The University of Alabama delivered some much anticipated news on Wednesday, announcing that they have dismissed four freshmen charged with either second-degree robbery or credit card fraud.
“UA’s judicial review has been completed,” Deborah M. Lane, Alabama associate vice president for university relations, said. “The four students involved in the robberies on campus are no longer enrolled in UA.”
Linebackers Tyler Hayes and D.J. Pettway, both 18, and defensive back Eddie Williams, 20, were dismissed after being charged with second-degree robbery for their involvement in two robberies of two students on the Alabama campus on Feb. 11. Both players were banned from campus pending a ruling from the Student Judicial Board.
Linebacker Brent Calloway, 20, was dismissed after he was charged with using a stolen credit card taken from one of the students who was allegedly robbed by his teammates. Calloway’s arrest was his second run-in with authorities. In 2011, he was charged with second-degree marijuana possession.
“Based on all the information we’ve received and going through and trying to determine the future of the four guys that got in trouble, those guys are no longer associated with the football program,” Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban said on Wednesday. “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.”
Williams confessed to robbing a student and then assaulting him by punching him in the head and face and kicking him in the ribs and back. Williams added that Pettway and Hayes watched him commit a second robbery, according to court records. Calloway confessed to using the student’s stolen credit card to buy snacks from a vending machine.
All four players were backups this past season as Alabama captured its second national championship. Pettway was named to the All-SEC freshman team after recording 2.5 sacks and four tackles for loss as a defensive end. Hayes amassed 14 tackles as a freshman, with most of his tackles coming on special teams. He had two tackles in the BCS National Championship Game against Norte Dame. Calloway only received 10 carries this season and Williams was not used, as the coaching staff chose to redshirt him.
But Saban is hopeful that all the players will learn from their actions.
“Some people learn by words. Some people can learn by consequences. Some people can’t learn,” Saban said.
Williams and Calloway are scheduled for preliminary hearings on March 19 in Tuscaloosa District Court.
