A Column O'Mine

By Ryan Killian

It seems Tarell Brown could have used a chat with Swingers’ Mike Peters and Trent Walker. The conversation – which could have prevented Brown from being arrested for illegally carrying a gun– probably would have sounded a little something like this:

Mike: What the hell are you carrying a gun for? In case someone steps to you Snoop Dogg?

Tarell: Hey man, you’re not from here, alright. I grew up in Dallas.

Trent: Mesquite

Tarell: Whatever man. It’s different out here. It’s not like Houston man.

Mike: Damn straight it’s not like Houston. Out here you can avoid trouble. It’s not like you live in the Fifth Ward, Tarell, with bullets whizzing by your head. You live in a good neighborhood man. You’re starting for a national champion football team. In Houston, trouble finds you.

Trent: He’s right Tarell. You don’t need to carry a gun.

Apparently, the gun is registered to back up wide receiver Tyrell Gatewood who was also in the car, but that’s not good enough to dodge weapons charges. Don’t get me wrong. I won’t question Gatewood’s decision to own a gun – every Texan’s closet needs a .22 a 12-gauge shotgun and a deer rifle at least. But what are they doing running around at 3 in the morning with marijuana and a loaded 9mm?

Maybe boys will be boys, but they could have a better sense of timing. Brown wanted to contend for the Thorpe Award this season but he’s missing his chance to line up against perhaps college football’s best wide receiver, Ted Ginn Jr. A shut down performance Saturday could have perked up interest in NFL front offices; now he’s going to be labeled as just another troublemaker with athletic ability.

The arrest doesn’t just hurt him though, and you can bet a few hundred thousand Texas fans and the other 109 guys on the Longhorns roster wish he and Tyrell had both thought of that before riding along in former Texas player Aaron Harris’ SUV. Between the trio they had the gun, a blunt and another .7 grams of weed.

Brown and Gatewood had the good sense not to smoke the ganja, but the damage has been done, their reputations sullied and their team weakened.

Take a close look at your depth charts, Texas fans. 5-foot 9-inch Brandon Foster is listed as Brown’s back up. He gives up three inches on Ginn Jr., and has never made a collegiate start.

Last year the winner of the Ohio State – Texas game won the national championship. The loser won the Fiesta Bowl in a blow out versus Notre Dame. This year Ohio is ranked No.1; Texas is ranked No. 2.

Think this game doesn’t have big implications?

If Brown and Gatewood did, they sure could have acted like it.