But he's not yet out of legal trouble in the desert.
A warrant is expected to be issued for the Sooner sophomore defensive tackle, who did not show up for his scheduled arraignment, according to the Tempe (Ariz.) Municipal Court offices.
Granger, 21, was supposed to stand before judge Michelle O'Hair-Schattenberg about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday after being arrested Dec. 29, accused of shoplifting.
According to the Tempe court, O'Hair-Schattenberg has already signed the order for Granger's warrant.
Oklahoma sports information director Kenny Mossman said the university had no comment.
Granger was arrested at a Burlington Coat Factory inside Arizona Mills Mall.
According to Sgt. Mike Horn of the Tempe Police Department, Granger removed an anti-theft device and stuffed a jacket inside a bag.
He exited the store by walking past the cash registers without paying for the jacket, according to Horn. Store security stopped Granger and called Tempe police. Horn said Granger admitted to the offense before police booked him at the Tempe City Jail for one count of shoplifting, which is a misdemeanor.
He was later bailed out of jail by teammate Gerald McCoy for $500.
Coach Bob Stoops sent Granger home the next day and suspended him for the Fiesta Bowl.
Stoops said late last week that Granger likely would remain with the team but may face further punishment.
This season, Granger (6-foot-2, 307 pounds) was a second-team All-Big 12 selection after collecting 35 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks and a team-best eight quarterback hurries.
Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
WAH-WAH-WAH Another poor kid from who knows how bad of a home. He was probably beaten daily by his Grandma. It is NOT his fault. It is the fault of a society gone mad. That someone would actually be held responsible for a crime they commit is so ancient. I think he should be given a gas card that will allow him to drive back to Arizona in his Big Red Lexus.
Mr. Granger did an incredibly stupid thing. It doesn't seem like he had a history of such monumental brainlocks,based on Venables' reaction and the fact that he is still for the moment on the team. He deserves all the conseqences he might face, but how is he to get to Tempe? The school got him back to Norman,but he is on his own to make the court appearance in Arizona, I would think. With the NCAA looking over their shoulder,the Athletic dept. has to monitor the situation very carefully. Football players don't have many resources,esp. if they come from a background of limited means. It's a tough spot. If he had missed a court date here in Oklahoma, it would be a different story. Hope Demarcus has learned a big time lesson out of this mess
DeMarcus better hope that Sheriff Joe from Maricopa County doesn't come after him. He puts his prisoners in tents and feeds them on 19cents a day.. He has no mercy for anyone. His "return" rate is very low.
Hey J I believe OU is still leading in the rapists on campus category or have you alread forgotten the three rapists that helped take down Switzer. Don't throw stones if you live in a glass house. Fellow Cowboys Stoops is not a joke, he is one of the best in the business. He can't control his players 24/7. The point of this article to me is who is responsible for getting Granger to the court date? I think it is all on him and not OU.
Give me a break folks...I not only slipped Gerald the $500 to get DeyMarkusedItDownToFree out of jail....I gave him hush money to pay off the cops and the judge.....can you believe he kept the extra....Anyway...DeyMarkusedItDownToFree thought he didn't have to go back....he thought the skids had been greased.....Oh well....I'll get him taken care of until he runs out eligibility....then he's on his own.
Chris in Stoolwater - Gumby allows a child rapist to keep his scholarship at lOSUr, and you call Stoops a joke? No wonder people consider you and your brethren "dumb aggies".
Gang Rap. Is that some new kind of music! You made my point. These people who judge some kid, when they don't understand the circumstances are ridiculous.
J, OKC
Gang rap, players shooting each other, players beating their best friend into a coma, stealing gas, getting paid and not working for it.
For every finger you point there are 2 coming back at you. It’s really a silly game.
Now to you civil people out there. I'm sure this was just a mix up of some kind. It’s not like they don’t know were he is. Just like the Spears girl getting pregnant at 16 it's not the first time it's happened. Kids, and yes he is a kid, make dumb decisions. Hopefully he will learn from this and not make the same mistake again.
Peace
Buster, Yo momma's house - Jan 9, 2008 at 11:33 am
You people who judge someone without knowing the facts are hilarious! Notice the conspiracy theorists like A in Tulsa (dork) and Big Bad Chris in Stoolwater! You freaks just worry about your Aggies and how many of them will either get thrown in the pokie (pun intended) for either fighting(whataburger fight club -trademark pending), sneaking into bars, or raping minors. HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!!!!!!!!
well since the college is keeping him on the team they bear a little of the responsibility of seeing this guy takes full responsibility for his actions and see he takes care of the situation. He is young but old enough to know better and to appreciate his ability to be in college , be on a football team and I think maybe a second chance is not a bad idea but wait and see how he handles the first shot might be a good idea ,,,where are the parents in all of this ? He is not totally Bob Stoops responsibility either .......And by no way am I a Stoops fan but right is right and wrong is wrong and to put this whole thing on Stoops is wrong .......
Why is Stoops a joke? Because he's trying to give a kid a second chance? Come on! Who among us hasn't needed a second chance at some point? Let him without sin cast the first stone.
Until all the facts are known Granger should still be on the team. You people out there that want to "cut him loose" are very simple minded. The commitment between school and student-athlete is a two way street. You cannot have a positive impact on anyone if they are not around. Think back on all the "dirt bags" you went knew as a youth and how many of them turned out to be decent people? I have seen this transformation while in the Marine Corps. This is not to say Granger may turn it around, but this is a small investment in the LIFE of a young man who obviously needs help. This is college football , don't turn it into the NFL by making the players disposable.
I am sure that by Granger missing his court date and therefore having a warrant issued for him will leave Stoops no choice now. He will have to go public and say that he is off the team, but something should be done to find out exactly "why" he missed the court date. This young man sure has gotten himself into a mess of trouble and getting into more by the day! The first offense wasn't to bad, but jumping bail and not showing up is not a good thing. He surely isn't a dummy (in some ways) what the heck was he thinking?
Scott, Chickasha ....that was my first thought. The kid probably had no money for plane fair. As for the lawyer, he could have got a court appointed one. But the flight cost a lot of money.
Maybe he had no way of getting back to AZ. They did send him home on their dime. Not all football players are rich and have high powered lawyers and such. Why in the hell do you think he stole something in the first place?
Time to cut your losses Stoops! If this were a 3rd stringer he would have been gone last Friday. As much as I love OU we don't need this kind of publicity to add to our "reputation".
24
Prev
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Log in below or sign up (it's free).
Gang rap, players shooting each other, players beating their best friend into a coma, stealing gas, getting paid and not working for it.
For every finger you point there are 2 coming back at you. It’s really a silly game.
Now to you civil people out there. I'm sure this was just a mix up of some kind. It’s not like they don’t know were he is. Just like the Spears girl getting pregnant at 16 it's not the first time it's happened. Kids, and yes he is a kid, make dumb decisions. Hopefully he will learn from this and not make the same mistake again.
Peace