Grothe arrested for serving booze to minor

USF quarterback Matt Grothe, last year's Big East Rookie of the Year, was arrested last week while working at a Bulls-themed sports bar and faces a misdemeanor charge of selling alcohol to an underage person.

Grothe, 20, was working behind the bar April 19 at the Bull Ring Sports Bar near USF's campus on Fowler Ave., when he served two Corona Extras to an 18-year-old who was working with officers from the state's Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco.

Grothe's arrest is unlikely to result in any significant disciplinary action from coach Jim Leavitt, and legally should not amount to more than probation and community service. But it seems USF was unaware the most prominent athlete on campus was working at least occasionally in a job serving alcohol at a place that USF encourages its fans and boosters to congregate.

"I had heard something happened, but I didn't know what. He’s not there anymore," Leavitt said Friday.

Asked if he had known Grothe was working there, Leavitt said he did not, and when asked if anyone at USF knew, he said "(I'm) unsure. But somebody is supposed to."

Several Bulls coaches host their radio shows at the Bull Ring, a restaurant and bar is part of USF's "Bull Country" network of area businesses, catering to USF fans and featuring Bulls decorations prominently.

Grothe's employment there in itself is neither illegal nor in violation of NCAA bylaws. Anyone over the age of 18 in Florida can legally serve alcohol in a licensed establishment, and NCAA rules do not limit a job a scholarship athlete can hold, so long as he is paid appropriately for actual work.

Grothe, who did not return messages Friday seeking comment, was USF's offensive MVP as a redshirt freshman last year after leading the Bulls to a 9-4 record and the program's first bowl victory. He engineered three come-from-behind victories in September and established himself a playmaker, passing for 2,576 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushing for 622 yards and nine scores.

Check Saturday’s Times for more information on this story. Times writer Greg Auman can be reached at auman@sptimes.com.

Comments

[Alexa]

It's pretty sad that now it's the coaches responsibility for what their players do off the field, it wasn't the Police Department- this is a routine run by the state's Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, and Matt's job isn't checking ID's- that's done at the door. He faulted in not checking for the wristband.

[MM]

I agree with the person above me, that was a way of getting out of it. They both need community service. A 20 year old should not be working at a bar serving drinks, I know that that is not the only resturant around USF. BAD CHOICE MATT!!!

[concerned parent]

I agree with a most of these comments, but I mainly agree with not letting a 20 year old work at a bar serving drinks, that is just not right. If they want to work, there is a Bennigans right up the block and several other resturants, they can be a Host or Waiters. those are clean jobs and you can't get into trouble by serving food. USF has had enough problems with football players passing aways and now this, come on get a grip coach...PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR PLAYERS.The coaches should always know the where abouts of their players, especially where they work. That was just an excuse to get himself out of trouble. I think that the coach needs some community service as well.

[Dave]

I just want to point out that if you are on active duty in the military, the drinking age is 18. Even so, it takes 3 seconds to check a card, so just do it. If it's an 18 year old, then you just have to say no. It might be a bad law, but it is the law, so obey it and vote for people who would change it.

[Jim]

I guess Grothe will be working at a Starbucks next and probably a safe move. He should have known better. Oh, well live and learn. I think USF Athletics should ban athletes from working at the Bulls Ring it is just not a smart idea.

One of our country's most screwed up laws!!! Our goverment thinks at 18 your old enough to go die for your country and they trust you to use million dollar planes, tanks and other expensive equipment to go die for your country but does not think these same people will know that after a couple of beer's that it's time to quit. This state agency sounds like many others that have way to much money but have to find stupid ways to spend it so they don't get it taken away in the next budget.

[Hey Brian]

We don't want to be like UF and we couldn't care less what they do.

It's time for us to be our own example. Our starting QB should not be bartending.

[Sid]

Brian...your comments are right on-I agree 100%

[Brian]

Let's not all jump on Leavitt. This job by Grothe is not against NCAA rules and is perfectly legal. It's a mistake the I am sure he won't still be employed there. However, I don't hear everybody jumping on Urban "The Saint" Meyer when two of his players have been arrested for a brawl and one for shooting off a gun in a parking lot. I certainly am not that concerned over this mistake by a good kid like Grothe but if I was a Gator fan I would wonder what Urban Meyer has going on when his players are carrying weapons and shooting them off in a parking lot.

[Brian]

The Tampa police department is a joke obviously. They have way too much time on their hands. I think it may be time for a layoff of Tampa police officers because obviously they aren't doing what they are supposed to be doing. Have they caught the killer yet of that teenage boy or caught the rapists on the loose? No, but they are busy busting a 20 year old kid for serving beer to an 18 year. The Tampa police department is as qualified as the mall security.

[smarter than a concerned parent]

Some of you need to get a life...this is a good guy that was earning some spending money in a bar where the bouncers check ID's on the way in, not the bartenders. The only thing Matt is guilty of is being too busy to notice this "plant" (& they are hired because they look over 21) did not have on a paper bracelet. "Concerned parent" fess up---you are really just a UCF fan!

[SarahSmith]

Matt clearly made a mistake. He needs to learn from this by some community services talking about the dangers of alcohol use by our youth. However as someone else so well put it, you can go to Iraq and be blown up, but you can't have a beer

Dear Mike,

Yous CAPSLOCK is set to "on".

[Dan]

Can you guys read? The article says very clearly that the 18 yr old was working for the STATE Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco and NOT the Tampa PD.

This state agency does this year round. One of their major duties is to make sure those businesses with liquor and alcohol licenses are following the law in order to keep their license.

How about placing the blame where it belongs. Matt made a mistake and will get a minor punishment for it. Get over it and stop blaming the Tampa PD.

[John]

"A Concerned Parent" needs to get real. Anyone over 18 is an adult. They can vote, adopt, sign legal documents, serve in the military, etc.. . Why not treat them as adults and allow them to drink? I have two boys over 18, one in college and the other on his way, and I hope to god neither of them turn to drugs in order to get high because drugs have flooded our campuses and are much easier to get than alcohol. Young adults will be young adults and we need to reconize that fact.

[A Concerned Parent]

I think he and his coach need a lesson in responsibility. Here is a guy who choses to ignore the rule to card in a bar, and gets caught selling to minors. How about the major lawsuit if those he sold to became involved in a car wreck due to DUI. Minor offense, I think not, this young adult needs a reality check, not a hand slap.

[A Concerned Parent]

I think he and his coach need a lesson in responsibility. Here is a guy who choses to ignore the rule to card in a bar, and gets caught selling to minors. How about the major lawsuit if those he sold to became involved in a car wreck due to DUI. Minor offense, I think not, this young adult needs a reality check, not a hand slap.

[Greg Auman]

Guys, it seems like a popular excuse here, so I'll address it: the 18-year-old who police say bought the beer from Grothe was a male.

[MIKE]

IT'S A GOOD THING THERE IS NOT ANYONE ROBBING BANKS, ROBBING PREGNAT WOMAN, CARJACKING, SELLING DRUGS AND THE LIST GOES ON OFF THINGS ALOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN ENTRAPPING SOMEONE WITH A HOT GIRL BUYING A BEER. GET A CLUE TAMPA POICE!!! YOUR TIME AND OUR TAX DOLLARS SHOULD BE PUT TO BETTER USE!!!

[Dave]

It's hard to believe the ridiculous overreaction to alcohol our society has these days. College students drink.

They always have drank, and they always will drink. No law you can create will stop them, and you just cause more trouble instead.

Why do you think fatal binge drinking is much more common now than when it was legal to drink at 18?

[GG]

3 arrests this offseason, even though this one obviously is kind of a pointless one. Leavitt even though he is a great coach, he can't continue to let his program have players get in trouble with the law and just have them sit out one spring practice. He obviously needs to tighten the rope on this program.

[JD]

Not very smart Matt.

Also, I know Leavitt just wants to coach football, but he has to get a better grip on the off-the-field activities of his team.

[Don]

Oh, come on! How do you spell entrapment? Law enforcement apparently has too much time on their hands. Thank goodness Tamap has a zero violent crime rate. This is where our property tax increases go?

[Mark]

The officers used the hottest girls they could find with mesmerizing eyes and smiles that would weaken most men at the knee.

18 to serve alcohol and drive a tank, 21 to drink. Go America! I know that he will hopefully get out of this but it never looks good.

Oh, and allow your athletes to receive an addition stipend NCAA! Haven't they generated enough money for you?

[Windbane]

Ugh. So the rumor was true. I'm glad the punishment will not be severe. Everyone I know that wanted to drink when underage found a way to do so.