Off the Field Troubles Continue for Florida State, RB Dalvin Cook Issued Arrest Warrant
Written by Ryan Wright
The culture built around the Florida State program by head coach Jimbo Fisher is in serious question after a second Seminoles player was arrested in as many weeks after both players punched women at a bar.
The newest allegation is against true sophomore running back Dalvin Cook. Per reports, on Tuesday, June 23, Cook and other FSU football players gathered around the victim outside of a popular Tallahassee bar. The victim said the men tried to convince her to go home with them but she said no, she had a boyfriend. One player, sophomore wide receiver Travis Rudolph got close to her so she pushed him away. Cook then stepped in front of her, asked why she pushed Rudolph away, and then began hitting her.
Cook was later identified by the victim, Madison Geohegan, via a photo lineup.
A controversial figure in recent FSU off the field allegations, State Attorney Willie Meggs, interviewed both Cook and Geohegan before issuing an arrest warrant on misdemeanor battery.
On June 24, freshman quarterback De’Andre Johnson was caught on tape punching a woman at another bar near the FSU campus. He was suspended and then dismissed from the program a couple of days later.
Cook is expected to be a critical part of the Florida State offense in 2015. Last season he rushed for 1,008 yards with eight touchdowns after playing sparingly in the first five games of the season. He closed the season strong rushing for 144 yards against Florida, 177 yards against Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship Game, and 103 yards against Oregon in the CFB Semifinal Round against Oregon at the Rose Bowl.
A statement released by Fisher regarding the arrest warrant issued for Cook read, “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.”
Fisher added, “I remain committed to educating our young men and holding them accountable for their actions. We will do better. I will not tolerate anything less.”
Fisher took over the helm at Florida State in 2010 following three seasons on the sidelines as Bobby Bowden’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Fisher has turned the program around winning 10 games in 2010, 9 in 2011, 12 in 2012, and 14 in 2014. Last season, the Seminoles remained one of the top teams in the nation making the first ever college football playoffs despite a media storm centered on then starting quarterback Jameis Winston.
Fisher came under fire for his handling or mishandling of Winston following rape allegations that came forth during FSU’s run to a national championship during the 2013 season. Winston continued to display off the field antics throughout his time at FSU that questioned his maturity and morals including a shoplifting charge, a BB gun incident that resulted in apartment windows being shot out, an on-campus pellet gun incident where Winston reportedly was hunting squirrels, and another attention getting situation at the FSU student union where he stood up on a table and yelled a derogatory slur towards women.
Being a state school that is funded with monies outside of the Tallahassee area and growing concerns of the culture being bred under Fisher’s watch, great scrutiny will be given to his handling of Cook’s charges. The situation is even more disheartening knowing that Cook, 6’0”, 203 pounds, punched Geohegan, 5’4”, 140 pounds, after she feared for her safety surrounded by several other football players in another potential rape case.
Another red flag, very little has been mentioned about how two under age football players are given access to local Tallahassee bars.
At the time of this posting Tallahassee police are allowing Cook to turn himself in to authorities.
Photo credit: orlandosentinel.com; No. 5 Jameis Winston with No. 4 Dalvin Cook.