Nebraska WR Coach Suspended 4 Games Following Arrest after Traffic Accident

Submitted by Marley Nowell on
http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/17345153/keith-williams…
Nebraska wide receivers coach Keith Williams has been suspended without pay until Aug. 31 and will miss the Cornhuskers' first four games after his arrest early Sunday on suspicion of driving under the influence and careless driving. Lincoln police officers responding to Sunday's accident found records of two previous DUI convictions for Williams in 2004 and 2009.
Nebraska coach Mike Riley said in a statement released Friday that Williams has started counseling and will assist the university in education and outreach about drunken-driving prevention.Williams, 45, is in his second season at Nebraska, where he has built a reputation as a top recruiter. He will not be allowed to coach or attend the Huskers' games against Fresno State, Oregon, Wyoming and Northwestern.

Could be the successor to Riley at Nebraska. Hopefully for his sake and the student-athletes he gets his life together.

ThadMattasagoblin

August 19th, 2016 at 11:24 AM ^

They still keep him after 2 DUIs? I realize that football is important in Nebraska but at some point you'd think it hurts the school's mission to have somebody who doesn't care about following the law.

xtramelanin

August 19th, 2016 at 1:03 PM ^

since his license will be revoked for some significant period of time.  also, a 3rd DUI is a felony in most places, maybe even nebraska.  

BayWolves

August 19th, 2016 at 11:40 AM ^

Except that DUI means a .08 BAC in Nebraska which I find to be quite low.  A DUI is not a DWI and having a couple beers in an hour does not make the average man dangerous on the road.

ijohnb

August 19th, 2016 at 11:49 AM ^

is no functional difference at all between a DUI(OUIL) and a DWI(Impaired).  Nearly every state has two different charges and they exist basically for the sole purpose of expediting the process by way of plea.  An alcohol offense is an alcohol offense.  They all screw you in almost exactly the same way regardless of what they are called in different states and for different BAC levels. 

In the absence of a DUI sting, if you are pulled over for drinking and driving it is not a coincidence, your drinking was having an effect on your driving(whether you realized it or not) and that is why you got pulled over.

Stuck in Utah

August 19th, 2016 at 12:21 PM ^

In Utah, the 3rd and subsequent DUI conviction is a felony, though Nebraska may be different. Generally .08 is the national standard and I understand he was at .15. If this is true, he's lucky he didn't hurt some one because most people at that level REALLY fail their SFST's (standardised field sobriety tests).

EGD

August 19th, 2016 at 11:51 AM ^

The .08 legal limit should have been easy for him to remember, considering it's the same as the minimun GPA needed to play football at Nebraska.

PopeLando

August 19th, 2016 at 11:33 AM ^

3 DUIs total now.

I sincerely doubt that he doesn't care about following the law. If he can get the help he needs and turn it around, he can be a great help to the program.

One month's suspension without pay is a stiff penalty, but not as bad as having to rebuild your respect amongst your peers and the kids you coach.

Wolverine Devotee

August 19th, 2016 at 11:27 AM ^

Does anyone honestly think Mike Riley is going to be at Nebraska still in 4 years?

They fired Pelini for going 9-3 every year and made a bowl last year just because their players have good grades.

Anyways, good thing no one was hurt.

The Victors

August 19th, 2016 at 11:29 AM ^

It seems to apply to student-athletes, so why should we not hold their coaches and mentors to at least that standard?

Drunk driving is no freaking joke. You could maybe justify this punishment after the first incident.  But after the 3rd?  It's appalling and he should be out of a job, especially in a position where he has a profound influence on the younger generation.

bluesalt

August 19th, 2016 at 11:37 AM ^

If he's 45 now, that means he was arrested when he was probably 33 and 38. And there's no way he's unlucky and the only three times he's driven drunk were the times he was caught. For sure there have been plenty of instances when he got away with it between 2004 and 2016 (and presumably pre-dating 2004 as well.)

The only lesson he can teach players is how NOT to learn from one's mistakes. I'd be very disappointed if Michigan kept him on staff were he a coach here. Very disappointed.

The Victors

August 19th, 2016 at 1:01 PM ^

Sorry, but you don't get to just hit the "reset" buttom when it's happened twice before and with something as serious as drunk driving. It's a pattern. Nebraska isn't doing him any favors by giving him multiple chances.

Mr. Elbel

August 19th, 2016 at 11:33 AM ^

I doubt after this he could realistically be Riley's replacement. Maybe if Riley stays on for Ferentz years and the guy doesn't have another DUI. But I don't see Riley staying on long enough for time to heal things up for Williams. Particularly since it's his third. No guarantee that in another 5 years he gets another. Seems to be a pattern at this point. Even if he had a chance before, I think he just severely diminished his chances of moving up. Glad no one was physically hurt in this, but Williams really hurt himself here in his future with the sport.

LSAClassOf2000

August 19th, 2016 at 3:06 PM ^

Wherever that is, that takes some serious dedication to be that upset....or drunk.....or both even. Growing up in Saline, I can recall a few people doing that, but I don't think it was ever quite so....statement-oriented, if you will. 

Maizen

August 19th, 2016 at 11:55 AM ^

If a player got 3 DUI's would he only be suspended 4 games? This is a joke. The guy needs to go jail, and then he needs to go to rehab. Can't get the help he needs if he's going to be back on the sidelines in a few weeks. Shame on Mike Riley.