The OFFICIAL 2016 College football RANDOM THOUGHTS thread

[Lee_Land]

You may have seen the police reports. Now, you get to hear about text messages allegedly exchanged between Miami Hurricanes running back Mark Walton and his accuser.

After exclusively sitting down on Thursday with Walton's attorney, Ricky Patel, I was shown the alleged text exchange between the accuser and Walton. The phone number listed on the text message thread did match the accuser's phone number listed on the police incident report.

Last week, I raised questions about the alleged incident and began to wonder if it was possible that Walton could have been setup.

As I reported on April 23, multiple sources confirmed to me that Walton is the suspect who's listed as "Salomon" on the Miami police incident report. The accuser told police the suspect was impersonating a cop, pulled her over, and groped her. Patel said that's far from the truth.

"Mark Walton was the victim here," Patel told me on Thursday.

This is where the story gets bizarre.

The alleged text exchange between Walton and his accuser begins Friday night, April 22, just before 11pm --- That's seven hours after the accuser told police about the alleged incident and about four hours before Walton was arrested.

In the text messages that I was shown, Walton's accuser starts by thanking him for making sure she got home in the early morning hours of April 21. She then tells Walton he should swing by her house.

After reading many more messages, there was one common theme: Walton's accuser wanted him to come over and quickly.

From what I saw, there were times she wrote to Walton that she was home alone and for him to hurry because she was going to fall asleep. Walton told her to take an Uber to his place and he'd have a driver take them out from there. She said no.

As time went by, Emojis and more messages came from the accuser's phone asking where Walton was since he had not shown up yet.

Just after 3am on April 23, Walton sent his accuser a text saying he had arrived. That was the last text sent. Minutes later, Walton was arrested.

Walton pled not guilty to the DUI charge and knowingly driving with a suspended license charge on Thursday morning, but was he baited into the entire situation?

"Mark was helping this girl on the side of the road, not harming her," Patel said.

Walton was suspended indefinitely by the University of Miami after the arrest, but I've learned he will be reinstated by the team after the athletic department began to gather more information.

The rest of the story? It appears far from over.

"They're [State Attorney's Office] actually going to put the officers under sworn testimony in order to determine how to proceed forward," Walton's other attorney Joey McCall said.

The accuser's attorney has been asked to comment, but is yet to respond.

Follow @AndySlater on Twitter



(Photo: Miami Herald)
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[Frump]

Herman has a lot of Texas ties.


1998 Texas Lutheran (WR)
1999–2000 Texas (GA)
2001–2004 Sam Houston State (WR/ST)
2005–2006 Texas State (OC/QB)
2007–2008 Rice (OC/QB)
2009–2011 Iowa State (OC/QB)
2012–2014 Ohio State (OC/QB)
2015–present Houston


He brought Houston their 1st five star recruit in year 1. He's a players coach. He would thrive at Baylor, but i honestly think the only other job in Texas he'll take is Texas. His dream job

Yeah hes waiting on Texas. If Strong has another bad year hell be the coach in 2017

Baylor isn't even that good a job. You don't get great recruits Briles has succeeded with a gimmick offense.

 

[No Sleep]

My DB got that footwork on point.

 

[Silkk]

Yeah hes waiting on Texas. If Strong has another bad year hell be the coach in 2017

Baylor isn't even that good a job. You don't get great recruits Briles has succeeded with a gimmick offense.

Hate this term so much, damn near the whole nation runs a spread variation. Baylor just runs it faster & better than everyone else.

 

[hood b. goode]

Friday Five: The most overhyped preseason teams of 2016

#3 Tennessee

 

[smitty22]

Friday Five: The most overhyped preseason teams of 2016

#3 Tennessee

Swag bout to come in here like bu bu but cbs dont like sec

 

[Lee_Land]

Swag bout to come in here like bu bu but cbs dont like sec

 

[O.iatlhawksfan]

I can already feel the anger coming from LSU fans, but I assure you, I believe LSU is going to be better this year than it was in 2015. I really, really do.

The reason LSU is at No. 1 on this list is because I've seen LSU in the top three of a lot of preseason polls already, and some of them even have the Tigers ahead of Alabama.

The explanation behind these rankings is that LSU has Leonard Fournette, dangerous receivers like Malachi Dupreand Travin Dural, what should be a strong defense ... and questions at quarterback. So, you know, LSU is basically in the same position it was in heading into last season when it had Leonard Fournette, dangerous receivers like Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural, what should be a strong defense ... and questions at quarterback.

As I recall, 2015 ended with a 9-3 record and Les Miles nearly losing his job because of it.

Now, the biggest change for LSU heading into 2016 is that the defense that should have been strong last year really wasn't. The Tigers allowed 24.8 points per game in conference play, which would be good in some conferences, but it's middle-of-the-road in the SEC. We're all expecting that to change now that LSU has plucked Dave Aranda away from Wisconsin. Aranda has been behind plenty of very good defenses, and when you combine his knowledge with LSU's talent you get some high expectations.

I understand all that.

But top three? Already? This is still an LSU team that has lost five straight games against Alabama -- a team it needs to beat if it wants to win the SEC and play for a national title.

Now, 2016 might be the year that LSU ends its losing streak to the Tide, and climbs back to the top of the SEC West.

We should all wait until it actually happens, though.

I knew LSU would be #1 but I can respect his explanation tho. Ole miss and Auburn are more overrated because they're goin to be ranked going into the season and they're both goin to be hot thrash.

 

[Chrishaune]

I knew LSU would be #1 but I can respect his explanation tho. Ole miss and Auburn are more overrated because they're goin to be ranked going into the season and they're both goin to be hot thrash.

That must mean LSU will be burning hot trash because they're not coming into Jordan Hare stadium without taking home a......












wouldn't be surprised if Ole Miss comes out on top either.

 

[RammerJammer]

All this LSU hype feels like the year when Georgia entered the season #1

 

[Silkk]

I knew LSU would be #1 but I can respect his explanation tho. Ole miss and Auburn are more overrated because they're goin to be ranked going into the season and they're both goin to be hot thrash.

LSU has so many demons in Bama, Ole Miss, & Arkansas. Not to mention getting Florida yearly and barely escaping Miss St.

Anything short of 2011 dominance/victory over Bama abd his ass is grass.

 

[Silkk]

All this LSU hype feels like the year when Georgia entered the season #1

It feels like every damn LSU hype train since 05

 

[Swagnificent]

Friday Five: The most overhyped preseason teams of 2016

#3 Tennessee

Dude is gonna look stupid when #1 and #3 on his list are each 12-0 when they play in Atlanta.

 

[Swagnificent]

Swag bout to come in here like bu bu but cbs dont like sec

Vegas had the over/under for the 2014 Vols at 5.5 wins. We won 6 games. In 2015, the over/under was 7.5 wins. We won 8 games.

In 2016, the over/under is 10.5 wins. If history is any guide, we'll be winning at least 11 games.

I'll take that.

 

[Brady-Carter]

I am quietly optimistic about the Ducks this year. The O is stacked, and the D cannot be worse then last year.



This pre season Husky hype needs to be thrown in the bushes.