Friday, August 1, 2008

Jarboe dismissed from OU football team

A freestyle rap video by OU freshman Joshua Jarboe was released on the Internet Tuesday afternoon. In the video, Jarboe's obscenity-laced rap talks about guns and shooting people in the head. After plenty of debate on Internet message boards and talk radio, a conclusion to the situation has been rendered. Joshua Jarboe is no longer a member of the OU football program.

Jarboe's time at Oklahoma didn't last long
"We are disappointed in this outcome, but our complete review and this final decision is in the best interest of our program" Stoops said in a statement just released by OU.

"We outlined for Josh the expectations we had for him when he arrived and, unfortunately, those expectations have not been met. Josh needs to learn from this experience. We hope he can move forward in a positive manner."

Jarboe was arrested on felony gun charges March 6th, just a month after signing with Oklahoma out of Cedar Grove High School in Ellenwood, Ga.

Jarboe ended up pleading guilty to two felony charges relating to the stolen handgun. The charges were reduced to misdemeanors under Georgia's First Time Offenders Act.

The reduction of charges opened up the door for Jarboe to enroll at The University of Oklahoma.

At the time of Jarboe's admission to OU, Bob Stoops issued a statement concerning his troubled recruit.

"He became involved in a situation at his school during his senior year that certainly has caused us concern. At the same time, we have personal knowledge of Josh through our recruiting contact with him and from personal references from his school and individuals of authority in his life. We feel that he will be a positive contributor to our campus," Stoops said at the time.

Stoops was also quite clear at the time of his statement that no other incidents from Jarboe would be tolerated.

"We have already stressed to him that his citizenship is of the utmost importance. He understands that anything less than exemplary behavior will not be tolerated."

On Friday morning, The Oklahoman printed a story with quotes from Bob Stoops concerning the Jarboe rap video.

In the video, Jarboe rapped about guns and shooting people.

Shoot you in the head and you might be dead with a halo

So hold on, don't beg for your life

Hold on, don't ask please


The video was also laced with obscenities and crude references to women.

In the only public comment Stoops made concerning the Jarboe Internet video, the Oklahoma head coach was defensive of the cries to dismiss Jarboe from the team.

"Kick a guy off the team for what he says? We're starting to talk about everything kids say and do," Stoops told the Oklahoman late last night. "Now we're in people's homes, in their private spaces."

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