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Illini's Jamar Smith Out for 2007-08

Aug 22, 2007 – 7:18 PM
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Michael David Smith

Michael David Smith %BloggerTitle%

Illinois basketball player Jamar Smith will remain on the team but will not be permitted to play this season after serving a 15-day jail sentence in May for aggravated DUI, coach Bruce Weber said.

"Jamar Smith has had a productive summer," Weber said. "He's in the process of meeting his legal obligations while continuing to work on his personal issues. We feel at this time it's in Jamar's best interest that he sit out the 2007-08 season and take a red-shirt year. We'll continue to monitor his progress. If all obligations are met then he'll return to competition for the 2008-09 season."

That seems like the right approach from a basketball standpoint, but from a legal standpoint, it's rather amazing that Smith got off with only a 15-day jail sentence. Remember: Smith didn't just drive drunk and crash his car. He left his teammate, Brian Carlwell, for dead in the car. If a neighbor hadn't called 911, Carlwell could have died in that car. Doesn't such reckless disregard for the life of a fellow human being call for more than a 15-day jail sentence?
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