As Lane Kiffin sifts through the evidence and decides what to do with the three Univ. of Tennessee players who got all robby at a Knoxville gas station on Wednesday, one of the intended victims, Corey B. Zickefoose, is taking a very zen-like approach to the entire affair. In short, Mr. Zickefoose says that the players shouldn’t be kicked off the team. Because hey, it might cost Tennessee a win!
This case gets weirder as more details emerge. For instance, Zickefoose said he told one of the players, who had a gun to his head, that he didn’t have any money: all he had was a cheeseburger, and did the robber want that? But the best part is this glorious quote from the victim:
“Yeah, it’s Tennessee. That’s the way it is sometimes,” Zickefoose said.
From WATE Knoxville:
Corey B. Zickefoose, 20, said he was sitting in the driver’s seat of a 1998 Hyundai Elantra on Cumberland Ave. when one of the players pulled a gun and demanded money.
But that’s not enough to prevent the players from being kicked off the team, he told 6 News.
“I think they should still be able to play football, regardless,” he said. “Tennessee is my place. It’s my football team.”
“Even after they put a gun in your face, you say let them play football?” 6 News asked.
“Yeah, it’s Tennessee. That’s the way it is sometimes,” Zickefoose said.
Tennessee players Mike Edwards, Nu’Keese Richardson and Janzen Jackson were arrested Wednesday night in connection with the alleged armed robbery attempt, and a fourth person, Marie Montmarquet, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Now let’s take a look at this bit of video from Kiffin’s Tuesday press conference, where he talks specifically about Richardson. In hindsight, hilarious, yet sad.
“This will be a big week of practice for him. I sat down with him yesterday to make sure he understands; we’ve been through this a million times with a bunch of great players, their freshman year of going through some ups and downs. … He just has to be patient and do the little things.”
Richardson waited an entire 24 hours after their heart-to-heart to attempt armed robbery. As Clark Griswald said to Rusty in “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” … “Nice talk, son.”
11:52 pm on November 12th, 2009
So, if they had shot the dumbass, would that mean they should get signed to an NFL contract?
I swear..Darwin….
7:03 am on November 13th, 2009
Cmon who robs someone in a 98 Hyundai?? You know hes broke. I think it was racialy motivated. I mean isnt that what we do nowadays??Three white guys rob a black kid ..you know someone will throw the race card out there. But three black guys rob a white kid…well thats just a good ol fashion robbery.
8:12 am on November 13th, 2009
Frank, it’s Tennessee, that’s the way it is sometimes
9:11 am on November 13th, 2009
Guh-yuck!
10:02 am on November 13th, 2009
Someone puts a gun to his head and then he says let the kid go so he can play football??
And people from Tennessee wonder why people the world over think they are a bunch of dumb, in-bred hicks??
This moron should be run the state!!
11:01 am on November 13th, 2009
This is so hilarious….Corey Zickefoose is his name. It’s a shame his parents didn’t name him, Cody, Dusty, Dylan or Dermott. Still he and nobody in Tenn will ever ever ever accomplish the greatest name ever representative of that state, who coincidentally is a US Representative of Tenn, that being Zach Wamp. Look at it, say it, let it roll of the tongue a few times. It’s Tennessee, that’s the way it is sometimes.
And as pointed out, HE’S DRIVING A 1998 HYUNDAI, AND HE’S A 20 YR OLD. Even a freshman defensive back ought to be able to read that situation. It isn’t like it’s some complicated Wildcat formation with trip receivers bunched to the strong side, etc. etc. A KID THAT YOUNG, IN A CAR LIKE THAT, DOESN’T HAVE A DIME TO HIS NAME. I know that meeting a booster isn’t nearly as fun, nor provide the adrenaline rush as playing cops and robbers, but it’s a damned sure safer way to go. Stupid freshmen.
11:07 am on November 13th, 2009
They were sooo busted as soon as Nu’Keese said
“I can haz cheezburgerz ?”
12:25 pm on November 13th, 2009
Zickefoose is as much a dumb-a** as the players trying to rob him. Wonder where he went to school and learned there is not a difference between right and wrong.
What a moron.
2:03 pm on November 13th, 2009
I’m with Zickefoose, why shouldn’t the players be able to play? I hate the real UT and all of the SEC (pac-10 bitches) but if no one was killed then big deal, football is more important than some bullshit laws, no harm no foul, let the boys play….
2:56 pm on November 13th, 2009
are these people insane, what a scum bag! maybe al davis wasn’t that crazy when it came to kiffin afterall
3:54 pm on November 13th, 2009
A cheeseburger? Unhealthy! Ya, arrest the geek for attempted murder…
9:44 am on November 14th, 2009
What a hick white boy. Why doesn’t Zickefoose or is it ZickMoose just bend over and say give it to me you big black Tennesse football players. Again we have black dudes abusing a white dude who wants to be black.