UT's Taylor & Griffin Under Criminal Investigation

by **MrMustang1965** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 7:39 pm

KDFW-TV in Dallas just broadcast the names of the two players under investigation as Ramonce Taylor & Cedric Griffin along with their photos.

By Tony Plohetski
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Friday, December 16, 2005

Austin police are investigating allegations that individuals involved in the University of Texas athletics program committed robbery and assault in two separate incidents in September and earlier this month.

Police said this afternoon that one incident happened Sept. 4, and the other happened early Dec. 10, a Saturday morning.

"Due to the fact that these crimes are still being investigated, APD cannot provide additional information," a police statement read.

According to a police report, the Dec. 10 incident occurred at 2:59 a.m. at 500 E. Seventh St. near the Sixth Street entertainment district. The report said that police took a call concerning an attempted robbery by assault in which a suspect used his hands, fist or feet to assault a victim.

The second incident happened Sept. 4 at 3:06 a.m. The report did not list the location, but it stated that officers were dispatched to an assault and that an automatic handgun was involved.

University athletic officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

by **PlanoStang** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 8:28 pm

Details at 10 :!:

Don't follow UT much anymore, and don't care........You gonna post after
10pm :?:

I guess I'll rread it here if you post an updatte.........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

by **Insane_Pony_Posse** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 9:03 pm

surpise surprise UT hoodlums on the loose again!

remember the star UT baseball player that in the last 5 years was still allowed to play in the post-season after being arrested for assault..... he beat someone senseless at 2am and then the cops found him hiding in a car near the crime scene....and he wasn't "punished" until after the season was over ....so they could "fully investigate"....and as usual the charges were dropped and it was all called a "mis-understanding".

Lets not forget University of Texas star running back Cedric Benson was arrested in April 2002 for misdemeanor marijuana and alcohol possession, but the charges were dropped due to a lack of "sufficient evidence". Ummmmm those Texas Longhorn hoodlums must have great attornies!

Ole Cedric Benson was arrested AGAIN in Oct 2003 and charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing, when he reportedly kicked down an apartment door in an attempt to recover a television he claimed had been stolen from him.

Benson pleaded no contest and was sentenced to eight days in jail. But of course Ole Cedric didn't actually serve 8 days in jail because the Austin jail was over-crowded and "didnt have room" for him. Ummmmmm wow I wonder if you or I kicked down a door we would be turned away at the jailhouse doors with a "sorry we're too crowded".

I suspect if this is true against the current Longhorn players......"there won't be time to investigate this until after the big game"....after all these are "fine young men" that should be allowed to play.....and if guilty they can be suspended after the season is over!

Hey I wonder if these UT Players are honor students or are part of the shameful 66% of UT Football Players that are not graduating?

Maybe like mrydel says "would it really matter if we were playing in the big game"?

ps: why are prison uniforms orange?

by **mrydel** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 9:13 pm

Just to put my statement into proper context, I was speaking of graduation rates, not felonies.

by **mr. pony** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 10:57 pm

Mack Brown will announce soon that it's all being handled in house.

by **mr. pony** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 11:00 pm

I'm sure Chip Brown and the Dallas Morning News will really be all over this......yeah, right!!

They've probably been sitting on this for a long time, (the sept. incident).

by **mr. pony** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 11:06 pm

And don't forget the carload of UT players pulled over on I45 near Madisonville a few years ago with marijuana smoke billowing out the windows. After an 'investigation', (w/ high powered lawyers involved). the charges were dropped.

Turns out that bad ol' Highway Patrolman shouldn't have pulled them over in the first place, because it's not a against the law to exit a freeway without blinking after all. Who-da thunk it??

I guess if he'd found a dead prostitute in the trunk during the stop, we'd have to overlook that too. :lol:

by **RedRiverPony** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 11:28 pm

Gosh-n-golly, I'd feel just awful if Coach February had to explain to the media that these guys were suspended -- IF they're guilty of these allegations, of course -- for the big game, or even better, have to explain that getting obliterated by USC had "nothing to do" with these two being suspended for the game. Gosh, my heart would just break -- UT just seems like such a fine, clean-cut program.

by **ALEX LIFESON** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 11:55 pm

This happens every year, the sewer out of ut continues to flow with thugs, scum, and riff raff. But hey, they have a great team right?! :twisted:

by **Sam I Am** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 8:38 am

Some coaches either recruit thugs or lack control of their players. Switzer at OU was the worst. A while back ARnkansas could have been called the Raperbacks. Even R.C. Slocum at aTm had a few bad moments int he dorms. But I agree as an SMU/UT double alum that the record in Austin under Mack Brown is below standards academically and criminally. Which proves that if you win BIG, then you can do no wrong. The worst part of sports is the arrest reports that we read almost daily.

by **ALEX LIFESON** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 9:22 am

For all of you people that scream, "the DMN always put UT on the front page"..............RELAX! the story on their LATEST criminal activity, is on page 13-C!!! :wink:

by **Insane_Pony_Posse** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 9:30 am

Saturday, December 17, 2005 Â·

Texas cornerback Griffin talks to police

By JIM VERTUNO
AP SPORTS WRITER

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas cornerback Cedric Griffin has talked with police, a lawyer advising the player said Friday night, amid reports authorities are investigating an alleged assault and a robbery they believe might have been committed by Longhorns athletes.

Police would not identify the suspects, say how many are being investigated or if they are members of the second-ranked Longhorns football team, which is scheduled to play top-ranked Southern California in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 4 for the national title.

Three Austin television stations reported that the suspects are football players. The school said it had talked to the athletes and did not plan any action against them.

According to police, the incidents were an alleged armed robbery with an automatic handgun on Sept. 4 and assault and attempted robbery on Dec. 10. No charges have been filed.

Ken Oden, a lawyer advising Griffin, said the player has talked with police about a Dec. 10 nonviolent "trash talking" incident.

"I do think the notoriety and celebrity because of the big game coming up may be lending more drama to the situation than the facts would justify," Oden said

Griffin is a senior starter for the second-ranked Longhorns.

Athletic director DeLoss Dodds said the university was surprised police released the allegations and that the school did not plan any action against the athletes. (YEAH DELOSS GOSH WHY WOULD IT BE MADE PUBLIC WHEN PLAYERS FOR A TEAM PLAYING IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR ARMED ROBBERY & ASSAULT?????)

Although Dodds' prepared statement said the school has talked to two athletes, it did not identify them or what sport they play.

"We have followed up on the rumors that we are hearing and spoken with the two student-athletes who are alleged to be under investigation," Dodds said.

Austin police spokesman Kevin Buchman said his office issued the statement after receiving several inquiries from the media. He said police would not release more information.

by **ALEX LIFESON** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 9:41 am

I remember that huge front page story the DMN ran a few weeks ago on Mack Brown, when they quoted him begging those gangsters of his, to pleeeeze stay out of trouble! LOL!!! good luck with all that Mack!

by **Insane_Pony_Posse** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 9:48 am

hey give it a few days.....

the UT Scandal Control Committee is probably in high gear

I bet the Longhorns have more lawyers working on this than the
Watergate Committee.

this will all be re-named a "big mis-understanding"

of course the Dallas Morning News story on 13C will
become page 1C when it is announced that
"no wrong doing" was found among these "fine
outstanding young men" that are "student athletes for
the University of Texas"

And by-golly they can all play in the Championship.

by **Hoop Fan** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 12:47 pm

I have to say you media hounds are right about this. Page 13C? Disgraceful lack of consistency by the DMN.

UT's Taylor & Griffin Under Criminal Investigation

UT's Taylor & Griffin Under Criminal Investigation

Thugs at school

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