WATSON FOUND GUILTY OF MISDEMEANOR

Derek Watson's career as a University of South Carolina running back
officially came to an end Wednesday afternoon.

The Williamston, S.C. native was convicted of simple possession of
marijuana and received a 30-day sentence suspended to 240 hours of
community service. The six-member jury deliberated for almost an hour
before reaching its decision.

The judge waived a $200 fine and court fees when Mr. Watson said he was
unemployed.

The charge is only a misdemeanor, but for Mr. Watson it carries major
implications. He was dismissed from the football team and left school after
being charged by Greenville Police in January. Coach Lou Holtz had not
ruled out his possible reinstatement, but being acquitted of the charges
was a part of the requirements.

Since he was found guilty, Mr. Watson has only two options. He can either
apply for the National Football League's supplemental draft or transfer to
another school.

"Derek's situation with the football team has not changed since being
dismissed in January," said South Carolina athletic department spokesman
Kerry Tharp. "The athletic department is hopeful he gets things moving in
the right direction."

If he chooses to transfer to another Division-I school, he will be required
to sit out a season. If he transfers to a Division I-AA school, such as
South Carolina State, he could play immediately.

S.C. State football coach Buddy Pough briefly attended Mr. Watson's trial.

"I'm here to show my support," said Mr. Pough, who was the running back's
coach for the Gamecocks before being hired by the Bulldogs in December.

Sources close to Mr. Watson and S.C. State said the junior running back
intends to apply for a transfer to the Orangeburg university.

On the stand during the trial, Mr. Watson spoke of a future career in the
NFL. On his way out of the courthouse he could not shed light on his future
plans.

"I don't know," Mr. Watson said. "I'm just a little confused right now."

His attorney, Beattie Ashmore, focused on his football stardom during the
trial. He started his opening arguments by pointing out Mr. Watson scored
88 touchdowns at Palmetto High School.

In closing arguments he said the jury should believe Mr. Watson did not
have marijuana "because Derek is a football star" and had too much to lose,
including an NFL contract.

He said detectives offered no proof the marijuana was in Mr. Watson's
possession.

"What we do know is that Derek Watson has a promising football career," Mr.
Ashmore said. "That's the reason he's not going to smoke marijuana."

But Greenville City Attorney Debra Gammons said even if Mr. Watson just
handed someone else their own marijuana, it would be illegal. She said the
possession law applies to everyone, from football stars to homeless persons.

Greenville police detectives testified they saw Mr. Watson lick a cigar
paper and then toss a bag of marijuana from his lap to floorboard in his
passenger seat. They approached the vehicle in the parking lot of a nightclub.

The driver of the car, Antwan Andre Galloway, testified the marijuana
belonged to him, not Mr. Watson. But Judge Matthew Hawley said Mr. Watson
should have exited the car and started "open-field running" the second Mr.
Galloway asked him to hold the drugs.

"You're an example for the youth in this state and across this great
nation, and you need to refrain from such conduct at all costs," the judge
said.

Mr. Watson's father, James Ervin Ligon, said after the trial he hoped his
son would continue to go to school, "hopefully at the University of South
Carolina." He acknowledged attending S.C. State was another possibility for
his son.