GAINESVILLE, Fla (AP) -- Top-ranked
Florida will be without one of its best pass rushers against No. 2
Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game.
Defensive end
Carlos Dunlap was arrested early Tuesday and charged with driving under the influence, just days before the biggest game of the season.
Coach Urban Meyer says Dunlap won't play Saturday, adding that there is no timetable for his return. Meyer says he is "stunned" by Dunlap's actions.
Dunlap, a 20-year-old junior from North Charleston, S.C., was arrested at 3:25 a.m. He was released on his own recognizance about six hours later during his initial appearance at the Alachua County Jail. Judge Mary Day Coker admonished Dunlap for underage drinking, and said he cannot possess alcohol, illegal drugs or prescription drugs that are not prescribed for him.
He was told not to drive a motor vehicle without a license, and if caught driving without a license, he would violate the terms of his release. The judge released Dunlap without bond because he has no prior adjudications and no failures to appear in court.
Wearing a jail-issued, green-and-white striped jumpsuit, Dunlap spoke softly when asked questions and always replied "Yes, ma'am," to the judge.
According to Gainesville Police spokesman Keith Kameg, an officer was dispatched to check out reports of a reckless driver near campus. When the officer spotted the car stopped at an intersection, he noticed the red 2000 Chrysler was not moving through several green lights.
The officer found Dunlap slumped over and asleep at the wheel. The officer woke up Dunlap through a cracked window, but he "would only open his eyes momentarily and then fall back asleep," Kameg said.
The officer unlocked the door, put the car in park and turned off the ignition. Dunlap got out and "was very groggy and had difficulty speaking and listening to instructions," Kameg said.
According to police, Dunlap had watery and bloodshot eyes, and there was a smell of alcohol. Dunlap failed a field sobriety test, refused a breath test and was booked.
Dunlap, the defensive MVP of the Bowl Championship Series national title game in January, has started every game this season for the defending champs. He has 35 tackles and is tied for the team lead with seven sacks.
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This 2008 photo provided by the University of Florida, shows Florida football player Carlos Dunlap. Top-ranked Florida could be without one of its best pass rushers against No. 2 Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap was arrested early Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009, and charged with driving under the influence, just days before the biggest game of Florida's season. (AP Photo//Univ. of Florida)
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This 2008 photo provided by the University of Florida, shows Florida football player Carlos Dunlap. Top-ranked Florida could be without one of its best pass rushers against No. 2 Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap was arrested early Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009, and charged with driving under the influence, just days before the biggest game of Florida's season. (AP Photo//Univ. of Florida)
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Comments (Page 1 of 2)
DUMBASS
I'm supprised Urban did anything about it. Wow.
give it a rest would you ??? Bet you are upset that you can't complain some more about it
Gators would whomp the Crimson even without Tebow. No worries,unless Ingram rushes for 410 yards lol. That 'Bama QB is inept and people tend to understimate Fla's D,Gators by 21 no matter who plays.
your and idoit Bamas going to kick Gator tail.The ELEPHANTs are going to stomp a mudhole in those drunks.
boderekisa5now...Statistically, that "inept" QB has virtually identical passing stats to Tebow (as of last week). That same "inept" QB has NEVER lost a game at the high school or college level (including a Texas state title under his belt). Gators may still be the deeper team (MAY), but that over-confidence that you wear so proudly will be the downfall of your team. Florida showed this year that they are beatable, and you are going to need all of your weapons to put down a team that started preparing for this game 24 hours after their last encounter. I'll route for Florida in the national championship if they do beat Bama, but I have a good feeling that Florida is going to suffer the upset at the hands of an ever-improving Tide. Florida's dynasty is coming to an end...it's changing at the hands of the Crimson Tide. ROLL TIDE!
I agree that McElroy doesn't deserve that criticism. There are always juvenile jerks. As far as Bama winning: it's a fair bet, but I'm putting my money on the Gators, regardless of the spread.
No matter who wins, they will be national champs.
How has Florida shown this year that they are beatable, as you claim? Who beat them? Must have missed that.
Young man made a mistake, is now paying for it, we'll all move on.
Hopefully he has learned a lesson and it has a positive impact on his life.
Go Gators!!!!
Well, we're all humans. We do commit some mistakes every now and then. These are just the unexpected happenings in the world of sports. By the way, these delicious food recipes and freebies for cool fans, will surely make you feel good!
boderekisa5now- Your a dumbazz. I hate alabama wost then most but comments like that make you seem just stupid. I will say this over the last 4 weeks florida has improved and alabama has just kind of flatlined, but to say florida will blow this team out just stupid. You probaly arnt even a true florida fan just started pulling for them when the started winning.
If you notice this program is beginning to resemble the Miami teams of old. Anything to draw attention to themselves, and most of it bad. Eye gouging, number 11 throwing the ball in the stands Sat., and now this incident.It's all about themselves and not team.
Allpromaterials- The suspension will hurt the gators, but probably will not cost them the game. Big time programs recruit football players, not choir boys (although florida happens to have one at qb). Last week when Hernandez threw the ball in the stand after the best run-after the catch I have seen from a tight end, Urban Meyer stared him down. When your number 1 everyone is gunning for you and Florida needs (and does) to play with a lot of emotion. DUI was stupid of Dunlap and irresponsible, but it's common among college kids. Unless it's armed robbery (Tennessee) or group brawls on campus (MSU) i wouldn't put the paddy wagon on standby for the entire team.
TALKIN SH*T BOUT DA GATORS!???? YOUD BETTER WHATCHOUT B4 THEY COME WITH A SHUTOUT. NASTY A$$ RED TIDES GONNE GET DA GATOR CHOMP!!!!!!! THE GATORS RIDE OUT IN2 THE BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME WITH THE BEST PLAYER IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL HISTORY ...TOUCHDOWN TIMMY TEBOW
lol it's hard to do anything if your looking up from your butt side on the ground.It will be a good tight game. No run away on either team. this is and should really be the national championship game. may the best team win. Go BAMA
Oh B.S. Alabama is going to rip Timmy a new ***hole.
I heard he was out partying with some Bama alums.
allpromaterials,
OMG -- the player actually threw the ball into the stand after the touchdown. I think at the minimum he should be kicked off the team. Can you show you are any more of a Gator Hater. You want to find any little thing to B---about. Give it a rest will you ????
What??? He threw the ball into the stands?
Oh the humanity. He should lose his scholarship and be sentenced to 1500 hours of community service. Then locked away for life.
Get a life.
jgflounder...I know that no one has actually beaten Florida, but they did have a couple of games where they were on the ropes (not saying that Bama didn't). I just saw weaknesses that I didn't see the past couple of years. I wasn't talking trash; I'm just not sure that they are the best team in the nation right now (though I felt that they were the last two years). Lock Tebow in the backfield and make him pass...if that happens, then he doesn't have a much better chance than McElroy does. This is going to be a battle of defenses and a good one at that. Whoever wins...go SEC! ROLL TIDE!
urban meyer am suprised he didnt suspend him for a series of downs,,,,,stand by boys,,,,bama will get screwed like the rest of the teams thats had the gaytors beaten, watch and see