Tedford Comments on Arrest of Players

Recent arrests of players push Tedford into action
Friday, March 4, 2005
Cal coach Jeff Tedford said the recent arrests of two of his players were being discussed with everyone on the team. "Character is something we have a high priority on," Tedford said, noting he was in the process of meeting with each player individually. Wide receiver Robert Jordan and defensive back Bernard Hicks are due in court March 14 in connection with an incident stemming from a traffic stop last weekend. Jordan, a starter late in the season, is under investigation for possessing a concealed weapon and Hicks, out last year with a knee injury, is under investigation for possessing several bags of marijuana. Hicks has been suspended from the team pending the outcome. Both are freshmen. "They're young people," Tedford said of his players. "I hope they make good decisions, but sometimes they don't." Jordan was wearing a hunting-type knife, which was a gift from his grandparents, around his neck. Hicks denies he had any intentions of selling marijuana. A third player, wide receiver David Gray, was arrested in December in San Francisco on charges of carrying a concealed weapon. Gray said he was acting as peacemaker and had taken a gun from some party-crashers after they threatened some of his teammates following a team party in North Beach. All charges were dropped.
Tedford said the incidents do not indicate any shortcomings in his players.
"They're very young," he said. "So we're teaching."
Arrington honored: Tailback J.J. Arrington, a 2,000-yard-plus rusher last season, has been named the winner of the Glenn "Pop" Warner Memorial Trophy, given each year to the most valuable senior on the West Coast. Arrington was presented the award Thursday by the first winner, Eddie LeBaron, who won it in 1949 following his senior season at Pacific.
Arrington recently returned from the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, where he ran the fastest 40-yard dash of any running back. Arrington said his fastest time was 4.41. He also underwent strength testing and had interviews with a number of teams.
"He's got a great future ahead of him in the NFL," Tedford said.
Arrington said his agent expects him to be drafted late in the first round or early in the second.
Players gone: Two players have left school and will be attending junior college to make up academic deficiencies, Tedford said.
Freshman fullback Frank Summers and redshirt freshman quarterback Cary Dove won't be with the team next season. Tedford did not rule out the possibility of either player eventually returning to Cal. Game moved: Cal's game at New Mexico State has been moved to a Friday to accommodate TV. The game, initially set for Sept. 24 in Las Cruces, N.M., will be played Sept. 23 and carried on ESPN or ESPN2.