Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
Four Auburn football players have been kicked off the team after being arrested and charged with robbery, burglary and theft.
Mike McNeil, Antonio Goodwin, Shaun Kitchens and Dakota Mosley were all arrested early Friday morning in Auburn, Ala. Auburn police said that three black men entered a house about three miles from campus and one displayed a handgun. Police said they stole property.
After a motor vehicle stop, the four were arrested and a pistol and stolen property were recovered, according to Auburn police. Mosley is white.
The four players were charged with five counts of first-degree robbery, one count of first-degree burglary, which are both felonies, and one count of third-degree theft. All four were being held in the Lee County Detention Center on $511,000 bail.
Later Friday, Auburn coach Gene Chizik issued a statement saying all four players were thrown off the team.
“The players arrested in connection with this deeply troubling incident have been permanently dismissed from our football team,” Chizik said in a statement. “While we realize the legal process will run its course and these young men have a right for their case to be heard, playing for Auburn University is an honor and a privilege. It is not a right.”
Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs said in a statement: “This type of behavior will not be tolerated at Auburn. I fully support Coach Chizik’s swift and decisive action to dismiss these four student-athletes from our football team effective immediately.”
Goodwin, Kitchens and Mosley were all part of No. 4-ranked 2010 signing class. Mosley redshirted last season. Goodwin and Kitchens played primarily on special teams.
McNeil, a rising senior, led Auburn with 14 tackles in BCS title game. He was expected to return to anchor the Tigers’ secondary next season.
“I am extremely disappointed and embarrassed by the actions of these individuals,” Chizik said in a statement. “I want to personally apologize to all of those who were impacted by this senseless act, including the victims, Auburn University and the Auburn family.”
