First-year University of Tennessee head football coach Lane Kiffin has been looking to raise the profile of his sleepy football program for months, calling out rival coaches in the Southeastern Conference and talking up the talent he is bringing to Knoxville.
Well, Kiffin now has more attention than he could have ever wished for, but it's of the unwanted variety.
The three UT players and a female friend were arrested for allegedly trying to hold up two people at an off-campus convenience store. Two of those arrested, Janzen Jackson (pictured middle), 18, and NuKeese Richardson (right), 18, are two prize recruits brought to Tennessee by Kiffin. Also arrested was Mike Edwards (left), 18, who is also on the football team, and Tennessee student Marie Montmarquet, 22, who was driving the car the men used, according to Knoxville police.
The two robbery victims told police they were approached by two men in black hoodies. One took out a handgun, which turned out to be a pellet gun, and told the victims, "Give us everything you got!" They didn't receive anything from the intended victims and left the scene before being apprehended by police.
Knoxville police charged all four with three counts of attempted robbery, and Montmarquet faces additional drug charges.
Ironically, Kiffin was on a telephone news conference with reporters earlier this week, saying how proud he was of members of his team because they had stayed clear of any off-the-field incidents this season.
The players' status on the team has not yet been decided, as an investigation in to the arrests continues.
Comments: (25)
Add a comment
By: John on 11/13/2009 4:53PM
Typical athletes, have an entitlement mentality, think they are above the law just b/c they can run or jump.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Dante on 11/14/2009 7:05AM
That just goes to show you how dumb some AA are. All that talent and they still feel the need to be thugs. I guess it's the ole' "you can take em out of the ghetto" thing.
Report This
By: M. Alexander on 11/14/2009 7:54AM
What does that suppose to mean ? Entitlements ! African-Americans in case you've been living under a rock are entitled to way more than this racist country has given them !
If your dumb ass knew your history, youw ould know that !
Report This
By: jessup1218 on 11/13/2009 10:45PM
People say blacks dont have enough opportunities. Well being a scholarship football player at an SEC school is a great opportunity. Why would they blow it. Its because Snoop Dogg, Jay Z, and Lil Wayne says you need to be a thug.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Mike on 11/13/2009 7:50PM
Come on girls - don't you realize thousands of arrests daily occur in the USA?
Why are girls always splattering the picture of some black with an insipid headline talking about 'this one's arrested for so and so'.
You never do it when any other race. What's your point?
It's clearly evident this is a female-headed site.
Your penis envy is so obvious.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Mike on 11/13/2009 7:56PM
Damn my man NuKeese - you never had a shot. Your mom was obviously some typical chick with a 6th grade understanding of the world and gave you a name that screams - ghetto psychobroad.
These wacky skanks are giving my people names like Jaiqueese, Jamaqueeka and this absolutely, petty, self centered, nonsensical girl stuff. Damn that estrogen makes yall straight up psychotic.
You'll be alright Nukeese. Get that education and have a good life and football career. Hopefully it's not dead. Yeah, I'd recommend you change your name to something respectful.
Your mom is obviously about 14 yrs older than you and hasn't a clue about life.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Mike on 11/15/2009 8:48PM
I owe an apology to Nu'keese and his mom. Damn, I didn't think it through. That name is actually $$$$ in the bank if one achieves a career in pro sports or any kind of entertainment field. Looks like he's planning along that route. You won't forget it. There's also a uniquely black style about it as well. I was wrong.
Why the angry comment?
Just the feeling of hurt seeing 3 18yrs older about to get wrapped up in a system from which there is no escape. A system, to my eyes, that's like a huge vaccuum cleaner on the black community and just sweeping up the male sex. It's the damdest thing and for me frustrating to see. I see alot of impotent moms crying and talking to the media but the dying and jailing is still going strong. Crime may be way down, but I bet the numbers of black young men 17+ wrapped up in the legal system isn't lower even though crime is down. The system's always targetted them and someone is not giving these guys proper guidance. The numbers scream that. Training for boys starts early.
Hey mom, hate is denying a son his father.
As kids I would have explained all the ways to avoid the traps and how to be safe physically. Estrogen just konks out everytime with testosterone. Ever son deserves his bio-father. I can't imagine anyone who would protect the kid better. It's frustrating to see these moms are unequipped to protect the boys but can the girls - and don't even hook a boy up with his father. That disgusts me.
Report This
By: M. Alexander on 11/14/2009 7:49AM
Well for starters, let me address the smart asses on here ! Lets be real honest here, all major college football and basketball programs come into the inner city for one reason, to recruit a kid who has above average athletic skills.
These same schools with coaches like Pitino, Calipari, Carroll, Boeheim, Kiffin, Stupps etc etc etc come to the inner city and pin their lofty NCAA championship hopes on the backs of kids who, for the most part have never ventured outside their own neighborhood.
Now these are taken from their comfort zones and are told how great they are, what superb athletic skills they possess and that they stand a good chance to make a team in the NFL or NBA and these kids and their families listen to all this talk and they are used and abused by the system both at the little league, high school and college level.
When they use up their eligibility and coach BEST-IN-THE-BUSINESS no longer needs them for their athletic prowess, these kids are often times dumped right back in the hopeless situation from which they came and often times they either end up working menial low paying jobs or turning to crime and no one gives a rat's arse about them unless they can use the kids athletic skills to enhance their own personal agenda.
All of the above mentioned coaches are millionaires many times over thanks to the sweat and skills of some inner city kids who happen to possess superb athletic skills and when the cheering stops the only left standing is the coach, the universities and the next round of inner city kids who haven't a clue at just used and abused they are !
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: T Gray on 11/14/2009 7:40PM
They were 18!! They have not even been able to use their "athletic prowess". The system is there to give them the opportunity. How they squander it is up to them. Don't try to justify the guilty.
Report This
By: chochip on 11/15/2009 3:48PM
Wow, this is sad, a product of whats been going on for years. These young men and women made poor choices, we have to start in our community and schools to give our kids a sense of self worth and history lessons. I graduated from Knoxville College which is a couple miles from UT and its a common thought of city slickers thinking that they can come to a small hick town and get away with commiting crimes. This has been happening since I was introduced to Knoxville 20 yrs ago. Many think because there is no security glass in the stores, gas stations and cabs they are easy marks. Not realizing that we are a minority in a racist city with cops waiting to arrest our black asses.
Reply to this Comment | Report This