SportsLink

WSU’s Hicks cited again

Posted by Vince Grippi

June 3, 2009 5:22 p.m. • 12 comments

COUGARS

Starting safety Xavier Hicks missed the first three games of last season. It wasn’t because he was injured. It was because he had been suspended by coach Paul Wulff after pleading guilty to attempted third-degree assault and third-degree theft in an incident involving a cable bill and his roommate. After serving his time last summer, Hicks got nabbed for driving without a valid license while heading home from jail in Colfax. Afterward, he said it was a stupid thing to do and he had learned from it. Well, apparently the lesson rubbed off. Hicks, who will be a senior in the fall, was arrested earlier this week for the same driving infraction. For an unedited version of our story, read on.

••••••••••

• Here’s the short story we’ll have in tomorrow’s paper …

Washington State University starting safety Xavier Hicks was arrested Monday by WSU police and cited for a 3rd degree driving while license suspended.

Hicks was pulled over on campus just after 1 p.m. while driving a teammate’s car. He was arrested, cited and released. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The senior safety has been suspended from team activities and will have to face the team’s Unity Council – a group of players that decides punishment – before being reinstated, WSU athletic spokesman Bill Stevens said.

This is the second time in less than a year Hicks has been cited for DWLS.

Last spring he pled guilty to attempted third-degree assault and third-degree theft, both misdemeanors, in a case involving a teammate, receiving a 45-day jail sentence. After finishing his sentence during the summer, Hicks was cited while driving back to Pullman from the Whitman County jail in Colfax.

Despite being suspended by coach Paul Wulff and missing WSU’s first three games in 2008, Hicks still finished second on the team in tackles with 79 and tied for the team lead with two interceptions.

•••

• That’s it for now. We’ll be back in the morning. Until then …

12 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

TommyCoug on June 03 at 5:31 p.m.
So Long Hicks!! What a silly, stupid thing to do!! Enough is enough!!
SaveFerris on June 03 at 6:22 p.m.
What can you say? Why is it so hard to stay out of the driver’s seat in Pullman? There isn’t a place in town that you can’t get to by walking. I don’t know what they will decide but it is what it is.
gocougs01 on June 03 at 9:02 p.m.
When will he learn? If he needs to go then good by but I am not sure that will be good for WSU. What does that do for the graduation/scholarship/NCAA rule? The last thing we need is another sanction against us. I am looking forward to the recruits who will hopefully replace the players who have baggage and bad attitudes. Several of these kids have been given an opportunity to set themselves up very well for the future and have not necessarily taken advantage of the opportunities. The Unity Council will make a decision and I am sure they will be fair. If he stays, hopefully he will grow from it; if he leaves then he made the choice.
gocougs01 on June 03 at 9:19 p.m.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is this article on the WSU athletic web-site.

“Greg Lagreid Named Pac-10 Baseball Scholar-Athlete”

A typical story about the majority of the student athletes at WSU. 3.48GPA 3.32 batting average played at least half of the year injured and will most likely be a high draft pick. I am sure he has had fun times while at Pullman but his headlines are good. What is the difference? He gets it !!!!!
MikeSequim on June 04 at 7:27 a.m.
It’s been along time since I went to WSU but my Prof’s suggested a couple of “Bonehead 100” series classes for me since I had been out of school for over ten years before coming to WSU. Mine were in English and Math. Don’t they have any memory teaching classes there? He can read a “playbook” but not the Law? I say give him a chance! After all, he did make 79 tackles and have 2 interceptions. Isn’t that what the University is suppose to teach it’s students as it’s primary goal, how to tackle?

Uff!
bplucker on June 04 at 9:39 a.m.
You can look at these types of things two ways.
1. He was not cited for drugs, alchohol or any serious endagered driving violations. Maybe he was trying to do a good deed by moving a friends car??? Not like he was driving a car load of partiers around. All reports have been good in the areas of leadership, hard work, and he can flat play.

2. If he can’t follow the simple rule that he is not allowed to drive what other simple and not so simple rules will he continue to break if not held accountable. The best saying in the world, whatever you tolerate you encourage!

Personaly I hope he sticks around, but can understand if enough is enough. We also don’t know all the facts.
DeerLakeRon on June 04 at 10:44 a.m.
MikeSequim,
Sarcasim I hope.
Give Him how many Chances do we suggest?
I believe he has had a chance or two or three and some we aren’t aware of.
I say we nee to make statements about what kind of Student Athletes are to be staying and wanted as WSU family. Burn me once same on you burn be twice same on me for giving the chance too. Burn us three times< see ya Later.
TommyCoug on June 04 at 10:52 a.m.
Bill Plucker…my goodness…are you new to this thing…you don’t seem to even know what Hicks “bad actor” history is…read up on it and get back to us!!
ECoug01 on June 04 at 10:57 a.m.
This is so dumb. I knew this guy was a bonehead last year with his issues. Its a good thing he is talented and we need a safety. It kept him on the team last year when other guys not starting were given the boot for lessor offenses. I agree with others Pullman you don’t really need to drive. Also if you know you are driving with suspended license wouldn’t you drive extra careful following all speed limits and laws to avoid giving them a reason to pull you over???????? IDIOT… He won’t even be slapped on the wrist by the unity or Wulff. He is a starter and Wulff knows the pressure is mounting for him to do something and his options are few.
808Vandal on June 04 at 11:39 a.m.
I can’t believe you guys really want to give him another chance. Are you really THAT desperate to win? Will he actually bring the team any wins by himself?

He was charged with theft in 2005 and 2007. Arrested on assult charges in 2008, and has been arrested twice now for driving without a license.

Really, is this the kind of guy you want representing WSU. I always root for WSU except when they play Idaho, but there is no way I think he should stay on the team.
bplucker on June 05 at 9:01 a.m.
No, not new at all. Very familiar with Hicks and his situation. Actualy more than most. Wish you new all the good things. I, like you all, want the Cougs to be as clean as possible so i understand all of your comments.

Go Cougs
RickS on June 05 at 6:39 p.m.
Unfortunately, the cost of Mike Price’s winning seasons was a lessening of the coaching staff’s interest in players’ behavioral proclivities that has persisted under his successors. It has resulted in embarrassing shows of unsportsmanlike behavior on the field, educational failure and criminal behavior in recent years. And they haven’t even been winning!
I’m honestly not sure if the wins were worth the hits WSU takes every time one of these stories appears (usually as at least a note in most papers across the country, and prominently in papers within primary recruiting areas), but if the laxity is to continue they damn sure better win!

Rick