Coach Callahan to wait on deciding Purify's fate

[BIGREDFAN_in_OMAHA]

Callahan will wait before deciding Purify's fate

BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star

Tuesday, Jun 12, 2007 - 11:36:44 pm CDT

 

OMAHA — Nebraska football coach Bill Callahan said he won’t make any permanent decisions regarding the status of suspended wide receiver Maurice Purify until the player’s legal issues are resolved.

 

That could still be several weeks. Purify does have a June 21 court date, when he will face two assault charges and charges of resisting arrest, failure to comply and trespassing — all stemming from a May 5 altercation at a Lincoln bar. However, Purify does not have a court date set for his most recent arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence.

 

Purify, 21, was stopped early Friday morning by the Nebraska State Patrol at North First Street and Cornhusker Highway. Deb Collins, spokeswoman for the State Patrol, said Tuesday that Purify’s blood alcohol level was 0.138. The legal limit in Nebraska is 0.08.

 

Before his most recent arrest, Purify had been authorized to apply for pretrial diversion in the May 5 incident. However, the city attorney’s office barred Purify from participating in pretrial diversion, based in part on the DUI charge, said Jon Braaten, Purify’s attorney.

 

Callahan suspended Purify indefinitely following Friday’s arrest. Speaking to reporters following a Big Brothers Big Sisters luncheon Tuesday, Callahan said he doesn’t have any set stipulations that will dictate when, or if, Purify can return to the team.

 

“Not at this point,” Callahan said. “We’re still allowing him to go through due process. He does have some obligation relative to some personal things that we’re working on.”

 

Callahan spoke to a crowd of more than 360 at the Friends of Mentoring luncheon at the Forte Banquet and Conference Center. In his speech, Callahan mentioned how he wants his players to be smart, tough and dependable.

 

He also acknowledged not everyone’s perfect.

 

“You’re going to have some issues. You’re going to have some problems,” Callahan said. “They go through this everywhere. But we’re going to do everything we can to help those young men get to where they want to go.”

 

Callahan said Purify isn’t allowed to participate in Nebraska’s voluntary summer workouts or other team-related functions.

 

“But we haven’t turned our back on him,” said Callahan, noting he’s remained in close contact with Purify. “We’re trying to help him to the best of our abilities. He realizes that he’s made some errors, and he wants to rectify those, and he’s going to have to work hard at those areas in his own personal life.”

 

One player who is, however, involved in summer workouts is junior running back Marlon Lucky. Callahan said Lucky, who suffered a knee sprain in the fourth quarter of the Red-White Spring Game in April, was cleared to return to action a week after that game.

 

In other injury news, Callahan said senior cornerback Zackary Bowman, who suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in March and had surgery, could return by late September.

 

“That’s the target date. But you never know,” Callahan said. “It just all depends on how he responds to that injury. He has improved in the last few weeks.”

 

ljs

[Bugeater]

Man, he really blew it by missing out on that pre-trial diversion. I would imagine the June 21st court date is just an arraignment, if this ends up going to trial I'm not sure if it's going to be over by the time the season starts.

[bennychico11]

so was he on pretrial diversion and it just got revoked? Or had that not been started yet?

If he was or was on probation wouldn't one of the rules of that be he can't be drinking or especially be drinking and driving? If so that will probably hurt his previous offense.

 

I don't know what to think anymore...but I really don't think he belongs playing on the team. I mean, the guy is a senior. He knows how this is supposed to work...he's not some freshman who just got carried away with the college party scene.

[husker rob]

knowing how the court system works the county attorney is probable going to use this to get a plea on the dwi charge. like if you plead guilty to DWI we will drop the charges of assault and so on.

[AR Husker Fan]

so was he on pretrial diversion and it just got revoked? Or had that not been started yet?

If he was or was on probation wouldn't one of the rules of that be he can't be drinking or especially be drinking and driving? If so that will probably hurt his previous offense.

 

I don't know what to think anymore...but I really don't think he belongs playing on the team. I mean, the guy is a senior. He knows how this is supposed to work...he's not some freshman who just got carried away with the college party scene.

No, he was not yet on pre-trial diversion status. He was eligible for it until the DUI - the prosecutor then revoked the offer.

[Husker_x]

I'm getting the feeling that Purify isn't going to be off the team. Of course I can't say for certain, but Callahan's tone seems to indicate he's more concerned about helping Purify than dumping him. Depending on how well our upstanding judicial system treats this wayward soul, I'd put my money on non-conf schedule suspension.

 

And USC must be raised to the ground.

[Hunter94]

well, depending on the legal outcome, like i said, the way this is handled will set the tone for the rest of cally's career here. being too concilliatory is not going to be viewed too favorably either. besides a couple more days remain for Mo to do something else that's stupid, before his first hearing.

[808Husker in KCMO]

"These allegations are false"

 

-William Jefferson Clinton

[ttheKid1*18]

I'm getting the feeling that Purify isn't going to be off the team. Of course I can't say for certain, but Callahan's tone seems to indicate he's more concerned about helping Purify than dumping him. Depending on how well our upstanding judicial system treats this wayward soul, I'd put my money on non-conf schedule suspension.

 

And USC must be raised to the ground.

Callahan seems to want him to succeed, and is giving him one more chance from my point of view.