Florida State Seminoles

[BigRedMan]

Shit, he will get in less trouble for stealing them then if someone had given them to him for free.

[KeviNole]

If caught by the NCAA, you're absolutely right.

The story today is this, by people who have reviewed the security tape:

Winston, with his long-distance girlfriend in town, went to get some wings and crab legs. He went to Publix, ordered the crab legs, then left to go to Hobbit Hoagies for wings (down the road, which he paid for), then came back to Publix, with the car running in the rain to grab the crab legs. He got some butter, and the crab legs, and was mobbed for autographs by fans in the Publix (this is not uncommon around town as Winston is a huge celebrity). Cameron notes that Winston was mistaken in thinking he could quickly go in and out of any place in Tallahassee without signing autographs and taking pictures.

Winston signs autographs, takes pictures, gets distracted, puts the butter down in doing so, picks up the crab legs, and calmly walks out of Publix talking to a police officer, crab in hand, not trying to hide anything. When he gets home, he realizes he didn't get the butter for his crab legs, and realizes he didn't pay for the crab legs. He doesn't go back to pay for them, and admitted as much. If Winston were trying to shoplift, he probably doesn't walk out, crab legs in hand, talking with a police officer. It's possible, but unlikely.

It's worth noting that Publix was close to closing time, the weather in Tallahassee Tuesday night was nasty (raining a bunch), and that Winston's girlfriend, whom he does not get to see all that often, was in town. Those aren't necessarily excuses for not going back, but are perhaps reasons why someone in a similar situation wouldn't choose to go back to the store that night.

We do not know if Winston would have ever gone back to pay for the crab legs if given the chance.

It seems like every time this long-distance girlfriend comes into town, he gets in trouble. Did he enter Publix with the intent to steal or was it an honest mistake (followed by a dishonest failure to follow-up)? Who knows. The truth of the matter is that it's between him, Leon County, and Publix, and all three seem satisfied with the resultant punishment. I certainly hope he's not a thievin', bb gun totin' rapist thug but that seems to be the reputation he's building for himself.

If that sort of absent-mindedness happened to me today, I'd probably call them up and give them a credit card and pay for them. If it happened to me in college, I probably do nothing. I accidentally walked out of Home Depot a few years ago with a few dollars worth of nuts and bolts but realized my mistake in the parking lot and went back to pay. I doubt I would have driven back if I made it home.

[AlabamAlum]

I don't think he forgot to pay for $30 worth of crab legs, but it's petit theft and justice has been done. He does need to make this his last incident.

[Jungle Rat]

I once left a gas station without paying. Never would have realized it had I not noticed the pump still attached to my car the next morning. I didn't go back.

[hedge]

I've done that as well...

[KeviNole]

Heh - I knew a guy with a raging alcoholic roommate. My friend woke up one morning and when he went to the garage, the roommate's car was parked haphazardly with a gas pump nozzle hanging out of the side.

[Jungle Rat]

Never had a roommate

[hedge]

I once left a gas station without paying. Never would have realized it had I not noticed the pump still attached to my car the next morning. I didn't go back.

"He saw piles of gold a hat would scarcely have covered wagered on the turn of a card and lost and he saw bears and lions turned loose in pits to fight wild bulls to the death and he was twice in the city of San Francisco and twice saw it burn and never went back..."

[dave_rickart]

has anyone actually seen his long-distance girlfriend, or is this another Manti Te'o incident?

[KeviNole]

Yeah, she plays basketball for Baylor - he's posted several pictures and videos on social media with her. There was one video where he threw her a rope on about a 30 yard seam pass and she made a nice leaping catch - heh.

[Jungle Rat]

Hedge, please don't ruin it.

Signed,

Everybody

[KeviNole]

It is expected that 8 Noles will be drafted this weekend. Add that to the 11 drafted last year, and you get 19 players drafted in the last two years - equal to the number drafted in the previous SIX years.

Yeah, Jimbo can recruit.

[hedge]

They said on Mike and Mike this morning that if none of FSU's players goes in the first round (they said there was one guy who was borderline), it would be the first time since Ohio State in 2002 (or maybe it was 2003) that the natty champion didn't have a first round pick. Of course, Jameis would go in the first round if he was allowed to enter the draft, but still...

[Jungle Rat]

Florida State. Heh.

[KeviNole]

4and8er's. Heh.

Melvin (sic) squeaked in the first round. It's amazing how well Jimbo did last year without SEC talent. We did have several guys who probably don't have a good fit in the NFL but were outstanding college players (see: Tim Tebow). Timmy Jernigan, Telvin Smith, Terrance Brooks, Devonta Freeman, etc. don't have particularly high measurables (except for Smith's 40yd) but are just damn good football players and I wouldn't trade them for anyone at their position that was drafted ahead of them. These are the guys who "took a chance" on what Fisher was selling and helped turn the program around, and weren't "me" guys.

[Dr. Nostron]

Well said.

[AlabamAlum]

I think he had SEC talent. Look at FSU's recruiting the last few years, some of the best in the nation. Or was that sarcasm, Kev?

[KeviNole]

Definitely sarcasm Basically just tweaking the noses of the analysts and draftniks who go crazy over all the SEC players drafted so high the last couple of years.

He's recruited very well, and more than that he has identified several 3-star type players who can play (Terrance Brooks, Bjoern Werner, Cam Erving, Chad Abram, etc.) and turned them into great players. Bowden's recruiting rankings continued to be pretty good even in his later years but many of the top guys turned into busts due to poor play or character issues. Jimbo seems to do well on both fronts (shellfish thievery and all).

The next two years are where FSU will shine in the NFL draft. I could see Jameis and Mario Edwards Jr in the top 10 overall next year, Cam Erving in the 11-20 range, etc. I still think we get 7-8 players drafted this year but most will be in rounds 3+.

[hedge]

"He's recruited very well, and more than that he has identified several 3-star type players who can play"

I hope Prof doesn't see that, he's already on record as saying the former 3-star FSU kid who is now going to be a QB at Bama is going to be a bust...

[Jungle Rat]

Who listens to Prof?