Bob Stoops boots Josh Jarboe after rap flap

Josh Jarboe

/> After also considering Florida, Georgia and LSU, Jarboe committed to the Sooners in January on national television during halftime of ESPN's Under Armour All-American game.

But in March, his status with OU was jeopardized when he and James Davis were arrested at Cedar Grove and charged with possessing a stolen gun and carrying a gun onto school property, both felonies.

According to police, Jarboe was caught walking to the back of Davis' car, pulling out a loaded .380 caliber pistol and tucking it into the waistband of his pants.

Jarboe was expelled from school, though he was able to earn his diploma by finishing his high school work online.

Charges against Davis were later dropped, while Jarboe pled guilty on both counts in May.

‘Lot of growing up to do'

A spokeswoman from the DeKalb County district attorney's office, however, said several administrators from Cedar Grove attended the hearing on Jarboe's behalf, which had an impact on the judge reducing the sentencing to two years of probation.

That included one of Jarboe's biggest advocates throughout the ordeal, his high school football coach Ray Bonner.

"He's got a lot of growing up to do,” Bonner said Friday. "When you get a second chance in this life, you have to take advantage of it. It's not hard.”

Bonner understood OU's decision, but expressed frustration with Jarboe being singled out in the rap culture.

"My players rap,” Bonner said. "It's a cultural thing.”

Bonner pointed to rap artist and Atlanta native Ludacris, whose new song "Politics as Usual” made headlines this week because of disparaging lyrics against political leaders.

"Ludacris can say whatever he wants to say, he doesn't care and he's a man,” Bonner said. "To Josh, he (thinks he) didn't do anything (wrong) because he wants to be a rapper.

Bonner said Jarboe has been in Atlanta since late last week and was preparing to return to Norman this weekend for OU's first practice on Monday.

"When he came in my office to talk about it, he dropped his head,” Bonner said. "He feels like he's let his family down, his friends down, the Oklahoma coaches down, but he ain't letting me down. To be human is to err.

"We just need to close this chapter and move on.”

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