kicking the crap out of the other student and then placed on probation. When someone is placed on probation, there is usually a jail sentence that is suspended. You get that benefit on the front end with the understanding that the judge may throw the book at you if you thumb your nose at him and violate. When you violate probation, all or part of the suspended sentence can then be imposed.
Without knowing all of the facts it is hard to judge what happened, although it does seem like he was treated pretty harshly. However, he knew dang well that he wasn't supposed to be smoking weed and knew what the consequences from FSU would be if he violated probation. It wasn't jail that made him lose his scholarship, it was his conscious choice to smoke weed.