Is Hicks finally out of chances?
by Nuss on Jun 3, 2009 11:11 AM PDT
in Cougar Football
27 comments
So, it appears Xavier Hicks is at it again. The guy slated to be your starting strong safety in the fall reportedly had his fourth run-in with the law on Monday, again for driving with a suspended license.
One has to wonder when this guy is going to be out of chances. Much was made of what he learned from his mistake with the rubbing-alcohol-in-the-contacts idea, and how hard he worked to regain his teammates' trust. No, he didn't commit DUI, or get arrested for stealing stuff, or assault anyone. But driving around Pullman -- a small town with an extensive bus system that students can ride for free -- with a suspended license is just plain dumb.
Raise your hand if you've ever been arrested once. A few of you? OK, keep your hand up if you've been arrested twice. Still some? Now, keep it up if you've been arrested four times. This is what I'm driving at.
As a high school teacher, I always tell my friends and colleagues that I can deal with the big mistake a kid makes, the big blow up. What I have a harder time dealing with is repeated disruptions and/or repeated incompetence. Sometimes, the little stuff piles up to much bigger than the big stuff. And this is as good an example of that as any.
The sports information department has said they're aware of the latest arrest, and that the matter has been turned over to the unity council. The fact that Wulff isn't intervening himself might be a bit of a sign of how seriously the team views this.
Hat tip to WSU Football Blog.
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My first thought was boot him
Hicks obviously has a lot of trouble making good choices even when they are obvious. He might already have been on zero-tolerance. Still, getting kicked off the team for a suspended license? I’m not sure the punishment fits the crime.
Anyway, I would not have a problem if Wulff and the team decided enough was enough. He has had a lot of chances to figure things out. Wulff has said he is doing everything he needs to do but maybe this is the last straw.
by BornCoug on Jun 3, 2009 12:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
You've got to be kidding me!
Every single police officer in Pullman knows who this guy is, so he’s got to know the minute they see him behind the wheel, he’s going to get pulled over.
It’s like Xavier is purposely defying everyone in authority and feels he’s such a star that he’s going to keep getting let off the hook.
He reminds me of Yuni continuously swinging at the first pitch. He did it again last night with a runner on third and less then two outs. Even benching him doesn’t seem to make an impression.
My first thought was to kick Hicks out of the program. Maybe the unity council has a better idea. I know if I’m Coach Wulff I’m probably finished trying to get through to this kid. This kid’s only got one paddle in the water.
by SW WA Coug on Jun 3, 2009 1:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Distribution of votes right now
Boot him: 18 votes (40 percent)
Suspend him: 13 votes (29)
Punish: 12 votes (27)
No punishment: 0 votes
Who cares, the Huskies still suck: 1 vote (2 percent)
Interesting to me that there doesn’t seem to be much consensus. Shows how tough of a decision this is going to be.
by Nuss on Jun 3, 2009 2:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
...
This guy was friends with my friends and I. We would hang out on the weekdays and weekends. He drove the 5 hours to come to the west side of the state and stay at my house on the weekends during the summer when he didn’t have practice. Then he stole one of my friends’ debit cards and spent nearly $1000 on it and somehow he got it reduced to a misdemeanor when that is really a felony… I am all for the harshest punishment possible.
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Jun 3, 2009 4:58 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Well, that would
change it for me. A suspended licese is one thing but that kind of fraud and theft is totally different.
by BornCoug on Jun 3, 2009 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think he's really put Coach Wulff in a tough spot....
Because Coach has stuck his neck out for this kid time and again. If he’s going to continue to keep acting like a criminal he should be treated like one too. I don’t like all the bad publicity he’s giving the athletic department. I also don’t think this is the end of it for Xavier. He sounds like a kid that just doesn’t get it. There’s certainly no way he can now be trusted to do the right thing.
Our program shouldn’t have to babysit kids that think it’s their God-given right to flaunt the law. I think he has used up all of his goodwill and he should humbly accept whatever punishment he’s given by the law and the unity council. Take his keys from him and give him a bus ticket out of town.
by SW WA Coug on Jun 3, 2009 6:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Driving with a suspended license is hardly "acting like a criminal"
The kid’s been guilty of a lot of poor judgment, but I’d hardly call what he’s done “criminal” behavior. At this point, I’m more questioning his intelligence than anything else.
by Nuss on Jun 3, 2009 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
....
Criminal – Stealing my friend’s debit card, giving “free” gas to 5 to 8 of his buddies with it and somehow spending around $60 to $75 at Cougar Country Drive Thru with it, and spending around $300 at Dizzmores with it, eventually totaling near $100.
Criminal – Trying to blind a guy that he is in a heated dispute with that lasted multiple days by putting rubbing alcohol in his contact lens solution. He didn’t do that as a prank, he did it because he is sly.
Poor Judgment – 1st time driving with a suspended license.
No Intelligence – 2nd time driving with a suspended license.
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Jun 3, 2009 11:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
...
Oh yeah and that guy that he tried to blind was his “teammate.”
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Jun 3, 2009 11:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
...
Not to mention the debit card guy was his genuine friend that he just took advantage of and didn’t think would ever find out it was him that stole it.
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Jun 3, 2009 11:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK, OK we get it
You’ve got an axe to grind with Hicks. Enough.
by Nuss on Jun 3, 2009 11:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Driving without a valid license....
Isn’t a crime? He’s breaking the law when he does that Nuss.
by SW WA Coug on Jun 4, 2009 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Might as well add parking tickets too....
I get your point.
by SW WA Coug on Jun 4, 2009 7:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
...
He got arrested for his driving with a suspended license didn’t he? I think that is a little bit more major than speeding and jaywalking. The point SW WA Coug was trying to make was that you said it is hardly “Criminal” behavior, but if it’s a crime, especially to the point of getting arrested than it’s “Criminal” behavior. He should have been suspended after the credit card and then suspended again after the rubbing alcohol in teammate’s lens solution. These other two things are really weak but it’s still gasoline on the fire.
What sucks is he is arguably our best defender… Suspend him for a few weeks of practice and the first 3 games of the year.
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Jun 4, 2009 8:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wasn't trying to be petty about it....
I was just trying to point out that we have laws that we should be TRYING to live by. He obviously could care less about them. His driving privileges were revoked for a reason. If you really want to compare that to jaywalking, so be it.
It’s certainly not as serious as some other types of crimes, but what if, just what if, while supposedly speeding down the street, he caused an accident? Maybe the accident itself is unavoidable but just the fact that he’s driving makes him guilty. This kid keeps on making bad choices. It sounds like he believes he’s above it all.
I don’t care how good a player he is. Everybody is supposed to live by the same set of rules. Maybe we should just call him ‘Misdemeanor Man.’ I can’t wait to see what the courts have to say about it. I’m pretty sure that’s not a day Mr. Hicks is looking forward to.
by SW WA Coug on Jun 4, 2009 7:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
if al capone can go down for tax evasion
we can send this kid packing for driving w/ a suspended license.
he should’ve been kicked off after the credit card fiasco and/or the contact solution incident.
this is pretty tame, but it gives wsu an excuse to let him finally leave…
by BigWood on Jun 3, 2009 8:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Am I the only one who thinks we kinda need him?
by Nuss on Jun 3, 2009 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
We need everyone
Hicks might be the best defensive player we have at thier position next year so no question we need him badly!
Thing is, Hicks is not going to be the difference between a sub-.500 season and a bowl game. I would suck if he is kicked off the team given the only defensive unit we were in pretty good shape was the secondary. Hicks and Nwachukwu at safety and Jones at one corner. There still isn’t enough at d-tackle though so…
I am more concerned about the potential APR hit we could take. This is how it is going to go until Wulff has 2 or even 3 full classes in. At least most of the f-ups have found their way off the roster…I hope! ;)
by BornCoug on Jun 3, 2009 11:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The only way it's a major APR hit is if he's not on track to graduate
I don’t know if that’s the case.
by Nuss on Jun 4, 2009 12:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's a senior
so I would hope he is on track. Maybe allow him to finish his degree but keep him off the field. Amazing how this kid continues to mess up.
by BornCoug on Jun 4, 2009 1:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Heck no. If he's not here for football he can pay for his education like everybody else.
If he qualifies for aide, great.
by cfred on Jun 4, 2009 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
True but WSU still has a committment
to even the “bad apples”. If he is on track they should give him the option of finishing his degree at WSU regardless of whether he is playing.
by BornCoug on Jun 4, 2009 5:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
we need him?
because otherwise we’ll lose all our games by 35 this season rather than 32…
i have no problem cutting loose a senior headcase before we start a(nother) throwaway seasson
by BigWood on Jun 4, 2009 12:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The question
in my mind is whether he is good for the incoming class or a potential bad influence. If he can be a good leader to Atofau (probably plays as a true frosh), Hosea, Carpenter, and Locker then maybe he is good to keep around. If not, then see ya’ later it’s been a blast!
This is not an easy decision I’m sure.
by BornCoug on Jun 4, 2009 1:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's relinquishing his right to be on the football team....
If he was a student not on an athletic scholarship, how many chances would he get to turn his act around? I thought he was supposed to already be on a short leash and had been emphatic is proclaiming he was through acting like this. Maybe not quite criminal activity, but nonetheless he was breaking the law and destroying any trust his peers would have in him.
by SW WA Coug on Jun 4, 2009 4:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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