With two of his players facing misdemeanor battery charges for incidents that took place just days apart, Florida State University (FSU) head football coach Jimbo Fisher has imposed a strict ban on bars for his team.
As Deadspin pointed out, the Tallahassee Democrat's Jim Henry first learned of the ban on bars, as well as the school bringing in "professionals" presumably to counsel Fisher's players.
Word is FSU coach Jimbo Fisher met with his team earlier today. Laid down the law; bars off limits to players. Moving forward with...
— Jim Henry (@JimHenryTALLY) July 11, 2015
bring in professionals, as President Thrasher indicated in statement yesterday, to meet with players. Proactive as promised. — Jim Henry (@JimHenryTALLY) July 11, 2015
Backup quarterback De'Andre Johnson was seen on surveillance footage from within a local bar on June 24 punching a woman in the face in a confrontation that apparently started because the two were jostling for position at the counter. A police report from the next day indicated running back Dalvin Cook punched a woman numerous times outside another bar apparently for shoving a teammate who was unsuccessfully trying to get her phone number.
In both cases, the alleged victims (one is a student at FSU, one is not) were 21-year-old females and the football player was at the respective bars underage. Johnson was suspended indefinitely and then dismissed when the surveillance footage reached the Internet. Cook was suspended indefinitely, but remains on the team as of Monday afternoon.
"Recent events at Florida State University involving members of my football team have brought a lot of attention to the school and program," Fisher said in a statement, according to CBS Sports. "It is important to me that our fans and public be aware that I do not tolerate the type of behavior that was captured on video and that was most recently alleged. We spend a good deal of time educating our student-athletes about appropriate behavior and their responsibilities as representatives of Florida State. The majority of our players are exemplary, but clearly we must place an even stronger emphasis on this, and I personally promise we will."
FSU President John Thrasher has publicly backed his coach in dealing with the allegations against his two players.
"As I have previously said, I have no tolerance for the type of behavior alleged in these cases," he said in the statement. "We expect all of our students, especially our student-athletes who represent this university in the public spotlight, to adhere to the highest standards."
