(Update: Max Redfield has been kicked off the team, Devin Butler has been suspended indefinitely)
Here’s the full statement from Brian Kelly:
Here is Brian Kelly’s full statement. It’s very strongly worded. Overwhelming frustration with weekend’s events. pic.twitter.com/o1nDCMUUJo
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) August 21, 2016
In many ways, the Notre Dame football program is just like every other program all across the nation- they lose players to major malfeasance off the field. They have players who get in trouble, sometimes get arrested, and even jailed. We’ve seen this several times during the Brian Kelly era, with names like Tommy Rees, Michael Floyd and Carlo Calabrese, among others, making the police blotter in recent years.
When these serious situations arise at other schools, it doesn’t quite receive the same attention that it does at ND.
That’s the double edged sword of playing Notre Dame football- the lights are brighter, but so is the microscope.
No matter your actions, good or bad, you’re going to receive heightened attention for them. It comes with the territory when your program has produced 11 national titles and seven Heisman Trophy winners.
This morning, news broke that five Notre Dame football players were arrested and then incarcerated Friday night on various criminal charges.
According to ABC 57, Ashton White, Max Redfield, Kevin Stepherson Jr., Dexter Williams, and Te’Von Coney were stopped by an Indiana State Trooper late Friday night. The reason for the routine traffic stop was speeding, but police reports say the trooper smelled marijuana and, via a search conducted by a narcotics detecting police dog, officers confirmed the presence of both marijuana and a loaded handgun.
All five players were charged with possession, and found themselves incarcerated overnight. By Saturday afternoon, all five had been released on bond.
Redfield, Stepherson Jr., and Williams are facing an additional charge, possession of a handgun without a license. Here’s more via ABC 57’s Brandon Pope.
#NotreDame football's Max Redfield, Dexter Williams, Ashton White, Kevin Stepherson Jr., Te'Von Coney arrested in Fulton Co. #ndfball #irish
— Brandon Pope TV (@BpopeTV) August 20, 2016
Booking photos released for five #NotreDame players arrested in Fulton Co. for marijuana and handgun. pic.twitter.com/dzCGXkxeRA
— Brandon Pope TV (@BpopeTV) August 20, 2016
#BREAKING @IndStatePolice – Five #NotreDame football players arrested in Fulton County for marijuana and handgun pic.twitter.com/SsGSuUaHGc
— Brandon Pope TV (@BpopeTV) August 20, 2016
Paul Browne, Vice President for Public Affairs and Communications at Notre Dame released the following statement:
Any student arrested on a felony charge also faces dismissal from the university. The university will determine if additional sanctions should apply to any or all of the students charged.
There have not been any statements released from the attorneys of the players as of yet, nor a statement from Notre Dame football.
Adding to the drama and negative publicity, a sixth Notre Dame football player was arrested in the past 24 hours, in a separate incident. The university confirmed the arrest of a sixth player, cornerback Devin Butler, early Saturday morning in South Bend.
According to the Indy Star, “Butler was arrested on a preliminary felony charge of resisting law enforcement causing bodily injury to a law enforcement officer stemming from an incident outside a South Bend bar…The officer was taken to a hospital for treatment for minor injuries, including a sore wrist, he said. Butler remained held Saturday afternoon at the St. Joseph County Jail.”
Police reports indicate that the Butler incident arose from an alleged brawl inside the Linebacker Lounge and Butler’s allegedly shoving a woman.
Redfield, a senior, has plenty of experience starting at safety, but was widely expected not to start this season. Williams was expected to be one of the three running backs who would receive a major amount of carries this season. Stepherson was expected to be a major contributor to wide receiving corps that returns only player, Torii Hunter Jr., with any substantial experience.
The lack of experienced pass catchers was already an issue due to the season long suspension of the highly regarded Alize Jones. I t was announced a couple weeks ago that Jones would practice with the team this season, but not play due to his failure to meet academic standards.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.