DUI

The board has been abuzz in the wake of FItz Touissaint's July 24 DUI arrest.  In judging Fitz actions, commenters have generally fallen into one of two camps: drunk-driving hard-liners who see no room for discussion and those who take a wait and see/legal gray area approach.  I've seen reasonable arguments from both sides, but don't intend to tackle the moral/legal nuance of DUI or debate how/whether Hoke's response defines not only his own character but that of the program and university.  My goal is merely to put this in perspective by referencing incidents of drinking and driving from this offseason and how a variety of coaches responded.  If nothing else, it's clear that a one size fitz (had to) all solution doesn't exist.  For those who are interested in more points of comparison, check out this review of notable DUI incidents from the past few years.

[Edit: Or Seth's take after the Rucker incident last year, which of course is more detailed despite being a mere comment/reply to the OP.]

Former MSU basketball player (and current Golden State Warrior) Charlie Bell showed up to court for his DUI hearing drunk. Way to show the judge you're sorry for your previous actions.

Keeping the MSU legacy alive.

http://blog.sfgate.com/warriors/2011/12/09/gs-warriors-reserve-guard-cou...

Just saw this on ESPN. Updated at 4:19 today so doubt it was on the board earlier. This would be a big blow to their team if he was suspended for our under the lights game.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6242523

The blood on his hands and shirt is a nice touch

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6242523

Update: Crime(s) and Punishment?

"Floyd was cited for underage drinking in Minnesota in January 2010. This second offense could subject him to harsh penalties from Notre Dame's Residence Life, which could include suspension or even expulsion from school. That's not even counting any football-related punishments head coach Brian Kelly could hand out."

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/40075/lack-of-leadership-sho...

Penn State mascot arrested on DUI charge

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP)—The Penn State senior who plays the Nittany Lion mascot was arrested on a DUI charge and his status for the Rose Bowl is in doubt, police and school officials said.

James Sheep was pulled over on campus around 3:15 a.m. on Nov. 22, hours before Penn State’s 49-18 win over Michigan State, University Police Capt. Bill Moerschbacher said Monday. The officer who made the stop saw that the vehicle was overloaded, with passengers piled onto each other and blocking the driver’s view.

After determining that Sheep had been drinking, the officer administered sobriety tests and took him to the hospital for blood tests, Moerschbacher said. He was later charged with DUI and summary traffic violations.

A telephone message left for Sheep by The Associated Press was not immediately returned Monday.

At the Michigan State game, the final home game of the year, Sheep was honored for serving as the mascot since January 2007.

School spokesman Geoff Rushton said he expects some action from the Office of Judicial Affairs, but said that it would likely be up to the coaching staff to determine if Sheep can attend the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 1.

The student in the mascot suit receives a scholarship, but Rushton said he did not know how much it was worth. In addition to football games, the mascot attends several hundred events a year and must maintain a 3.0 grade point average.

University sanctions can range from requiring students to take mandatory education classes to expulsion, Rushton said.