DRUG CHARGE

Football Player Learns Life Lessons

Northwest Rankin High School running back Jeremy Bibbs learned an important
lesson this week when school officials flagged him for being indicted on
drug charges.

Until Wednesday, when Bibbs was dismissed from the Cougar's football team,
life was normal, despite being indicted on felony charges of selling 3.9
grams of crack cocaine.

Coach David Coates had seen nothing wrong with Bibbs going on with life as
usual, running the football, especially since two days after the indictment
the 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior ran for 129 yards on 20 carries in the 37-15
win against defending region champion Oak Grove. Bibbs has racked up 552
yards and four touchdowns this season. But School Superintendent Lynn
Weathersby, after interest surged over the indictment, overruled Coach
Coates, saying: "Drug-related activity by any person who attends Rankin
County schools will not be tolerated."

Bibbs will sit out the season, while he's free on $10,000 bond on the
charge of sale of a controlled substance.

"To tell you the truth," said Bibbs about the suspension, "I really don't
think it's fair."

Well, sometimes, life does seem unfair - an important life lesson -
compounded by running afoul of the law. The fairness of the drug charge
will be decided in court Feb. 15.