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.

This afternoon came news that Nick Saban and/or the University of Alabama had dismissed four football players arrested earlier this month for their involvement in a pair of violent on-campus robberies.  That news has once again stirred the blood since this site — and in particular this writer — initially called for two of the four accused to be dismissed immediately after their arrests.  (Those two players had already confessed to police that they had committed the crimes.)

I have seen many responses in our comment boxes and in my email box today that echo the responses I saw then: “What’s wrong with getting all the facts straight?”

Well, in my opinion, when a player confesses to a violent crime there are no more facts to get straight.  End of story, there’s the door.

But in reality, the majority of people who’ve taken me to task for my opinion — some of whom claimed I was leading a witch hunt or a lynch mob — have simply been defending Saban and Alabama.  I know it.  You know it, too.

And that’s the led me to wonder something…

If Saban had immediately dismissed the two players who had confessed to police, would the same people who criticized my opinion have sent us messages claiming Saban had led a witch hunt?  Would they have said, “Where’s the due process, Nick?”  “Why the rush to judgement, Coach Saban?”

I’m going to guess that the answer is no.  In fact, I’ll bet that some of those who chastised me would have praised Saban for running a tight ship, for taking no bull, etc, etc.

This wasn’t about finding justice for the accused, it was about defending Saban and Bama.  Do you really believe any school’s fans would shout so loudly for patience and due process — a legal term that has no bearing in this situation — if a rival school’s players had admitted to knocking two students unconscious?

Again, I think we all know the answer to that one.

In the end, the two players I believe should have been given the boot immediately have been tossed from Alabama’s team.  The other two players have also been given the heave-ho.  When the names Eddie Williams, Tyler Hayes, DJ Pettway, and Brent Calloway are mentioned moving forward, there will be an “Ex” before the words “Alabama football players.”

Considering their crimes, Bama got it right.  Regardless of timing.

The playing careers of four University of Alabama football players arrested and charged with robbery and/or fraudulent use of a credit card earlier this month have ended in Tuscaloosa.  Nick Saban announced today that all four freshmen – Brent Calloway, Tyler Hayes, DJ Pettway, and Eddie Williams — are “no longer associated with the (Alabama) football team.

A statement from the University of Alabama said: “UA’s judicial review has been completed.  The four students involved in the robberies on campus are no longer enrolled in UA.”

Saban said:

“Based on all the information we’ve received and gone through and tried to determine the future of the four guys that got in trouble, those guys are no longer associated with the football program.  Their actions do not reflect the spirit and character that we want our organization to reflect.  It’s obviously very disappointing and unacceptable what happened…

I also think that I’ve been really proud of over the last five years that our team has done a very good job and shown personal responsibility and how they represent the university, what they’ve done in the community, in the classroom, off the field.  And they’re going to continue to do as much as we can in personal development, character development in our program with education to try to help guys have a chance to be more successful in life…

Some people learn by words, some people learn by consequences, some people can’t learn.”

It was only a matter of time before Saban and/or the University of Alabama dismissed at least the three players directly involved in the robberies.  We felt that Calloway might survive as he had only used a stolen credit card.

In the end, it is a privilege to represent one’s university as an athlete, not a right.  A violent criminal act should end that privilege posthaste.  Especially if one has already admitted to committing said act.

Here’s hoping the young men turn things around and make the most of any second chances that are afforded them in life.  But that second chance should not have come on the same campus where the two students they knocked unconscious continue to matriculate.

On a separate note, Saban also revealed today that receiver Danny Woodson Jr. has been suspended for a violation of team rules.

Update: With the suspension, Woodson, Jr. is not participating in the team’s offseason workout program and he’s not the only one.  Receiver Marvin Shinn has decided not to participate and will likely transfer, according to Nick Saban.  Both players redshirted in 2011 and were reserves in 2012.

Alabama is battling Texas for the top recruiting class for 2012, according to 247Sports.com.

Texas is currently ranked No. 1 in the updated class ranking by 247Sports. Alabama is second, followed by Michigan, Florida and Texas A&M.

Alabama’s top ranked prospects according to 247Sports include athlete Eddie Williams, wide receiver Chris Black and cornerback Geno Smith.

There are nine SEC schools ranked inside the top 25 (including Texas A&M).

1. Alabama
4. Florida
5. Texas A&M
7. LSU
10. South Carolina
11. Auburn
15. Tennessee
19. Arkansas
22. Georgia

247Sports has already started to rank the class of 2013. The top four looks good for the SEC.

1. Georgia
2. Alabama
3. Auburn
4. Texas A&M

Here are some recruiting notes from around the Southeast and nation this afternoon.

-It’s the often-asked question: Are recruiting rankings fair?

-Running back Brian Kimbrow is set to announce his college decision. Vanderbilt is considered the favorite.

-Here’s a look from CBSSports.com on what to expect during the July recruiting period in college basketball.

-There will be plenty of talent on hand at The Nike Opening in Oregon next week.

-Bobby Petrino has done well finding quality depth in his recruiting classes at Arkansas.

-Auburn and Clemson had a strong recruiting month in June, writes Jamie Newberg.

-Here’s a look at Alabama’s first 2012 commit, safety Eddie Williams.