Florida State freshman quarterback De’Andre Johnson’s career with the Seminoles ended Monday before it ever began. Johnson was suspended indefinitely on June 25th after it was reported that he had been accused of punching a woman in a bar.
The State Attorney’s Office later charged Johnson with misdemeanor battery and he was dismissed Monday evening after video that shows Johnson hit a woman in the face with a right hand was released. The incident took place at “Yianni’s” on West Tennessee Street in Tallahassee.
Many have pointed out that Johnson did not appear to be the one who initiated the altercation, but still handled the situation poorly with the woman posing no real threat to Johnson. Most will agree and some may disagree, but Florida State did the right thing in dismissing the highly-touted freshman quarterback.
Johnson’s removal from the team shows not only that violence against women is unacceptable, but it sends a message to other young players that FSU won’t tolerate these actions. This is particularly important considering the Seminoles’ poor reputation when it comes to disciplining players over the last few years — justified or not.
Johnson will likely get an opportunity to play elsewhere and that should prove to be best for both he and FSU. Johnson is a dual-threat quarterback with a lot of talent and last year’s Mr. Football in the state of Florida. Had Johnson gone on to have a successful career with the Seminoles, the incident would have always hovered over not only Johnson’s head, but would have served as a stain on the program as well.
Finding a football home elsewhere will give Johnson a fresh start and a chance to overcome what proved to be a horrible decision. Johnson was regarded as a young man with a lot of character when he signed with FSU, but his decision to hit a young woman in the face is one that the program and university cannot afford to try to work past. The task of working past it is one that Johnson will have to take care of his own.
