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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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WSU’s Hicks cited again

OSU running back Jacquizz Rodgers, right, turns the corner past WSU’s Xavier Hicks (26) and Andy Mattingly during the second half.  (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
OSU running back Jacquizz Rodgers, right, turns the corner past WSU’s Xavier Hicks (26) and Andy Mattingly during the second half. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
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.
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• 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.

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



Vince Grippi
Vince Grippi is a freelance local sports blogger for spokesman.com. He also contributes to the SportsLink Blog.

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