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Marshall's J.J. Johnson Kicked Off Team Save Email Print
Posted: 4:54 PM Jul 20, 2008
 Last Updated: 3:48 AM Jul 21, 2008
 Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
58 comments
A | A | A

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) - Marshall University defensive back J.J. Johnson has been kicked off the team.

Marshall says the senior was dismissed after he was arrested early Sunday morning. Marshall says Johnson was charged with driving under the influence and driving without insurance.

Head football coach Mark Snyder says he kicked Johnson off the team for continuing selfish behavior that is unbecoming of a Marshall player.

A message left with Marshall to speak with Johnson was not immediately returned Sunday.


STATEMENT FROM MARSHALL HEAD COACH MARK SNYDER:

"Because of J.J.'s continued selfish behavior that is unbecoming of a Marshall University Football Player, he will be dismissed from our program."

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Posted by: Bobby P on Jul 24, 2008 at 01:36 PM
Hey herd fans more scholarships for real athletes look at the bright side:-)
Posted by: Molly on Jul 23, 2008 at 11:23 PM
Anonymous--did you see the 2 cars he hit?! One was totally demolished and the other one has atleast $10,000 worth of damage. If someone was standing on that street corner, they would have absolutely been killed. I think getting kicked off the football team is the very least amount of punishment this REPEAT DUI OFFENDER should have received. Not only did he make a ridiculously idiotic decision once, he did it twice.
Posted by: ANONYMOUS on Jul 23, 2008 at 03:38 PM
I know J.J personally and yea he made some bad choices but who doesn't.. I'm sure he realizes and will learn from this.. i don'r believe that he should have been kicked of the team... like someone else had said... what about the other players that have been arrested on drug charges or drinking earlier in the summer and they have yet to be dismissed from the MU football team!! So I don't agree with coach snyder!!!
Posted by: Robert P. on Jul 23, 2008 at 03:03 PM
So what's JJ going to do now ????? I was there when this whole thing went down and he was smashed just like the two cars he hit, who is left to clean up the mess that he created by smashing up a few cars like it was a demo-derby on a Sunday afternoon. I think everyone is forgetting the real victims in this crime, yes it was crime he committed, they are the people who have to pay for the property he damaged since he has no insurance. Now, not only has he done what looked like $20k-$30k in damage's, but he has also tarnished the name of the football program and Marshall University. All I have to say is that I'm glad my tax dollars no longer going to pay for the education of someone that has no respect for the city of Huntington, Marshall or its people. - Oh and lets not forget these players do receive peridium money to live on, provided by Marshall University which I guess it wasn't enough to purchase liability insurance but conveniently enough to get drunk on and run around town!
Posted by: Angry Alum on Jul 23, 2008 at 01:35 PM
It's about time one of the Marshall football players had to deal with the consequences of his actions. But what about the rest of the DUIs, rapes, theft, and various behavior issues of the players? The sad thing is, until the money stops flowing these boys are allowed to do whatever they want and still get their scholarships. Maybe this is the beginning of a new era in Marshall football. Maybe these "children" will finally be held accountable. I doubt it, but it's a nice thought. I, for one, will never attend a Marshall football game and will never donate to the University until the same amount of money is used to pay the professors as is used to pay coaches. Afterall, students are supposed to be there for an education not to play games.
Posted by: brooke on Jul 23, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Hey people want to talk about white people dont get kick out for doing anything. Well look at pete rose he got get out of baseball just for betting and these football players are doing drugs and drinking and they still get to play. So I think white men are getting the bad end of the stick.
Posted by: Pablo on Jul 23, 2008 at 11:11 AM
In response to "Anonymous" (the one that claims to be a 26 year old white female). Your post below leads me to inform you that you are still "immature" and "irresponsible" when you make claims that I'm a racist. You label me as "uneducated." I have a B. A. in a liberal arts degee. I have a B. S. in a science degree, and my masters in teaching. And you state that I would never tell this (whatever you're accusing me of being racist about) to someone "face to face." Well, wrong again. I do and will continue to do so until we root out all racism in America, whether it be to white racists or to black racists. Now, since I've informed you on how wrong you are, concerning me, perhaps you'll just sit down and shut up about things you don't know about.
Posted by: Daryl on Jul 23, 2008 at 10:02 AM
take a chill pill booger eater! Watch out for those 80mph drivers on 119 south toward Logan...yeah right!
Posted by: joe on Jul 23, 2008 at 09:19 AM
Article states "dismissed for continuing selfish behavior". Knew the rules,broke the rules,probably knew the punishment. End of story.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 23, 2008 at 08:41 AM
Maybe this is why Marshall hasn't had a good football team...they are all out getting wasted and have hangovers. Honestly, I think that if they are getting full rides, they shouldn't be allowed to drink or go to bars. That should be a standard rule. I have been sick of the way these players act, I have witnessed their behavior on and off campus. I didn't like Randy Moss either. He is a true example of a punk who should have been kicked to the curb. Now, because he was given chance after chance, he is now making alot of money when someone who was a good person with the same amount of talent didn't get a chance.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 23, 2008 at 12:44 AM
Oh no! Now Marshall is going to be horrible at football this season. Whoops, already are
Posted by: booger on Jul 22, 2008 at 10:17 PM
sea ya (thats for all you proof readers) SEE YOU LATER ALLIGATOR
Posted by: Chad on Jul 22, 2008 at 08:11 PM
He wasnt a great player anyway, he was always getting burnt on the field. If we are going to get back to championship form we need better players than JJ Johnson. I do feel bad for the guy, but sometimes you have to learn the hard way.
Posted by: MU grad on Jul 22, 2008 at 07:29 PM
I want to give kudos to Coach Snyder for having the guts to try to make these kids see some of the other consequences of their actions, not just the legal record. Way to go Coach!!
Posted by: Lisa on Jul 22, 2008 at 07:16 PM
He is one ugly guy.
Posted by: Reesa on Jul 22, 2008 at 07:15 PM
Looks like people on here are playing the race card. Aw, poor little black boy. In the wrong place at the wrong time, people hating on us cause we're black. Get over it. Go to school on one of your african american scholarships..study black history month... and don't forget the naacp! In reality you'll lay on your buddies couch, get you foodstamps, and live off my taxes.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 22, 2008 at 03:17 PM
And to the Ashland fan about thugs if that what you consider a THUG then I guess Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie are THUGS!!You are hilarious and need to stop posting meaning less comments. You make no sense and sound like a straight RACIST!!This is a argument that you will not win so stop while you ahead!
Posted by: Ron on Jul 22, 2008 at 03:10 PM
Good job! This was the right thing to do. Now a law-abiding player who wants to be a role model can take this joker's place and succeed. We don't need players like JJ. We need role models for kids, student-athletes in the strictest sense of the word.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 22, 2008 at 01:35 PM
I am 26 white female & I got a DUI at age 19. Mostly because I was very immature & irresponsable at that age. I am now 26 & it took me lessons like that to become the responsible person I am 2day. I am not a thug. I am a mother of two, & have a wonderful job here in H-town. I know he is a role model being a football player, but it wouldn't have been an issue if he wasn't a football player. Maybe this will be a lesson for all MU players, but I wouldn't label him or any other player as a "thug"...far from it! Most of them that I have met think they are GQ (no offense, I mean that somewhat as a compliment). I think most of the ppl who make racial or bigomist comments are very ignorant & uneducated! They would never say these things to anyone face-to-face. So that is why I undermind any stupid comments such as Pablo...b/c he is a racist (maybe not in this story, but he was in another one). GOD BLESS all of you!
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 22, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Race issues...who thinks this guy got kicked off the team because he was black? That has got to be one of the funniest things I have heard. If anything, he got more advantages from being black. For everytime someone plays the race card, I would like someone to gripe about what has happened to all the other races. If anything, people would learn that it crap happens to everyone, no matter what color they are. And, usually the ones that are using racism as an excuse are the ones that did wrong and just haven't learned from it. Which is quite scary given the amount of people that whine on here daily about race issues.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 22, 2008 at 10:51 AM
As a Marshall alumna,Herd football fan and a"coach"I applaud Coach Snyder for disciplining his players and expecting them to act as representatives of the university.Sure we needed him on the field,but knowing right from wrong is more important.I think JJ,like a lot of college kids,has made bad decisions and mistakes-it's part of growing up.As a student athlete,regardless of which sport,you are a representative of the school and must always keep that in mind.As for MUPlayer-JJ was listed on the roster as a Senior(as a college athlete this would have been his last year of eligibility)had he been a Randy Moss he would have gone on to the NFL by now.I happen to know JJ's family- they are very nice respectable people.Probably facing them will be far worse than Coach Snyder.I met the Johnson's,by chance-not in WV-through another sport in which another family member particapates.The times I have spoken to JJ he was extremely polite.FYI:I'm white and grew-up&live in an all white area in WV.
Posted by: Mike on Jul 22, 2008 at 09:56 AM
When is someone going to wake up and demand that these college players must have morals, and to do the right thing not the wrong. It seems all we see is another college athlete in trouble with the law. Maybe we need to make them sign contracts for the scholarships, stating a penalty for violating laws and the rules of the program. As a general rule nothing happens to them. We the spectators need to demand better actions of our athletes. If they cannot then withdrawl your support, be it as a fan or financial. The school will then demand better.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 22, 2008 at 09:43 AM
To all the people hating on here about THUG this and THUGH that..Im sure your one of those people who steady be at every game wishing you could be half as cool as those THUGS!!Its seems that all the people want to down MU football for having WHAT YOU ALL CALL thugs but it looks to me as all those BIG schools recruiting those THUGS are winning...So look at records before you start calling out THUGS!
Posted by: Linda on Jul 22, 2008 at 05:33 AM
If you do the crime, you pay the time. Should not matter who you are or if you play football at Marshall. Drinking and driving kill and hurt people and it's wrong.
Posted by: D on Jul 22, 2008 at 01:25 AM
hey, if he can't be a positive role model, then POOF be gone !!!!!!!!!!! mwah ha ha ha ha ha ha ..... ignorance will get u what u deserve...
Posted by: FAN FROM ASHLAND on Jul 22, 2008 at 01:13 AM
In my book you break the law youre a thug, what the difference out here drinking an driving than stealing hub caps. NOT much its still against the law. way to go coach it they cant follower the rules and the law, tell them to pack there clothes that you can replace them with someone that can, I WILL BACK you 100%.
Posted by: Daryl on Jul 21, 2008 at 10:55 PM
who cares?
Posted by: Gregg on Jul 21, 2008 at 10:43 PM
It is about time college sports coaches enforced a higher standard than just how fast you can run or how much you can lift. I WISH TO GIVE COACH SYNDER A STANDING OVATION for his tenacity and ethics. Let's be proud and yell "We Are Marshall" because we promote champions on the field and in life! Oh, JJ - take a few days to deal with your bitterness and then work to better and change your life. Just because you can't play ball for Marshall anymore doesn't mean your life is over or that Coach Synder just destroyed your life. Son, Coach Synder may have just saved your life and given you more held than you can ever thank him for...Him too!
Posted by: Cindy on Jul 21, 2008 at 08:09 PM
I am glad Snyder can kick players off the team, he definitely can not coach them...
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 21, 2008 at 07:39 PM
mu player, yeah Randy was a lucky one huh? His record is quite shady too though so I wouldn't want either one of them to represent me.
Posted by: Pedro on Jul 21, 2008 at 06:44 PM
He was'nt being picked on or "profiled" by the cops. He hit two parked cars and would have taken off were it not for all the people that saw it happen. Oh yeah, he didn't have any insurance either. Hope this "great guy" that "just made a bad choice" can some how come up with the money to "pay for his mistake." The reason he was probably dismissed from the team is maybe because he's now been arrested twice in the last two months.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 21, 2008 at 06:04 PM
thats whay he got fro punshment
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 21, 2008 at 05:57 PM
jj was given a few chances. i am black and i say he cannot keep representing mu and get away with his shenanigans. i don't dislike him, but he needs to think before he acts. evidently, he knows not to drink and drive, just like not to drink and play. he is not stupid, just a little misguided by himself. no he's not a thug, he's just a young man who hasn't quite gotten his priorities straight. give him time to think and maybe he can play again someday and get the education his mother wants him to have.
Posted by: raymond on Jul 21, 2008 at 05:49 PM
I keep hearing the word THUG. Just how does DUI = THUG? You never hear a white man get called a thug after a DUI. AS for crime if you check WVRJA web page you will see that about 20 to 25 people get arrested in the huntington area every day, only 1 or 2 on average are black. You never hear the outrage about the white people commeting crimes.
Posted by: Dawn on Jul 21, 2008 at 05:35 PM
Im so sick of these kids that have a real chance to make something of there self and all they want to do is get drunk or do drugs and then go off driving. If you want to drink or do drugs stay your a-- home and off the road. You could kill somebody so these football,doctors and lawyers bring it on there self. It would'nt be a bad choice if he killed someone or even your family member. So the coach done the right thing.
Posted by: ana on Jul 21, 2008 at 05:06 PM
Oh my god, stop playing the race card. He was given a shot the first time he got in trouble. He did it again. He knew the consequences to his actions. He is selfish to those who may have been on the road too and to his teammates who will not get to play with him this fall. Out of state license plates? Who cares? Race? No. He was driving drunk. He now has to deal with the ramifications of his actions.
Posted by: anonymous on Jul 21, 2008 at 04:19 PM
I agree with anonymous what gives you the right to call someone a thug. I know business men, lawyers etc. that have been picked up for DUI. I knew this kid and he was not a bad kid just made a bad choice that he will deal with for the rest of his life. And please tell me what makes him a thug? Because he is black, plays football, drinks? Because those are not the things I would look at to say someone is a thug. Give him a break he will have to pay for his mistake just thank god that he never hurt anyone and maybe he learned from this. He will be leaving soon and I wonder what he will say about Huntington. They probably would not have even pulled him over if he was not black and had out of state license on his car. HPD needs to go to the hood and pick up those thugs......
Posted by: jasmine on Jul 21, 2008 at 04:15 PM
i know jj he is good people. not about what you say here is true. marshall will miss him i will to. why do you peole pick on the black players for marshall. we play good sports and support the teams
Posted by: Question on Jul 21, 2008 at 03:39 PM
Did anyone pass spelling test in school?
Posted by: football sucks on Jul 21, 2008 at 02:50 PM
It won't be long before another college picks up this low life, who cares if he can't read or write....just as long as he can play ball...sheesh.... typical behavior btw
Posted by: MU player on Jul 21, 2008 at 02:50 PM
If J.J. was as good as Randy Moss he would still be on the team!
Posted by: about time on Jul 21, 2008 at 02:19 PM
If Pruett was still coach, he would have waled with no consequences...nice work snyder
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 21, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Oh and to the person who made the "Thug" comment! I guess you never been around a true thug because Mr. Johnson is far from a thug! I think its hilarious how people sterotype with no idea!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 21, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Its funny how eveeryone is now agreeing with the decesion to dismiss James Johnson when several months ago everyone hated Snyder! I know James Johnson personally and I know that his actions got the best of him! For Synder to dismiss one of his starters with no explanations is crazy! We needed him and he knows that! This shows the type of relationship a coach has for a player that has had a cleaned record this fur and to be a starter who has been nothing but GOOD to this program! L;ets see wherer we got this year HERD!
Posted by: Ashley on Jul 21, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Way to go Snyder!!!
Posted by: About time on Jul 21, 2008 at 09:56 AM
I say good job coach its times these wanna be thugs learn they are being rewarded for play ball with a chance of an education. but they are not gods and they are expendable now if {thug u} or wvu as it is known locally would only follow your lead and dicipline some of their players maybe we would have something to be proud of in this state
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 21, 2008 at 09:38 AM
I would rather see MU have the worst season in the history of the school, then see a bunch of thugs take the field.Good call coach!!
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 21, 2008 at 08:56 AM
I am happy that the Coach took action. In high school, you cannot participate in certain sports or academic programs if you get in trouble and I never understood why football players from MU didn't have to abide by the same standards. I don't care if they are a good player or not, get them out of here. They represent our community, not just our college, and when they think they are above the law or rules, they need to go.
Posted by: Gonzo on Jul 21, 2008 at 08:16 AM
Heck Yeah! Been waiting for this too happen for a long time now..It's great that they are finally saying something to the one's who think they can get away with anything..but for some reason..I believe this is just a rare instance and alot ore other players when do the same but won't be punished..
Posted by: Pablo on Jul 21, 2008 at 08:07 AM
Its about time Marshall University starts standing up to these selfish, spoiled brats that think they are immuned to the laws, rules, and regulations just because they play football (sports) at Marshall University. Thank you, coach!
Posted by: carl on Jul 21, 2008 at 08:06 AM
when j.j.was behind the wheel he wasent thinking about the the team only what he wanteds to do.he is a good player but the ongoing problems can not and will not be tallerated! good call coach.
Posted by: MU Fan on Jul 21, 2008 at 07:49 AM
Kudos to you, Coach Snyder!
Posted by: i on Jul 21, 2008 at 07:37 AM
i think its great if they are going to represent us they need to be held to a higher standard it should have been done in the late 90 and early 2000s as well good call
Posted by: Sara on Jul 21, 2008 at 07:19 AM
Way to Go! It is about time these players face the consequences!
Posted by: cc on Jul 21, 2008 at 05:07 AM
I saw and heard several marshall players calling bookies at boling green ohio the day they lost when they were favored to win . betting against their own team I was told to keep my mouth shut then but know it seems everyone is trying to do the rite thing . guess thats a change for the good of the team .
Posted by: I commend snyder on Jul 20, 2008 at 08:48 PM
Way to go Snyder - Marshall already let one criminal get a free ride on WV. I watched the criminal the other day as he made a major sports announcement and it was evident if he got a college degree it was given to him by his choice of words utilized in the interview.
Posted by: C.J. on Jul 20, 2008 at 05:44 PM
Good call, Coach! I, for one applaud any effort to reduce the "thug factor" and the negative impact of self centered players in the MU Program. Thundering Herd Football deserves the very best from players, coaches, and fans.
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