There's a Gator on the loose.
Florida receiver Chris Rainey has been cleared to rejoin the Gators' football team after being suspended for four games over an incident in which he was arrested for aggravated stalking.
Rainey was arrested on Sept. 14 for the third degree felony. He allegedly sent a text message to a girl he had dated, with a portion of the message threatening that it's "time to die."
"Chris Rainey is working towards being part of our football team again,'' head coach Urban Meyer said in a statement. "I'm disappointed that he violated a core value of our program, but he continues to pay a price for his actions. Chris will have to meet a set of conditions to become a part of our team again and although he is practicing, he will not play this weekend. The timetable for his return will depend on his ability to follow the guidelines we have laid out for him.''
Rainey is not allowed to play in this week's game against Mississippi State, and the earliest he can return would be the Oct. 30 game vs. Georgia in Jacksonville, due to an open date next week.
"I am embarrassed and sorry for my actions and I apologize to everyone that I affected by my behavior," he said in a statement released by the school. "I'm working towards being a part of the Florida football program again and I realize that representing this university is a privilege. I have spent the last several weeks reflecting on my actions and realized that is not who I want to be.''
Rainey entered the season with 1,237 career rushing yards but was moved to a receiver position to help make up for the loss of an abundance of targets from last season. He had a team-high six catches for 34 yards in the season-opening 34-12 win against Miami (Ohio).
