2008 Woodie Awards
UL linebacker dismissed after repeated arrests, pot possession
Sam Hollingsworth
Issue date: 10/5/07 Section: Opinion
Originally published: 10/4/07 at 10:25 PM EST
Last update: 10/4/07 at 10:25 PM EST
- Page 1 of 1
University of Louisville linebacker Willie Williams was released from the team after being arrested last week.
Williams, a junior at the college, was pulled over for playing music too loud, said Louisville police spokesman Phil Russell.
According to Russell, Williams was trying to hide marijuana so the police cited him for possession of marijuana, felony tampering with evidence and driving without a license.
According to the Louisville Cardinal, the campus' newspaper, Williams had been arrested 11 times before coming to UL. He transferred from West Los Angeles Community College this year.
It's understandable for the team to throw off an athlete with such a troublesome past, but it's unfortunate.
Student athletes represent an entire team, school and organization, as well as themselves. A lot of schools are tightening down on the punishments they give to students in law-breaking situations.
University sanctions will surely be filed but the immediate effect was Williams' release from the team.
Williams knew the outcome of this was going to end up sour, hence his antics once the flashing lights were in his rear view.
The Cardinal reports Williams allegedly did not pull over for a few blocks while police trailed him with their lights on, then tampered with evidence.
Russell said: "He basically had the marijuana in his mouth."
This would indicate not only that Williams was up to sketchy business, but that he was trying to avoid being policed, probably for the fear of being released from the team.
The ridiculous thing to me is that all of this stemmed from simply playing music too loud.
If I didn't have a license and playing music too loud was illegal, I wouldn't be doing them both at the same time.
As an athlete at a Division I school, players like Williams have to be aware of the possible consequences from unacceptable behavior.
If Williams did know, that still didn't prohibit him from making the choices he made, which just happened to be illegal.
And you thought getting upset by Syracuse was bad.
Williams, a junior at the college, was pulled over for playing music too loud, said Louisville police spokesman Phil Russell.
According to Russell, Williams was trying to hide marijuana so the police cited him for possession of marijuana, felony tampering with evidence and driving without a license.
According to the Louisville Cardinal, the campus' newspaper, Williams had been arrested 11 times before coming to UL. He transferred from West Los Angeles Community College this year.
It's understandable for the team to throw off an athlete with such a troublesome past, but it's unfortunate.
Student athletes represent an entire team, school and organization, as well as themselves. A lot of schools are tightening down on the punishments they give to students in law-breaking situations.
University sanctions will surely be filed but the immediate effect was Williams' release from the team.
Williams knew the outcome of this was going to end up sour, hence his antics once the flashing lights were in his rear view.
The Cardinal reports Williams allegedly did not pull over for a few blocks while police trailed him with their lights on, then tampered with evidence.
Russell said: "He basically had the marijuana in his mouth."
This would indicate not only that Williams was up to sketchy business, but that he was trying to avoid being policed, probably for the fear of being released from the team.
The ridiculous thing to me is that all of this stemmed from simply playing music too loud.
If I didn't have a license and playing music too loud was illegal, I wouldn't be doing them both at the same time.
As an athlete at a Division I school, players like Williams have to be aware of the possible consequences from unacceptable behavior.
If Williams did know, that still didn't prohibit him from making the choices he made, which just happened to be illegal.
And you thought getting upset by Syracuse was bad.
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