clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

FRIDAY THE TWELFTH: DISASTER

New, 1 comment
By Matt Hinton
1 comment / new

I don't do a lot of straight news updates, as the constant vigilance required for that is not tenable and the vast majority of stories are self-explanatory and available all over the place. Sometimes, though it's impossible to ignore headlines like the following when they appear in a row on a single sidebar:

Florida DB killed in motorcycle accident
- - -

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- A walk-on defensive back for the Florida Gators was killed early Friday when the motorcycle he was driving hit a median at a high rate of speed, police said.

Michael Guilford, a 19-year-old redshirt freshman from Quincy, was not wearing a helmet. Neither was passenger Ashley Slonina, a Florida junior from Lynn Haven who also died in the crash.

[...]
Guilford, nicknamed "Sunshine" because his long blonde hair resembled that of Ronnie "Sunshine" Bass in the football movie "Remember the Titans," was named one of the scout team players of the week following Florida's win over Mississippi earlier this season.

Guilford also mimicked Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith during preparation for the Bowl Championship Series national title game in January.
- - -


Penn State RB Scott charged with rape, assault
- - -
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Suspended Penn State running back Austin Scott has been charged with raping a woman at her on-campus apartment after meeting her at a bar.

Scott, 22, was arraigned Friday on charges of rape, sexual assault and two counts of aggravated indecent assault, all felonies, in connection with the Oct. 5 encounter.
[...]
"The interaction he had with the woman involved was consensual, and we anticipate we will be able to prove that in court," his lawyer, Joseph Amendola, said. "Very optimistic. We're looking forward to the opportunity of establishing his innocence."

Authorities said the encounter occurred in the early morning hours of Oct. 5. Coach Joe Paterno suspended Scott later that day, saying the tailback had violated an unspecified team rule.

Scott remains enrolled at Penn State.
[...]
Scott also faces three misdemeanors: two counts of indecent assault and one count of simple assault. He was released on $50,000 unsecured bail and ordered to stay away from the alleged victim.
- - -


Austin Scott! Austin Scott! Will you go down as one of the most disappointing and possibly embarrassing recruits in Penn State history?
- - -
This is very, very bad news for Penn State, which has already endured the mother of all campus brawls this summer and was probably going to get away from the Paterno road rage incident with a few laughs. Rape and assault, though, that's not laughs. That gets you labeled "Thug U" and puts even more heat on an elederly, belligerent coach whose program is apparently beginning to fall apart (um, again) on the field and off.

Dismissed LB Williams pleads guilty
- - -

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)-- Willie Williams, who was dismissed from the Louisville football team after being charged with marijuana possession, pleaded guilty Friday to the misdemeanor charge.

Other charges, including a felony offense of tampering with physical evidence for allegedly trying to eat the marijuana before police found it, were dismissed as part of a plea agreement, The (Louisville) Courier-Journal reported on its Web site.

The 22-year-old former linebacker was thrown off the team Sept. 27, the day after he was arrested.

Police said he failed to pull his car over for several blocks when an officer tried to stop him for loud music. The officer noted that Williams was chewing on marijuana when he stopped, according to a police report.

Williams was sentenced to 120 days in jail, but it was conditionally discharged for two years, meaning he will not have to serve the time as long as he stays out of trouble.

His attorney, Grant Helman, said Williams is transferring to a junior college in Virginia or Georgia to complete his education and at some point will try to resume his football career.
- - -

Actually, if it weren't for the price to his future he has to pay for it in this case, trying to eat the evidence is kind of funny. And sad. So, so sad. What is wrong with the children?

Loading comments...