July 28, 2004: Headlines: COS - Iran: University Administration: Football: Sports: Miami Herald: UM officially accepted star linebacker Willie Williams, and university president Donna Shalala defended the decision in a letter to students and alumni.

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Iran: Special Report: Iran RPCV, Cabinet Member, and University President Donna Shalala: July 28, 2004: Headlines: COS - Iran: University Administration: Football: Sports: Miami Herald: UM officially accepted star linebacker Willie Williams, and university president Donna Shalala defended the decision in a letter to students and alumni.

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-239-147.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.239.147) on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 7:26 pm: Edit Post

UM officially accepted star linebacker Willie Williams, and university president Donna Shalala defended the decision in a letter to students and alumni.

UM officially accepted star linebacker Willie Williams, and university president Donna Shalala defended the decision in a letter to students and alumni.

UM officially accepted star linebacker Willie Williams, and university president Donna Shalala defended the decision in a letter to students and alumni.

Controversial recruit Williams is accepted

UM officially accepted star linebacker Willie Williams, and university president Donna Shalala defended the decision in a letter to students and alumni.

By MANNY NAVARRO

mnavarro@herald.com

The University of Miami officially opened its doors to Willie Williams on Tuesday, accepting the admissions application of the country's top-rated high school linebacker whose recent legal troubles and lengthy juvenile arrest record had put his UM status in limbo.

Coach Larry Coker, athletic director Paul Dee and school president Donna Shalala, who e-mailed a special letter to students and alumni informing them of Williams' admittance prior to a news conference Tuesday afternoon, defended the school's decision vehemently.

Supported by his mother, grandmother and other family members, Williams, normally zestful, read a statement to the media with a serious demeanor, saying he had learned from his mistakes and was now devoted to being a student and athlete.

''I'm very excited the University of Miami has accepted my application for admission,'' said Williams, 19, who added that he will not talk to the media in the ``foreseeable future.''

''I know in the past I have made some mistakes, but I have learned from these mistakes,'' he said. ``Having grown up in Miami, I'm really excited just to play for the hometown team.''

Dee said at the news conference: ``There's a possibility [Williams] could redshirt, but there are no restrictions as far as playing time.''

But late Tuesday, Cane-Sport reported on its website that sources said Williams will miss at least the first four games of this season as a condition of his enrollment.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Dee said Williams, who will live on campus, will have additional academic conditions placed on him. But he also said Williams will be regulated under the same rules every other student at the school faces. Coker said Williams will not have any additional curfews either, other than those given to the football team prior to games.

In her letter, Shalala said Williams, like his fellow athletes, will participate in a program that includes mentoring, constructive counseling and monitoring of his behavior -- on and off campus.

Shalala also said the school has ''placed the bar high'' for Williams.

Said Dee: ``There are academic conditions obviously for every student and every student-athlete, but in this case there will be some conditions I'm not at liberty to get into. Willie comes here as any other student comes to the University of Miami. . . . There are a lot of policies here at the University of Miami that regulate behavior both academically, socially and athletically.

``All of those policies will be equally applied without exception. We'll follow those policies if they were to come into play. Hopefully, this will be the last time I'll have to worry about those policies.''

Said Coker: ``I think the part of it now, I think Willie has to prove himself academically. He has to prove himself on the football field. But that's just like each of our athletes.''

The 6-2, 230-pound Carol City High graduate signed a UM letter of intent in early February. Then, a day later, his behavior during a January recruiting trip to the University of Florida, one of several teams after him, came to light. He eventually pleaded no contest to a felony and misdemeanor for allegedly discharging hotel fire extinguishers, and for allegedly hugging a female student against her will.

Williams -- who was arrested 10 times for theft-related incidents as a juvenile -- was already on probation in Broward for a 2002 burglary case, raising the possibility his probation would be revoked and he would be sent to jail. But a Broward County Circuit Court judge withheld adjudication for violation of parole in the burglary case and instead extended his probation three years. Williams was sentenced to 250 hours of community service and ordered to abstain from alcohol and illegal drugs. He was also told he would be tested randomly for alcohol and drugs.

Dee said Tuesday the university's admissions department went through ''a rigorous process'' before allowing Williams to enroll.

''I believe the correct decision has been made,'' Dee said.

While some believe Williams might not change his ways, Coker said he has never wavered on his feelings toward Williams. Asked if he was willing to stake his reputation and legacy on Williams' character, Coker answered, ``Yes.''

''I believe in this young man,'' Coker said. ``I never wavered on the recommendation. I do take it very personal, and I do take it with my reputation on the line. But not just with Willie. Every player.''

NO MORE RENEGADES

Dee said Williams' acceptance to UM does not signal a return to a time when Miami was known best for renegade behavior on and off the field, an image the school has spent much of the past decade trying to shed.

'The fact of the matter is this is not a return to the `days of misunderstandings,' as I prefer to call it,'' Dee said. ``Coach Coker is a superb coach. He has tremendous control and the respect of his team. His coaching staff has come an awfully long way, and I don't think this in any way affects any of that.''

Freshmen are scheduled to report to camp Aug. 9, with practice set to begin the next day.





When this story was prepared, here was the front page of PCOL magazine:

This Month's Issue: August 2004 This Month's Issue: August 2004
Teresa Heinz Kerry celebrates the Peace Corps Volunteer as one of the best faces America has ever projected in a speech to the Democratic Convention. The National Review disagreed and said that Heinz's celebration of the PCV was "truly offensive." What's your opinion and who can come up with the funniest caption for our Current Events Funny?

Exclusive: Director Vasquez speaks out in an op-ed published exclusively on the web by Peace Corps Online saying the Dayton Daily News' portrayal of Peace Corps "doesn't jibe with facts."

In other news, the NPCA makes the case for improving governance and explains the challenges facing the organization, RPCV Bob Shaconis says Peace Corps has been a "sacred cow", RPCV Shaun McNally picks up support for his Aug 10 primary and has a plan to win in Connecticut, and the movie "Open Water" based on the negligent deaths of two RPCVs in Australia opens August 6. Op-ed's by RPCVs: Cops of the World is not a good goal and Peace Corps must emphasize community development.


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Story Source: Miami Herald

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Iran; University Administration; Football; Sports

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