NCAA Football FanHouse

Marshall Reinstates A.J. Graham After Robbery Charges Are Dropped

Jim Henry — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:42:00 EST

Filed under: Marshall, Recruiting, Prospects

There's no doubt about it.

A.J. Graham -- Florida's Mr. Football - will soon be headed to join his new teammates at Marshall University.

Marshall University reinstated the Godby High School (Tallahassee, Fla.,) star's scholarship Thursday after armed robbery charges were dropped against the record-setting quarterback earlier on Thursday morning because Graham's alibi, according to his lawyer, is strong enough to create "reasonable doubt."

""Based on today's development, A.J. will have his scholarship reinstated," Marshall head coach Mark Snyder said. "We look forward to having him join our program and put this unfortunate episode behind him."

Graham, 18, signed with Marshall last Feb. 4 (National Signing Day) after setting school season and career records for pass completions, pass attempts, passing yards and touchdown passes.

A month earlier, Graham, who completed 244-of-396 passes for 3,870 yards and 38 touchdowns in 2008, was named Florida's Mr. Football as the state's top player. Previous winners include Tim Tebow, Leon Washington, and Daunte Culpepper.

Graham's dream of playing college football. however, appeared lost when he was arrested and charged with armed robbery May 26 in Tallahassee. Marshall University released Graham from his scholarship.Graham's trial had been set for Oct. 19 and he could have faced 10 years to life in prison had he been convicted.

"They can't prove the charges," Graham's attorney, Tim Jensen, told The Tallahassee Democrat.

According to the court document, three men were robbed about 11:45 p.m. May 23 by two men in a charcoal-colored gray/silver Chevrolet Impala. Court records state the three victims were on their way to a party, which Graham attended earlier in the evening. The investigation found that Graham's grandmother had a gray Impala registered in her name and the car was found in the driveway of Graham's home.

However, court records show the woman testified she drove the car to work the evening of the robbery and didn't return home until 11:35 p.m. A neighbor confirmed the woman's testimony and said the car didn't leave after that time. Court records state additional witnesses testified Graham attended the party with three other people and left around midnight.

Marshall is looking to rebound from last season's 4-8 record. The Thundering Herd open their season Sept. 5 at Southern Illinois.

Marshall Reinstates A.J. Graham After Robbery Charges Are Dropped originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Richard Goodman Arrested as Trouble Mounts for Florida State Receivers

Jim Henry — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:54:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State, Marshall, ACC, Police Blotter, Prospects

Florida State's list of available receivers continues to dwindle.

Richard Goodman, a senior receiver for the Seminoles, was arrested by Florida State University police Tuesday night and charged with aggravated battery, a felony. He was released on $1,000 bond. The charge, according to a sheriff's office spokesman, stems from an on-campus fight in November 2008 between members of the football team and members of a fraternity.

Goodman was suspended indefinitely from the team on Wednesday by FSU coach Bobby Bowden.

Trouble also has filtered into the local high school ranks, where star quarterback A.J. Graham, the state's Mr. Football Award winner who signed with Marshall University last February, was arrested on Tuesday by Tallahassee police on a robbery with firearm charge.

The Seminoles are down to one senior receiver in Louis Givens following Goodman's arrest. The charge stems from the on-campus fight Nov. 12, 2008 between football players and the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, then Goodman, 22, becomes the third FSU player to face criminal charges as part of that investigation. Fellow receivers Bert Reed and Cameron Wade faced misdemeanor battery charges from their alleged involvement in that fight.

According to FSU Police Department documents, police believe Goodman is the individual who swung a chair that struck a female in the face during the on-campus fight last November. Goodman's charge is aggravated battery with a deadly weapon causing great bodily harm. That's a second degree felony.

The FSU Police Department had been investigating the fight for six months, trying to establish the identity of the individual who used a chair to assault a female. The case received its break on April 2 when, according to police department documents, a female witness identified Goodman as the one who swung the chair. The witness picked Goodman out of a photographic lineup that included three FSU football players and nine other students.

Up until then, according to the affidavit, a positive identification had never been made. Since Goodman is charged with a felony, he will be suspended indefinitely, according to FSU's athletic department policy.

FSU receivers have been involved in their share of headlines.

Preston Parker, the 2007 team MVP, was kicked off the team after a DUI arrest in January. Corey Surrency's career officially ended this week when the NCAA denied the player's final appeal granting him another year of eligibility. Senior Rod Owens has been suspended indefinitely after he was arrested on DUI charges in April. Taiwan Easterling ruptured an Achilles in spring drills. Reed, Wade and Goodman also were suspended during the season last year for their reported involvement in a campus fight.

Latest College Football Images

In this undated photo released by the University of Kentucky, Jeremy Jarmon is shown. Kentucky defensive end Jeremy Jarmon has been ruled ineligible for his senior season by the NCAA because of a failed drug test. He said at a news conference Saturday, May 23, 2009, he had inadvertently taken a banned substance that turned up positive during a random NCAA test in February. An appeal was denied, in effect ending his college football career. (AP Photo/University of Kentucky)

In this Dec. 27, 2008, photo, Florida State's Corey Surrency signs autographs following the Champs Sports Bowl college football game in Orlando, Fla., against Wisconsin. The NCAA has denied Surrency's final appeal to play another year. The decision Tuesday, May 19, 2009, upheld an April ruling. It means the senior, who played just one year at Florida State, has used up his eligibility. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)

In this Nov. 1, 2008, photo, Boston College's Mark Herzlich plays against Clemson in an NCAA college football game in Boston. Herzlich, the Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the year, has cancer. Herzlich said Thursday, May 14, 2009, he was diagnosed earlier this week with Ewing's Sarcoma after feeling pain in his leg and will undergo more tests in his home state of Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

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Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, speaks to the media in Arlington, Va. on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno speaks to reporters in Arlington, Va., on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, speaks to the media in Arlington, Va. on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Taylor Stokes wears his letter jacket on the campus of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, May 1, 2009. Stokes was the first black scholarship football player at Vanderbilt, and has returned 40 years later to finish his degree. He will graduate on May 8. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Taylor Stokes wears his letter jacket on the campus of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, May 1, 2009, in front of a statue of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the founder of the university. Stokes was the first black scholarship football player at Vanderbilt, and has returned 40 years later to finish his degree. He will graduate on May 8. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner and Bowl Championship Series coordinator John Swofford, left, and West Mountain Conference Commissioner Craig Thompson, right, are sworn in before giving their testimony before the House Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Subcommittee hearing on the football Bowl Championship Series on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

In an interview with FanHouse last week, FSU quarterback Christian Ponder said he's determined to help the Seminoles improve their bruised image.

"I am trying to shine a new light on FSU and trying to change that negative image into a positive image, as well as trying to get this team back to being a successful team," Ponder said. "A lot of that depends on getting rid of these off-the-field issues and getting people to focus more on successes on and off the field, and forgetting about the things that don't matter and get us in trouble."

Graham, meanwhile, spent his high school graduation night in a cell at the Leon County Jail, according to The Tallahassee Democrat. The standout quarterback from Godby High was arrested at 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, less than two hours before the school's graduation ceremony.

Graham became the first Tallahasseean to earn Mr. Football honors for the state of Florida. He was also named the Tallahassee Democrat's Big Bend Player of the Year after leading the Cougars to the Class 3A state title game, where they fell 7-6 in overtime to Cocoa.

Graham, who selected Marshall over Clemson, Illinois and Kansas State, accounted for 4,434 total yards and 48 touchdowns last season. He threw for 3,870 yards and 38 touchdowns and ran for 564 yards and 10 scores. Graham ended his Godby career with single-season records and career records in pass completions, pass attempts, passing yards and touchdown passes.

On Wednesday, Marshall head coach Mark Snyder released Graham from his scholarship.

Richard Goodman Arrested as Trouble Mounts for Florida State Receivers originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 27 May 2009 11:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gruesome College Football Video Shows How Not to Break Your Leg

Brian Grummell — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:50:00 EST

Filed under: Houston, Marshall, Conference USA, Injuries, Video

In a game between Houston and Marshall tonight on ESPN, Houston freshman receiver Patrick Edwards added himself to the sports injury hall of fame while attempting to catch a pass.

The pass sailed just out of his reach in the back of the end zone and as he slowed down the proverbial unstoppable force met the immovable object -- in this case, an oddly placed metal cart a few feet from the back of the end zone.

A trip to the land of horrible ensued. Naturally, Edwards emerged from the carnage with a compound fracture of the leg. Unless snuff films and other assorted awfulness is your thing ('tis the season?), we're warning you this is ugly. Video after the jump.

This is why your state's department of transportation sets up those water barrels near exit ramps -- its better for your wayward car to smash some plastic than saw itself in half as it heads into several feet of solid concrete.

Edwards was afforded no such luxury.

Needless to say, Houston's miffed, Marshall's got some splainin' to do and the world is not a better place for this happening.

(Via Sports by Brooks)

Gruesome College Football Video Shows How Not to Break Your Leg originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marshall Thinks Its Cornerback Is Too Selfish

Brian Grummell — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:09:00 EST

Filed under: Marshall, Conference USA, NCAA FB Scandal

And by "too selfish" we mean he's no longer on the team.

Marshall has booted starting cornerback J.J. Johnson off the team for what was termed continuing selfish behavior. Johnson would've been in his third season as the starter this fall, and it obviously puts a crimp in the Thundering Herd's depth at cornerback.

I think in preschool that vague range of "selfish" conduct usually merited a timeout and a stern lecture. No sandbox time for you, kid! When you're an adult that gets you booted off your team. Of course the crimes were probably a little different, as he probably wasn't simply snagging teammates' toys and cups of awful tapioca pudding. At least we hope.

Anyway, I like that: "continuing selfish behavior". Completely vague, catch-all, awkward-sounding. Try using that next time when yelling at coworkers or the family pet.

Marshall Thinks Its Cornerback Is Too Selfish originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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