Pubdate: Sat, 19 Jan 2002
Source: Daily News (KY)
Copyright: 2002 News Publishing LLC
Contact:  http://www.bgdailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1218

WINS MEAN MORE WITH CHARACTER

By suspending Raynardo Curry the same day he was arrested on a misdemeanor 
marijuana charge and placed in a pretrial diversion program, Western 
Kentucky University basketball coach Dennis Felton is sending the clear 
message that character counts at least as much as - and perhaps more than - 
victories. What a contrast to the University of Louisville's handling of 
offensive lineman Jonta Woodard's case. Woodard was charged in June with 
felony trafficking in marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and 
possession of drug paraphernalia. It's puzzling to understand why as of 
Friday - seven-and-a-half months and 13 football games later - Woodard's 
status with the team still has not been determined. There's been no 
announcement by coach John L. Smith, athletics director Tom Jurich or 
school President John Shumaker.

Of course, football players facing criminal drug charges are not only found 
in Louisville. Along with Curry's arrest comes news that former Western 
football cornerback Bobby Sippio was jailed last weekend on drug charges, 
including a third-degree charge of unlawful transaction with a minor on 
Jan. 11, the same day as he applied for the NFL draft.

While Sippio had the chance of being a third-or fourth-round draft pick, 
it's now likely he won't go that high. If he doesn't, it will prove that 
this kind of behavior can be costly.

The Cardinals had a highly successful football season, winning 11 games, 
including a Liberty Bowl triumph over Brigham Young. But are they really 
victories that can be fully savored? Was it a victory for Woodard to allow 
him to fully participate with the team while facing drug charges, to which 
he pleaded guilty Thursday?

Like every other coach who has worked so hard to get his team back to a 
competitive level, Felton wants to see his squad succeed. But the coach 
also understands that in the long run, a program that maintains standards 
of conduct and acts swiftly when those standards are violated will be much 
more successful. It matters - or should matter - as much how you get there 
as the fact that you finally arrive.

Make no mistake about it. Losing Curry is a blow to the team's chances of 
reaching some of its goals. He was one of only two players to start all 18 
games this season. He had a team-high 33 steals. Losing Curry leaves the 
Hilltoppers with only two obvious options at point guard, a critical 
position to the success of the team. At 15-3, there has been a lot of 
success this season.

But thanks to Felton's no nonsense 
"we-have-very-little-tolerance-for-this-sort-of-behavior" decision, the 
wins that follow will mean more, the season will mean more and, most 
importantly, there will be no doubt that character counts on The Hill.
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