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August 1, 2008

NEW: OU freshman receiver dismissed over internet video

John Shinn

NORMAN — Oklahoma freshman receiver Josh Jarboe has been dismissed from the team. The decision came Friday after a meeting between Jarboe and OU coach Bob Stoops earlier in the day.

"We are disappointed in the outcome, but our complete review and this final decision is in the best interest of our program," Stoops said in a statement released Friday afternoon. "We outlined for Josh the expectations we had for him when he arrived and, unfortunately, those expectations have not been met. Josh needs to learn from this experience. We hope he can move forward in a positive manner."

Jarboe had been at the center of firestorm in recent days. Earlier this week, a video surfaced on the Internet of him rapping about guns and shooting people. The video appeared to have been shot at an OU dormitory.

Jarboe, who was a highly recruited wide receiver from Georgia, arrived in Norman earlier with plenty of baggage.

In March, he was arrested after an assistant principal at Cedar Grove High School in Ellenwood, Ga., saw him with a gun in the school's parking lot.

Jarboe was expelled from school, but completed his high school degree online.

He pleaded guilty in late May to charges of bringing a gun to school and carrying a pistol without a license. A judge reduced the charges to misdemeanors because Jarboe was a first-time offender and sentenced Jarboe to two years of probation and 80 hours of community service.

Felony charges would have prevented Jarboe from attending the university.

After Jarboe's guilty plea, Stoops issued a statement saying that he would remain with the Sooners, but stressed bad behavior would end his stay in Norman.

"We have already stressed to him that his citizenship is of the utmost importance," Stoops said in May. "He understands that anything less than exemplary behavior will not be tolerated."

The Sooners begin practice for the upcoming season Monday.

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