DJ Pettway — one of four Alabama football players dismissed from the team last week in connection with a pair of on-campus robberies — has been given permission to leave the state of Alabama to attend school in Mississippi. Yesterday a judge in granted Pettway’s request, but that request did not specify at which school Pettway intended to enroll.
Knowing the number of junior college in Mississippi, it’s likely a safe bet that the sophomore-to-be will take the juco route. As we’ve noted on this site before, a player could hijack a jet, do a year at a junior college, and wind up re-recruited a year later as a changed man. Junior college football is the baptismal font of collegiate athletics. Go in with a criminal record, come out with all your sins “warshed away.” (Yes, “O Brother Where Art Thou” is a staple at MrSEC.com World Headquarters.)
We have no problem with second chances, mind you, we’re just a bit cynical when it comes to the transformative powers of a few months in the juco ranks.
Pettway was charged with two counts of second-degree robbery on February 11th. Brent Calloway, Tyler Hayes, and Eddie Williams were also arrested in connection to the crimes and all were eventually dismissed from Bama’s football team along with Pettway.
