UF safety Tony Joiner commented Tuesday for the first time about his arrest nearly a week ago.
B[The worst part was] disappointing my team and disappointing The Gator Nation, having a distraction going into the biggest game of the season,C Joiner said.
Joiner was arrested Oct. 2 for attempting to take his girlfriend?s car out of a towing company?s impound lot. The State Attorney?s Office dropped the burglary charges Friday, and Joiner played in UF?s game against LSU on Saturday.
The senior was relieved at how his teammates reacted to the incident.
BThey were kind of upset, but they knew the situation and how everything was handled,C Joiner said. BThey were happy about me coming back.C
Despite the circus that erupted from the incident, Joiner was able to make light of it.
When asked if he was the best boyfriend ever, he replied, BI hope so.C
Still, Joiner knows he is going to have to atone for the distress he caused the team.
For starters, Joiner said he has Ba couple days of waking up in the morning,C and Gators coach Urban Meyer stripped the senior of his captaincy.
BI was a little stunned,C Joiner said. BJust knowing how hard I worked to get where I was and to lose it on a boneheaded mistake and a bonehead decision. It was tough for me.C
Joiner hopes to move on from the whirlwind week and plans to regain the team?s trust.
BI?m just going to have to do what I was doing before this incident,C Joiner said. BBefore this incident, I was doing quite well. I just have to get back to doing what I do all the time.C
TARTT CLEARS THE AIR: UF offensive guard Jim Tartt dispelled any rumors that LSU?s Glenn Dorsey took some extra hits during the Gators? loss to the Tigers on Saturday night.
Rumors circulated after the game that Dorsey had taken a cheap shot at Tartt by poking him in the eye.
BHe was just pass rushing,C Tartt said. BHe was just swinging his arms and his thumb went up in my eye. It wasn?t a big deal.C
