Jimmy Johns Booted From Tide Team

In the 2008 ’BAMA Football Yearbook, we mentioned the problems of discipline that have been a part of recent Alabama football teams. A prediction in that article was that “the first incident involving a rules violation or bad judgment or failure to perform in academic and citizenship areas is likely to draw wrath.”

Tuesday morning the incident was revealed. Jimmy Johns was arrested and charged with five counts of distribution of cocaine and one count of possession of ecstasy pills, felony charges.

Alabama Coach Nick Saban didn’t waste time. Shortly after the news broke, Saban, who is on vacation, issued a statement:

“Jimmy Johns has been dismissed from the team. This type of behavior obviously will not be tolerated and he is no longer a part of our program.”

Reports are that Johns had been the subject of an investigation by the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force (made up of all area law enforcement agencies). He was arrested Tuesday morning and bail was set at $120,000.

Although a police spokesman was quoted as saying that Johns apparently worked alone and without knowledge by any of his Alabama football teammates, his behavior follows a string of off-the-field issues by Alabama players. Johns, too, has had problems in the past, having been suspended from the team in the spring of 2007 for academic deficiency.

Johns was a back-up tailback the past three years, but following Alabama’s 2007 season was moved to middle linebacker. Late in the spring he was moved to strongside linebacker. Alabama coaches awarded him the Woodrow Lowe Linebacker Award for his spring work.