SINKING STANDARDS

THERE was little excuse for keeping Jonta Woodard on the University of
Louisville football team after he pleaded guilty to a felony marijuana
trafficking charge. But there's absolutely none, now that the 24-year-old
offensive lineman's plea agreement has been upheld by Jefferson Circuit
Judge James Shake.

Mr. Woodard, who was allowed to play in the season opener against the
University of Kentucky, will remain on the team. Coach John L. Smith says
the the lawyers are behind that decision. "We intend to let the court
system play the case out," he explains.

It's unclear which lawyers he's talking about, but Mr. Woodard's attorney
is U of L trustee Grant Helman. This reinforces the notion that the
university is, and has been, foursquare behind the athlete.

In humane terms, the arrangement may make sense. U of L has some
responsibility to help student-athletes over difficult spots, both academic
and personal. But it has a greater obligation to affirm the school's
fundamental values and standards of conduct, which do not include drug
trafficking.

Thanks to the public nature of this case, citizens can judge how U of L is
handling it -- mainly, to date, by stubbornly keeping a felon available to
help win football games. Less is known about what led University of
Kentucky basketball coach Tubby Smith to dismiss center Jason Parker.

Rules governing the release of information about students apparently
prevent UK from explaining what happened. They also conveniently allow UK
to avoid explaining the broader implications, if any, of this disciplinary
action.

Did it involve only a personal lapse, or series of them? Or is it another
example of unsavory outside influences reaching into the program? The
public is left to guess. And that, given the scandal-marked history, is not
a good thing.

The first priority for new Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart should be to
restore public confidence in UK's athletics programs. This won't help.