The Lindsey Conundrum
posted by Scott Hood on Tuesday, January 15, 2008
I respectfully disagree.
And, apparently, so does USC head coach Steve Spurrier.
The Lindseys latest brush with the law came exactly a month ago when Jordin was seriously injured when he was stabbed in the neck with a broken beer bottle and suffered potentially life-threatening injuries to his neck.
The incident occurred at 4 a.m. in - you guessed it - Five Points a/k/a the Bermuda Triangle for Gamecock football players.
An 18-year old student at Midlands Tech has been charged with assault and battery with intent to kill. Yeah, that’s pretty serious.
Here’s the problem I have with the argument of those who believe the incident was the “last straw” for the Lindseys – there’s no evidence on the table to prove they did anything wrong.
Are the Lindsey’s totally blameless in this matter? Maybe. Maybe not. We don’t know. The million-dollar question in this case is what led the Midlands Tech student to swing the broken beer at Jordin Lindsey.
Unfortunately, the police report is sketchy and devoid of some crucial details.
All we know right now is the defendant, through his attorney, will probably argue self-defense when the matter eventually comes to trial.
However, it’s important to note – Spurrier certainly has – that no criminal charges have been formally brought against either of the Lindseys in this matter.
If the Lindseys are guilty of anything, it’s stupidity. They shouldn’t have been in Five Points on a Saturday night at 4 a.m. They should have been home in bed getting some sleep before final exams begin.
Instead, their plans to celebrate the end of classes nearly ended tragically.
Like the old saying goes, nothing good happens between 12 midnight and 6 a.m.
This is not the first time the police have been called to an incident involving either of the Lindsey brothers in Five Points.
If you recall, Dustin was arrested along with Shea McKeen after a bar fight in March 2006. McKeen left USC shortly thereafter.
The Lindseys have missed a lot of football over the last two seasons. But a major reason for that has been their own undoing.
Dustin was declared academically ineligible after the Independence Bowl in 2005. He sat out the 2006 season and, after suffering an injury in last April's spring game, all but a few plays of the 2007 campaign.
Jordin played well in 2006 and was the Defensive MVP for USC in the Liberty Bowl win over Houston. But, like his brother before him, he was ruled academically ineligible for the 2007 season.
So he sat and watched.
Although they act like knuckleheads sometimes, Spurrier recognizes the Lindsey twins for what they are – very good football players that aren’t afraid to mix it up physically.
Here’s Spurrier in his own words: “One thing about the Lindsey boys, they can stop the run. They play tough. That’s the best thing they’ve got going for them. When they play, they play pretty dang tough.”
Yeah, they try to act tough sometimes on the streets. But, most importantly, they play tough on the football field.
I can assure you "tough" is not a word Spurrier used very often last season when he talked about the Gamecock defense.
Make no mistake, USC missed the Lindseys this past season. If you don’t believe me, go to the SEC’s website and check out the team defensive statistics.
Look where the Gamecocks finished 2007 in rushing defense. Oh yeah, there they are. Dead last. 209.3 yards per game.
Yuck.
Would that have happened with the Lindseys on the field? Possibly. But I think not.
In my opinion, Spurrier realizes he needs the Lindseys on the field for the rushing defense to improve in 2008.
So, unless the current case takes a serious turn in the wrong direction, you might see plenty of No. 41 and 44 on the field this upcoming season.
Of course, in order for that to happen, the Lindseys must hit the books hard this semester and stay out of trouble.
In short, stay the heck out of Five Points.
Please.
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Ron Morris of The State newspaper asserted in a recent column that South Carolina should dismiss Dustin and Jordin Lindsey, the enigmatic twins from Mobile, Ala., and revoke their scholarships.
I respectfully disagree.
And, apparently, so does USC head coach Steve Spurrier.
The Lindseys latest brush with the law came exactly a month ago when Jordin was seriously injured when he was stabbed in the neck with a broken beer bottle and suffered potentially life-threatening injuries to his neck.
The incident occurred at 4 a.m. in - you guessed it - Five Points a/k/a the Bermuda Triangle for Gamecock football players.
An 18-year old student at Midlands Tech has been charged with assault and battery with intent to kill. Yeah, that’s pretty serious.
Here’s the problem I have with the argument of those who believe the incident was the “last straw” for the Lindseys – there’s no evidence on the table to prove they did anything wrong.
Are the Lindsey’s totally blameless in this matter? Maybe. Maybe not. We don’t know. The million-dollar question in this case is what led the Midlands Tech student to swing the broken beer at Jordin Lindsey.
Unfortunately, the police report is sketchy and devoid of some crucial details.
All we know right now is the defendant, through his attorney, will probably argue self-defense when the matter eventually comes to trial.
However, it’s important to note – Spurrier certainly has – that no criminal charges have been formally brought against either of the Lindseys in this matter.
If the Lindseys are guilty of anything, it’s stupidity. They shouldn’t have been in Five Points on a Saturday night at 4 a.m. They should have been home in bed getting some sleep before final exams begin.
Instead, their plans to celebrate the end of classes nearly ended tragically.
Like the old saying goes, nothing good happens between 12 midnight and 6 a.m.
This is not the first time the police have been called to an incident involving either of the Lindsey brothers in Five Points.
If you recall, Dustin was arrested along with Shea McKeen after a bar fight in March 2006. McKeen left USC shortly thereafter.
The Lindseys have missed a lot of football over the last two seasons. But a major reason for that has been their own undoing.
Dustin was declared academically ineligible after the Independence Bowl in 2005. He sat out the 2006 season and, after suffering an injury in last April's spring game, all but a few plays of the 2007 campaign.
Jordin played well in 2006 and was the Defensive MVP for USC in the Liberty Bowl win over Houston. But, like his brother before him, he was ruled academically ineligible for the 2007 season.
So he sat and watched.
Although they act like knuckleheads sometimes, Spurrier recognizes the Lindsey twins for what they are – very good football players that aren’t afraid to mix it up physically.
Here’s Spurrier in his own words: “One thing about the Lindsey boys, they can stop the run. They play tough. That’s the best thing they’ve got going for them. When they play, they play pretty dang tough.”
Yeah, they try to act tough sometimes on the streets. But, most importantly, they play tough on the football field.
I can assure you "tough" is not a word Spurrier used very often last season when he talked about the Gamecock defense.
Make no mistake, USC missed the Lindseys this past season. If you don’t believe me, go to the SEC’s website and check out the team defensive statistics.
Look where the Gamecocks finished 2007 in rushing defense. Oh yeah, there they are. Dead last. 209.3 yards per game.
Yuck.
Would that have happened with the Lindseys on the field? Possibly. But I think not.
In my opinion, Spurrier realizes he needs the Lindseys on the field for the rushing defense to improve in 2008.
So, unless the current case takes a serious turn in the wrong direction, you might see plenty of No. 41 and 44 on the field this upcoming season.
Of course, in order for that to happen, the Lindseys must hit the books hard this semester and stay out of trouble.
In short, stay the heck out of Five Points.
Please.
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.