WINS MEAN MORE WITH CHARACTER

By suspending Raynardo Curry the same day he was arrested on a misdemeanor
marijuana charge and placed in a pretrial diversion program, Western
Kentucky University basketball coach Dennis Felton is sending the clear
message that character counts at least as much as - and perhaps more than -
victories. What a contrast to the University of Louisville's handling of
offensive lineman Jonta Woodard's case. Woodard was charged in June with
felony trafficking in marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and
possession of drug paraphernalia. It's puzzling to understand why as of
Friday - seven-and-a-half months and 13 football games later - Woodard's
status with the team still has not been determined. There's been no
announcement by coach John L. Smith, athletics director Tom Jurich or
school President John Shumaker.

Of course, football players facing criminal drug charges are not only found
in Louisville. Along with Curry's arrest comes news that former Western
football cornerback Bobby Sippio was jailed last weekend on drug charges,
including a third-degree charge of unlawful transaction with a minor on
Jan. 11, the same day as he applied for the NFL draft.

While Sippio had the chance of being a third-or fourth-round draft pick,
it's now likely he won't go that high. If he doesn't, it will prove that
this kind of behavior can be costly.

The Cardinals had a highly successful football season, winning 11 games,
including a Liberty Bowl triumph over Brigham Young. But are they really
victories that can be fully savored? Was it a victory for Woodard to allow
him to fully participate with the team while facing drug charges, to which
he pleaded guilty Thursday?

Like every other coach who has worked so hard to get his team back to a
competitive level, Felton wants to see his squad succeed. But the coach
also understands that in the long run, a program that maintains standards
of conduct and acts swiftly when those standards are violated will be much
more successful. It matters - or should matter - as much how you get there
as the fact that you finally arrive.

Make no mistake about it. Losing Curry is a blow to the team's chances of
reaching some of its goals. He was one of only two players to start all 18
games this season. He had a team-high 33 steals. Losing Curry leaves the
Hilltoppers with only two obvious options at point guard, a critical
position to the success of the team. At 15-3, there has been a lot of
success this season.

But thanks to Felton's no nonsense
"we-have-very-little-tolerance-for-this-sort-of-behavior" decision, the
wins that follow will mean more, the season will mean more and, most
importantly, there will be no doubt that character counts on The Hill.