First Posted: 3/29/2015
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama coach Nick Saban has dismissed Jonathan Taylor from the team following the second domestic violence arrest of the defensive lineman’s college career.
Saban announced the decision on Sunday, a day after Tuscaloosa police arrested Taylor when a woman reported she was assaulted by her boyfriend. Taylor signed with the Crimson Tide about six months after his dismissal from Georgia following his arrest in a girlfriend’s assault.
“Jonathan Taylor has been dismissed from the team and is no longer a part of our program,” Saban said in a statement released through the athletic department. “This will still need to go through the legal process, but when he was given an opportunity here, it was under strict guidelines and we made it clear there was a zero tolerance policy.”
University spokeswoman Deborah Lane said Sunday that Taylor has been referred to judicial affairs.
Taylor has been charged with domestic violence third-degree assault and domestic violence third-degree criminal mischief, police said.
A police news release said the woman had injuries to her neck.
The 6-foot-4, 335-pound lineman was dismissed from Georgia in July 2014 following his arrest on aggravated assault and family violence charges.
Taylor played last season at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi. He was also one of four Georgia players arrested in March 2014 for receiving double payments for checks of $71.50 issued by the school’s athletic department.
All-Star games set for today, Tuesday
ELIDA — The District 8 senior basketball All-Star games are set for today and Tuesday.
The girls All-Star games will be today at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. The boys All-Star games will be Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The Division I game will start at 6:30 p.m. each night, followed by the Division II-III-IV game.
Pitt’s Murphy qualifies for 50 free finals
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Pitt swimmers combined to produce one Olympic Trials qualifier time and nine more Junior National Championships time on the second day of the USA Swimming Spring Long Course Speedo Sectionals.
For the second straight day, sophomore Kinga Cichowska (Wroclaw, Poland/Zespol Szkol Sportowych) secured a U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying time in the breaststroke.
Six women qualified for the 50 free finals, two swimming in the A and four in the B. Freshman Emily Murphy (Shawnee HS) won a swim off to make the A final, then was the fastest Pitt finisher in 27.01, good for sixth, while junior Leticia Lelli (Scottsdale, Ariz./University of Arizona) was eighth in 27.20.
Kentucky holds off Notre Dame
CLEVELAND — With everything at stake, Kentucky didn’t panic and played to perfection.
The Wildcats made clutch shots, buckled down on fearless Notre Dame and kept their unblemished season intact.
The shot at history and another NCAA title are in reach.
Andrew Harrison made two free throws with six seconds remaining, and the unbeaten Wildcats made their last nine shots to survive their toughest test to date, coming back after trailing for much of the second half to defeat the Fighting Irish 68-66 on Saturday night in the Midwest Regional final.
The Wildcats (38-0), seeking to become college basketball’s first undefeated champion in 39 years, advanced to the Final Four in Indianapolis next week, where they will meet Wisconsin — a rematch of last year’s semifinal.
“We know our will to win,” said Aaron Harrison, who hit a crucial 3-pointer. “And it just showed us we never give up, and we fight to the end just like any other team.”
