Weren’t Auburn football players supposed to be highly paid?

It takes a lot to stun college football fans when it comes to news of college football players being arrested. That’s because it happens so frequently that we’ve all come to expect it. But last night, four Auburn players found a way to make college football arrests seem shocking again.

Now Auburn has had its share of knuckleheads in the past. Under Terry Bowden’s watch back in the 90’s, wide receiver Robert Baker was arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine. In case you forgot, Baker and his roommate, Jordan Brumbaugh (brother of then-Auburn defensive end Jimmy) actually had a pretty lucrative business selling the white stuff.

During my time in college, I only had to go to class and barely had the motivation to even do that. But Baker had the motivation to not only go to class, but to play football and deal cocaine as well. That was some kind of multitasking.

In recent years, Auburn hasn’t had to deal with any Tony Montana’s in training. In fact, on the arrest front, the program has actually been much quieter than some others. Until last night, that is:

On Friday, March 11, 2011, the Auburn Police Division arrested four people and charged each of them with five counts of Robbery 1st Degree, one count of Burglary 1st Degree, and one count of Theft of Property 3rd Degree. They are identified as Antonio M. Goodwin, age 20, Kowaski Q. Kitchens, age 19, Michael A. McNeil, age 22, and Harrison D. Mosley, age 19. All list an Auburn address. At approximately 12:25 a.m. this same date officers responded to a residence located in the 2300 block of Lee Road 137 (Wire Road) in reference to the report of a robbery that had just occurred. According to the five victims present, three black males entered the residence with one displaying a handgun. Personal property was stolen during the incident. No injuries were reported. A patrolman responding to the area observed what he believed to be the suspect vehicle based on a description he was given. Officers stopped the vehicle in the 1200 block of Wire Road and four suspects were taken into custody. A pistol and the stolen property was recovered at the scene. Goodwin, Kitchens, McNeil, and Mosley were transported to the Lee County Detention Center where each is currently being held on a $511,000 bond. (oanow.com)

FORMER Auburn players Antonio Goodwin, Mike McNeil, Shaun Kitchens and Dakota Mosley

Are you kidding me? Really? REALLY?!? Of course, Auburn coach Gene Chizik was left with no choice but to take swift and decisive action:

“The players arrested in connection with this deeply troubling incident have been permanently dismissed from our football team. While we realize the legal process will run its course and these young men have a right for their case to be heard, playing for Auburn University is an honor and a privilege. It is not a right.”

“We hold our student-athletes to a high standard of conduct on and off the field as representatives of Auburn University, and this kind of behavior is not tolerated.”

“I am extremely disappointed and embarrassed by the actions of these individuals. I want to personally apologize to all of those who were impacted by this senseless act, including the victims, Auburn University and the Auburn family.” (oanow.com)