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Tampa judge calls out Charlie Strong for USF arrests

Matt Fortuna
USF’s recent arrests have left a judge calling out coach Charlie Strong. (Getty)
USF’s recent arrests have left a judge calling out coach Charlie Strong. (Getty)

Charlie Strong just can’t win, it seems.

First he went three-and-out at Texas. Now he’s being called out by a public official in the court of law for the behavior of two USF players.

Judge Margaret Taylor sent a message to Strong on Wednesday morning for the recent arrests of two players, according to WTSP in Tampa Bay. Taylor was speaking during the first court appearance of Ladarrius Jackson, who was removed from team activities after being arrested on Monday on sexual battery allegations.

Jackson’s arrest came two months after the March arrest of Bulls defensive back Hassan Childs on aggravated assault and marijuana possession charges. Childs was kicked off the team.

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Taylor, the judge, mentions she graduated in the class of 1989, “long before there was a football team,” adding that she’s never been ashamed of being an alum until now.

From the TV station:

“And, I have a message for your coach, as well. Coach Strong, if you are listening, in the last couple of months there have been two arrests of your players for very violent felonies. This court, and I’m sure I’m not alone, questions whether you have control over your players. It’s fairly clear you do not have control of them off the field, and I guess only time will tell whether you have control over them on the field.

“I would implore you to think long and hard about whether being head coach at USF is a good fit for you before any other members of this community have to suffer at the hands of one of your players.”

Strong released a statement later on Wednesday expressing his disappointment that the actions of two have harmed the reputation of the program as a whole.

“In the short time I have been here our program has been built on character, discipline and family,” Strong said. “We have wonderful young men in the USF football program who choose to do the right thing every day. We are dedicated to recruiting young men of high character, and to consistently developing them with structure and frequent education regarding appropriate conduct and behavior, on and off the playing field. While I am shocked and saddened at the recent arrest of a member of our team, I am disappointed that the actions of two players over the last two months have harmed the reputation of our program, of our wonderful university and of my character. We have high expectations of our coaches, staff and student-athletes and we hold accountable those who act contrary to our values.”

Strong took over USF in December after Willie Taggart left to become Oregon’s coach. Jackson and Childs, the two arrested players, had been recruited by Taggart.

This is not to point the finger at Taggart for a couple of rogue players, and it is not to absolve Strong from any accountability whatsoever about what happens to players in a program that is now under his watch. But a court of law singling-out and essentially questioning a head football coach’s competence as a leader of men — about as direct and as harsh of a public admonishment of any coach in recent history — just doesn’t seem right in this case. The context of this current situation is delicate given that Strong’s been on the job for not even five months. But his previous history of discipline and accountability — a reputation that once earned him a visit from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to share input — stacks up, if not tops, darn nearly every college coach in the country. He deserved better.

For more USF news, visit RunningTheBulls.com.

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Matt Fortuna is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!