttp://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/longhorns/09/02/0902bohls.html Horns put forth lackluster effort - If this becomes a pattern, look for a 7-5 season. Austin American-Statesman Cox Enterprises Bohls, Kirk September 2, 2007 2007-09-02 May 2016 medicmedic Next, they beat the TCU Horned Frogs in a game that required Texas to recover an onsides kick.https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=272510251 https://web.archive.org/web/20171212193510/http://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=272510251 dead December 12, 2017 McCoy, Texas regain composure to handle TCU ESPNU.com The Disney Company September 8, 2007 2007-09-08 For their first road game of the season, the Longhorns were the first opponent for the University of Central Florida (UCF) Knights in their new stadium.http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/050906aaa.html UCF Football to Face Texas in New On-Campus Stadium in 2007 - 2005 national champs will be first opponent in new stadium. UCF Athletic Department 9 May 2006 2006-10-22 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080318200616/http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/050906aaa.html 18 March 2008 The Longhorns struggled in all three games and won by smaller margins than expected.https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=272582116 https://web.archive.org/web/20170807114728/http://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=272582116 dead August 7, 2017 Horns' McCoy, Charles team up to end UCF's upset bid ESPNU.com The Disney Company September 15, 2007 2007-09-15 The Longhorns lost conference games to the Kansas State Wildcats,http://tamu.scout.com/a.z?s=187&p=2&c=685742 Sunflower Showdown Next for No. 24 Cats Scout.com College Football News October 1, 2007 2007-10-06 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110716021408/http://tamu.scout.com/a.z?s=187&p=2&c=685742 2011-07-16 the Oklahoma Sooners,http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2007/10/09/Sports/Brown.Says.Losses.Not.Bad.Luck-3020587.shtml Brown says losses not bad luck Hale, Cody The Daily Texan Texas Student Publications October 9, 2007 2007-10-11 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080616123945/http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2007/10/09/Sports/Brown.Says.Losses.Not.Bad.Luck-3020587.shtml 2008-06-16 and the Texas A&M Aggies.http://www.aggieathletics.com/sports/games/boxscores/MFB_2160_TA12-UT.HTM#GAME.PLY Box Score Texas A&M Athletics Department November 23, 2007 2007-11-25 https://web.archive.org/web/20071126060901/http://www.aggieathletics.com/sports/games/boxscores/MFB_2160_TA12-UT.HTM#GAME.PLY 2007-11-26 dead They hung on to avoid upset attempts by lower-ranked Nebraska and Oklahoma State, the latter-game involving a 28-point fourth quarter comeback by the Horns.http://www.stillwater-newspress.com/osusports/local_story_307235716.html How much can one football fanbase take? Moore, Roger Stillwater-newspress.com Stillwater News Press November 3, 2007 2007-11-03 https://web.archive.org/web/20071106010127/http://www.stillwater-newspress.com/osusports/local_story_307235716.html 6 November 2007 dead UT concluded their season with a 10–3 record by winning the 2007 Holiday Bowl against the Arizona State Sun Devils, another first-time opponent for Texas.http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/college_football/20071228-9999-7s28holiday.html Horns have a ball - Texas rides record-breaking first quarter to high-scoring rout of Arizona State Schrotenboer, Brent SignOnSanDiego.com Copley Press December 28, 2007 2007-12-29 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080613212403/http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/college_football/20071228-9999-7s28holiday.html June 13, 2008 They were ranked tenth in the final AP pollhttps://www.espn.com/college-football/rankings?seasonYear=2007&weekNumber=1&seasonType=3&pollId=1 2007 NCAA Football Rankings - Final - Associated Press ESPN.com The Disney Company 2008-01-08 and in the USA Today coaches' poll.https://www.espn.com/college-football/rankings?seasonYear=2007&weekNumber=1&seasonType=3&pollId=2 2007 NCAA Football Rankings - Final - Coaches Poll ESPN.com The Disney Company 2008-01-08 References 2 Texas Longhorns Category:History of Texas Longhorns football Texas Longhorns football suspensions