By Bob Hertzel
MORGANTOWN — Suspended slotback Jock Sanders, West Virginia University’s leading receiver last season, will not be reinstated to the team any time soon, if at all, coach Bill Stewart told the Times West Virginian Tuesday.
Sanders came by Stewart’s office on Monday to talk with the coach about his situation.
“He’s still suspended, and I won’t do anything until after the Judiciary Council tells me he has done everything that has been required of him,” Stewart said. “I’m not sure whether he will be reinstated or not. I want him to talk with our player panel, too.”
Sanders was put on indefinite suspension and missed all of spring practice after a DUI in early February.
He was stopped after the black Dodge Charger he was driving strayed over the center line as it was going 36 in a 25 zone. Sanders failed three of four sobriety tests and blew a .125 blood alcohol level. The legal limit in West Virginia is .08.
It was his second arrest in less than a year.
The previous February he was one of four WVU players arrested in connection with a fight at a Walnut Street club. They were charged in March with battery and each pleaded no contest, receiving a fine and community service hours.
To Sanders’ credit, he has done everything he can to be reinstated, according to Stewart.
“The Judiciary Committee, which meets every week, tells me he is living a role model-like life,” said Stewart. “He has missed no classes since then.”
While unable to work out with the team this spring, he was working at Pro Performance, and Stewart said he has been exemplary there, too.
“They tell me he has been working tremendously hard there,” Stewart said, “pushing himself at times until he throws up.”
All of that, of course, works in Sanders’ favor for reinstatement, but Stewart wants to be certain that he is cleared not only of his legal obligations, but to go forward as a student at West Virginia.
“I want him to be a student first before becoming a student-athlete,” Stewart said. “When he meets all of the school’s regulations, then we’ll make sure he meets all of our athletic regulations.”
Stewart wants to make sure that his football team remains trouble free over the spring, now that practice has ended and finals are coming up. He is meeting with his players this week to give them his evaluation of their spring performance and to make sure they understand their obligations.
Sanders certainly would be a welcome addition to the football mix. Last season he led the Mountaineers with 53 catches for 462 yards and seven touchdowns while running for 278 yards and two scores.
This spring, however, the Mountaineers showed they could mount a strong passing attack without Sanders, Wes Lyons becoming a force as a receiver and actually showing promise out of the slot, even though he stands 6-8. The slot normally is position for smaller receivers.
E-mail Bob Hertzel at bhertzel@hotmail.com.
