ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 27, 1996 TAG: 9611270022
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
LORD BOTETOURT High School's football coach, Andy Ward, needs help.
The high school needs a new football coach.
Ward, who was named "coach of the year" in the Blue Ridge District this year, pleaded guilty Monday to reckless driving and driving on a suspended license.
Reckless seems an apt description for traveling 90 miles per hour on U.S. 460.
And Ward's troubles go beyond that:
When he was caught Aug. 29 driving on a suspended license, Ward was using a car owned by the team's star running back, who says of his coach: "He's like a dad, man." The two apparently had traded cars, for what purpose a convincing explanation has yet to be offered.
Which leaves open the possibility that Ward involved a student in an effort to avoid police detection of his criminal driving. Whether or not the student participated wittingly, the youth's involvement aggravates Ward's offense.
The coach, meanwhile, had two prior convictions for driving under the influence - both in 1996. This record suggests a problem for which he wasn't getting sufficient help.
It also suggests the school could find a better role model to coach its football team. In reaching a decision on Ward's future, school officials should apply the same standards they would had Ward not presided over a successful season or been named "coach of the year."
Indeed, at a time when sports figures with legal problems are coming under greater scrutiny, and a Midol in a backpack can provoke a student's suspension, it's harder to justify slack for a teacher/coach, even if his transgressions occurred outside school.
This is an unfortunate state of affairs for Ward, and we don't relish piling on. But he's not the only one with personal problems. Everyone needs to understand that drinking and driving are not acceptable therapy. Everyone should know, too, that if you have two DUI convictions and a suspended license, you don't borrow someone's car and drive it 90 miles an hour on an urban road.
Not that Ward has escaped consequences. He's serving jail time. His actions have been made excruciatingly public.
Even so, it's odd that, until this week, at least some Botetourt County School Board members were unaware of his legal problems. As board member Webster Booze suggests, "These things can't be kept hidden so long."
Now school officials must play catch up.
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