Florida AD Scott Stricklin discusses discipline for WR Antonio Callaway at SEC spring meetings
By Andrew Olson
Published:
For the second offseason in as many years, the status of Florida WR Antonio Callaway is in question.
In fact when, UF athletic director Scott Stricklin was asked about Callaway’s situation on Friday, he asked for clarification.
Asked about his involvement in Antonio Callaway's situation, #Gators AD Scott Stricklin said, 'Which one?'
— Edgar Thompson (@osgators) June 2, 2017
Stricklin discussed the matter with the Orlando Sentinel’s Edgar Thompson at the SEC spring meetings in Destin, Fla. While he did not offer many specifics, Stricklin made it clear he will be involved in the decision that comes from Gators coach Jim McElwain regarding how to discipline Callaway for his May 13 marijuana citation.
“That’s a conversation for Coach Mac and me to have,” Stricklin told Thompson. “That’s not something I’m going to discuss publicly.”
“One thing you have to respect about Coach Mac is he has never shied away from discipline as a teachable moment. Candidly, to this point we’ve had an issue come up and he’s said, ‘Hey this is what I’m going to do’ and he’s handled it well. He has not shied away from having to use discipline in the past. He’s sat key guys in the past.”
McElwain’s decision on Callaway has drawn extra attention because of Florida’s Week 1 opponent, Michigan. The fact that this isn’t Callaway’s first off-field incident, as indicated by “Which one?,” has led for some to call for a more serious punishment than the one-game suspension other Gators have served for marijuana citations.
Callaway was accused of sexual assault last year and was suspended from the team for spring practice while the university investigated the matter. He was found not responsible in a controversial school hearing. Documents released after the hearing revealed that Callaway cited his marijuana use on the night of alleged assault as part of his defense, stating, “I was so stoned I had no interest in having sex with anyone.” Since Callaway’s marijuana use was not tied to a failed drug test or arrest, he was not further publicly disciplined.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
