DWI Charges in Hays County Dropped Against UT Player D. J. Monroe
D.J. Monroe expected to return to the Longhorn squad after agreement with the Hays County District Attorney.
If D.J. Monroe wasn't a football player for UT and the Longhorns weren't headed to the BCS Championship Game, you have to ask the questions:
Would his DWI have been handled this quickly?
Did the BCS Championship Game play a factor in the outcome of his DWI?
Does the Longhorns feel his play is important enough against Alabama?
Given the number of recent DWI arrests of both players and athletic staff, does the Longhorn athletic department have a problem?
In a plea agreement with the Hays County District Attorney, the charges of driving while intoxicated in Hays County against D.J. Monroe have been dropped. He entered a guilty plea to obstruction of a passageway and received deferred adjudication. This opens the door for the University of Texas kick returner to rejoin the football team.
Monroe was arrested for drunk driving in the Austin area last November, shortly after the Longhorn win over Baylor. He was suspended indefinitely by head coach Mack Brown, and missed the final three games of the season. Before that, the freshman had contributed significantly to the Texas special teams, running back a record two kickoff returns for touchdowns. He also averaged over 5 yards per carry as a reserve tailback. Monroe and his parents are expected to meet with Coach Brown to determine if he can rejoin the team.
Second ranked Texas faces number 1 ranked Alabama for the national championship on January 7, 2010.
See related story: Longhorn Football Player Arrested for DWI in Austin
I always find it intriguing the subtle ways in which big time sports or celebrity status can influence the behavior of the legal system.
Lots of cogs and wheels are at work to make sure this young man is ready for game time.