Breaking News - Top-ranked junior college quarterback Zach Mettenberger from Butler Community College has committed to LSU's Coach Miles. Apparently Mettenberger committed during his 11/19 visit but waited until today to make the public announcement. Mettenberger will enroll at mid-semester and will be eligible to practice with the team during bowl preparations, but will not be eligible to play in the bowl game.
6'5" - 250
You all may remember this young man as a former Georgia Bulldog. Lester is giving him a second chance, a la Houston Nutt... mainly because Lester is pretty freaking desperate for a QB...
"...touted redshirt freshman Zach Mettenberger was kicked off the team for violating team rules..."
Mettenberger threw two touchdowns in Georgia's April 10 spring game but already was facing at least a one-game suspension after being arrested on alcohol charges during spring break. The team didn't reveal if Mettenberger was involved in another incident, or if his dismissal from the team was the result of more details becoming known from his arrest.
The 18-year-old Mettenberger was arrested March 7 in Lowndes County and charged with underage consumption and possession of alcohol, possessing fake identification and disorderly conduct-obstruction.
THEN........................................................
Details have finally come to light in the incident that led Georgia to dismiss quarterback Zach Mettenberger. The freshman pleaded guilty to sexual battery after an incident at a bar in southern Georgia during spring break.
Southern Judicial Circuit district attorney J. David Miller said the charges "were the result of Mettenberger grabbing the breasts and touching the buttocks" of a 20-year-old female Valdosta State University student in the bar. He was sentenced to 12 months of probation and 80 hours of community service.
Mettenberger was originally facing various charges of underage possession of alcohol, disorderly conduct and possession of false identification. Bulldogs coach Mark Richt allowed him to participate in spring practice and compete for the starting job before removing him from the team last month, indicating the case was more serious. Aaron Murray was named the starter for Georgia after his dismissal.
Mettenberger expressed regret for the incident and said he hoped to get a second chance to play football.
"I first want to apologize to the young lady my actions most directly affected, and I hope that by me accepting responsibility for my actions that she can move on with her life," Mettenberger said in the statement.
"I would also like to apologize to my family, friends, teammates, the coaching staff and the University of Georgia. Though it was very uncharacteristic of me to act the way I did, I still accept full responsibility for this event. I deeply regret my actions of that night and can assure that these actions will never happen again. I intend to do everything in my power to restore my image and rebuild the trust people had in me before."