This article is based on a sports commentary column originally published at collegesportsmaven.io in June 2019. It covers a series of notable off-field incidents in American college and professional sports.
Urban Meyer’s Legacy: Wins, and a Troubled Roster History
Urban Meyer’s record as a college football coach is difficult to dispute. He built undefeated seasons and national championship teams at Utah, Florida, and Ohio State, establishing himself as one of the most successful coaches in the modern era of the sport.
However, by mid-2019, Meyer had stepped away from coaching—citing health reasons—and was preparing to work as a college football analyst at Fox Sports. His departure from the sidelines brought renewed scrutiny to the conduct record of players from his programs.
Most significantly, former Florida defensive back Tony Joiner—a team captain during the Gators’ 2006 national championship season—was charged with murdering his wife. The case drew immediate comparisons to Aaron Hernandez, another former Meyer player at Florida who was convicted of murder and later died by suicide while incarcerated.
Reports at the time indicated that approximately 31 players were arrested during Meyer’s tenure at Florida, with additional arrests—many for lesser offenses—recorded during his time at Utah and Ohio State. These figures prompted ongoing debate about player recruitment standards and coaching accountability in high-profile college football programs.
Horse Racing’s Safety Crisis: Santa Anita and Suffolk Downs
The 2019 Santa Anita Park meet in California became one of the most controversial in horse racing history. By June 2019, 31 horses had died during the meet—a figure that alarmed the public, animal welfare advocates, and sports officials alike.
The Los Angeles Times publicly called for the meet to be shut down before its scheduled conclusion. The controversy was compounded by the fact that the Breeders’ Cup races were scheduled to be held at Santa Anita that fall, raising serious questions about whether the sport could address its safety problems in time.
Meanwhile, Suffolk Downs—a historic track in East Boston with more than 80 years of history—announced that it would hold its final live racing days on June 28 and 29, 2019, after which it would operate as a simulcast-only venue. The closure served as another data point for those arguing that horse racing as a live spectator sport was in long-term decline in the United States.
Terry Bowden Returns—as an Unpaid Intern at Clemson
Terry Bowden, son of Hall of Fame coach Bobby Bowden, had a long head-coaching career of his own that included stints at Auburn and Akron. After being let go from Akron following the 2018 season, Bowden made an unconventional return to football: joining Dabo Swinney’s staff at Clemson as an unpaid intern at the age of 63.
Bowden simultaneously enrolled in a graduate program in athletic leadership at Clemson—an unusual but arguably admirable demonstration that professional development in sports has no strict age ceiling.
UTEP QB Kai Locksley Suspended Following Arrest
Kai Locksley, who was the starting quarterback at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and the son of Maryland head coach Mike Locksley, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, marijuana possession, and unlawfully carrying a weapon. Following the arrest, Locksley was suspended from the team pending further investigation and lost his starting position.
Texas A&M Player Arrested After Dispute Over Tacos
In what may be the most unusual entry in any sports incident log, Texas A&M defensive back Derrick Tucker was arrested and charged with assault following a physical dispute with another individual. The cause of the altercation, according to reports: a disagreement over tacos.
Tucker’s case served as the kind of story that columnists and sports commentators reach for when making the point that off-field incidents in college athletics span the full spectrum—from the tragic to the genuinely inexplicable.
Source: collegesportsmaven.io (June 2019). Original reporting attributed to TMG sports commentary. This article summarizes incidents as reported at that time; legal outcomes for individuals mentioned may have changed since publication.