USC STAR WATSON SAYS HE IS INNOCENT

University of South Carolina junior Derek Watson said Tuesday he is
innocent or marijuana possession charges, but will not ask head football
coach Lou Holtz to rejoin the team until the matter is resolved.

Watson, 20, was charged in Greenville early Saturday by narcotics agents in
a parking lot outside Salsatheque Night Club, said Lt. Mike Gambrell,
Greenville Police Department spokesman. On Monday, Watson was kicked off
the USC football team where he was a starting tailback.

In a four-paragraph prepared statement, Watson maintained his innocence. "I
love this university and am grateful for every opportunity afforded me,"
Watson wrote. "My goal and objective is to prove to them, on and off the
football field, my appreciation for their efforts."

Beattie Ashmore, Watson's attorney, said his client will fight a possession
of marijuana charge in court and forgo a plea date set for the end of the
month.

"Derek maintains his innocence," Ashmore said. "And therefore the Jan. 30
hearing will not be held because of the request for the jury trial."

Watson was a passenger in the front seat of a car, Gambrell said.
Detectives conducting surveillance at the nightclub on South Pleasantburg
Drive saw one of three passengers in the car filling a hollowed out cigar
with a substance from a clear plastic bag, Gambrell said.

The substance later tested as marijuana, he said. The bag contained about
8.5 grams of marijuana, Gambrell said, adding that another plastic bag with
2.4 grams was found.

As officers approached, the passenger attempted to conceal the material by
his side and eventually dropped it to the floorboard, Gambrell said.

Also charged with simple possession of marijuana was Antwan Andre Galloway,
22, of Route 2, Scott Circle in Pendleton. Both men were issued citations
and released at the scene.

Capt. Dave Henderson, police department spokesman, said the officer has the
option to arrest, but usually won't if there is no outstanding criminal
history or charges against the suspect.

He said the department has been doing this for about five years to help
ease case loads, and the defendant can pay the fine in lieu of going to court.

The passenger in the back seat was not charged, Gambrell said.

Watson wrote in his statement that he did not want to get into specifics of
the case.

On Monday, the Richland County solicitor's office terminated him from the
pre-trial intervention program in connection with an assault and battery
charge last year, and he will now have to stand trial on that charge.

Asked if the university's athletic department would ever consider
re-instating Watson to the team, USC sports information director Kerry
Tharp said, "I'd rather not talk about the unknown."

"As far as his status with the team and with the university, an
announcement was made (Monday) of his dismissal and I don't think that has
changed by any means," Tharp said. "As far as his status with the
university, I think that has to be ascertained at some point in the
foreseeable future. I can't tell you what that's going to be either."

Tharp added that it is admirable that Watson is trying to rectify the
situation.

"He is someone who the football team and the athletics department hopes and
wants to succeed," Tharp said.