Oklahoma football signee Josh Jarboe told an Atlanta television station Thursday that he's still planning on coming to OU despite being charged with two felony gun counts late last week.
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“I still have my scholarship, I'm still going to Oklahoma,” Jarboe told JaQuitta Williams of WSB-TV. “If I don't go to Oklahoma, I'm going somewhere. This isn't fixing to just stop me.”
Jarboe, 18, was charged in DeKalb County, Ga., with theft by receiving a gun and carrying a weapon within a school safety zone stemming from a March 6 arrest.
“If you know me, (you know) I'm a good person. This is just a speed bump that has slowed me down,” Jarboe said. “I'm going to get up out of this and go on doing what I'm supposed to be doing.”
According to the police report, Jarboe and James Davis, 17, drove into the Cedar Grove High School parking lot about 3:30 p.m.
An assistant principal claims he then saw Jarboe grab a silver and black handgun from the back of Davis' car and tuck it into the waistband of his pants.
Police said the gun, a 380 caliber pistol, was loaded and stolen.
“I ain't never been in trouble. Never been,” Jarboe said. “I was getting dropped off for my track meet. It was in his car. That's it.”
Sooner coach Bob Stoops has declined to comment on the charges until the legal process plays out.
Jarboe was ranked the No. 10 high school wide receiver in the nation before signing with the Sooners in February.
The two felony charges leveled against Jarboe could carry stiff penalties.
Under Georgia gun laws, the minimum sentence for being convicted of bringing a gun to school property is two years in prison.
In addition, federal gun laws mandate that any student found guilty of bringing a gun to school must be expelled for at least one year.
Jarboe has been suspended from Cedar Grove pending a school hearing on the incident.
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Said taxpayers also live in a country that believes a person is innocent until proven guilty. Also, as ridiculous as his statement sounds, riding as a passenger in another person's car containing a weapon, without prior knowledge of the presence of said weapon in the car, is not a crime. Thus, by his own accord, he has not engaged in "criminal activity", as you suggested. Convicting somebody without due process in this country is a crime. As unfortunate as it may be for the tax payers of this state, their beliefs do not supersede this nation's laws. Do you not remember the Duke lacrosse debacle? Or, were you one of the administrators arguing for the players immediate dismissal? If so, how's the unemployment line?
Scholarships can be pulled at any time. He has only signed a letter of intent. There would not be a lawyer. The taxpayers, (or school), are just saying they are not going to pay for his education with state funds due to his criminal activity. It is the education that is important, the football is merely the means to obtain said education.
Neel, Stillwater, (I hope you have your shoes and shirt on for this!) you are proof positive that ignorance is not always bliss. Let me take you on a brief journey into the 21st century where, unlike the good 'ol days when people commuted by horse drawn wagon, there are strict procedures one must abide by due to the enormous amount of lawyers chomping at the bit waiting for you to make a mistake. If Stoops were to kick this kid to the curb, as you suggest, and the kid was later found innocent of all charges, Stoops would place him and his University in unprecedented legal hot water. Jarboe undoubtedly would be able to find a few lawyers willing to represent a kid found innocent by the courts but not by the highly visible public figure who controlled the fate of the kid's college football career. Whether we think the kid is innocent or not, the court of public opinion is not a valid defense when you are being sued. Legally, Stoops is doing the right thing by not doing anything, which I assure you is a result of a staff of legal experts advising him. Now, if you still feel Gundy's immediate response would be, "SORRY NOT COMING HERE," as you so eloquently state, then maybe--after now being enlightened as to how such reckless, cavalier behavior could jeopardize not only Gundy, but the university he represents--just maybe, you would like to reassess who the "class act" is.
Matt, I know this looks bad, but the police did not catch him with a gun on his person(the school official claimed that), he may have saw the gun and simply tried to hide it when the police were approaching, so he could be telling the truth, or lying through his teeth. What he knew or did not know can be answered by only 2 people him and the kid that owned the car. Yes it could be he saw the gun saw the cop and though I better put this out of sight so I don't get into trouble, or get his friend in trouble, or like I said he could be lying. Let's just wait an see not convict him before he has had his day in court, and if he is guilty what ever he gets he deserves.
Larry, you have to admit that it is pretty damning that he had the pistol in his waist band after grabbing it from the back. That proves; #1, he knew about the gun and #2, he felt the need to hide it any number of reasons (too young to be in possession, not supposed to be on school property, it was stolen property, and/or it has recently been used in a crime)
Does anybody think that maybe the kid has done nothing wrong? He has only been accused so far, and if accusations alone got you kicked off a team, with all the trash talk and accusations on this page OU and OSU could not field a team. Why don't we wait and see if the kid really is a fool(you know convicted).
Bill, Neel from Stillwater is the one who brought Gundy into it, not Alan. Personally, I dont think Gundy handled that situation poorly, nor do I think Stoops has handled things wrong SO FAR. I think it is right for them not to jump to rash conclusions. This kid is probably guilty, but what if charges are dropped because it comes out that he knew nothing about the gun and was just getting a ride to school with the wrong person? Like I said, I doubt that is the case, but it is the reason why coaches wait for all the information to come out. The media and the average joe's are the ones who jump to conclusions. Gundy did the same thing with Collins. What if he had cut him immediately and as it turned out that he was falsely accused?
When the best football player in a state isn't offered a scholarship by the state universities there is a problem. Think -Switzer - Michigan tight end and the problems he has been involved in.
Agreed Trey, Stoops is waiting for the conviction. As far as the Concealed weapons on campus route it would require CLEET training. And that requires fingerprints, background check, and psych eval. No way this guy gets it
Chris-Estherville, I am not making any commentary regarding OU in any way. I just find it ironic that here is a kid who is in a world of trouble because he brought a gun to school but the Oklahoma legislature is in the process of passing a bill--allowing guns in secondary schools. Regardless, despite my location, the buffalos are useless wastes of space in my opinion. And it was not just Barnett. McCartney's daughter was knocked up by Sal Aunese when he was the QB in the 90's. And do not forget Neuheisel. Oklahoma born and raised but I do admit that I bleed colors from 70 miles north of Norman. Every school has its issues. Stoops will probably do the right thing.
I'm even an OSU fan and I think Stoops is doing exactly what he needs to do. You have two different stories and for those that haven't been to the deep south it's even more racist than Oklahoma. He probably did it but you don't want to ruin a kid's life because some idiot assistant principal said he did something that he didn't. Look at this kid's grammar. Apparently he does need some education that he's not getting in Georgia. I have no doubt that when it becomes apparent that the principal is telling the truth, Stoops will cut the scholarship. Besides, you want to let Stoops talk to the kid or communicate it to him somehow personally before he airs is through the press. That's how people with tact would handle it.
If he doesn't graduate it won't be a problem anyway. He is already suspended and if the school hearing finds him in the wrong, he will be expelled for a year..meaning he will not graduate, hence no OU scholarship this year, hopefully NEVER!!
I think this kid is pretty arrogant. Who does he think is in charge? Not him. It was in my buddies car...right after you took it out of your wasteband.
Oh, the irony. Look at the front page of the paper now. Oklahoma is in the process of passing a law to allow concealed weapons on campuses. Admittedly, I have no clue about the conditions leading to this kid's arrest, but maybe he was just practicing for his upcoming stint at an Oklahoma institution of higher education.
Whatever dude, Stoops hasn't commented or acknowledged that hes still honoring the scholarship I'm sorry but this isn't just a speed bump...it's a speed bump that he was speeding over that did some hefty damage. I'm sorry stoops but any 18 year old kid carrying around a gun is not somebody that I want my kids looking up to saying "I wanna be just like him daddy." Football players have a higher code of conduct then most and he has a ways to go. Unless the police report is screwed and he didn't actually have a gun on him....I don't see him stepping foot on campus.
Brian & Kevin, Jaraboe is a genius, did you not read what he said: I ain't never been in trouble, never been. He's Rhodes Scholar material. Well, maybe not a genius and maybe he might make janitor somewheres.
well stoops has yet to say anything regarding this if it had been gundy it would be SORRY NOT COMING HERE have a good day.......some class act that stoopsy fellow is....proud of his thugs and criminals....
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