COLUMBIA | Missouri football coach Gary Pinkel?s arrest for driving while intoxicated will keep him off the sidelines for the Tigers? home finale Saturday against Texas Tech and could cost him as much as $306,538.
Pinkel can return to his office next Thursday and coach the Tigers in the Border War against Kansas, set for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff on Nov. 26 at Arrowhead Stadium. But MU athletic director Mike Alden, in an afternoon news conference at Mizzou Arena, announced several penalties against Pinkel:
?A one-week suspension without pay ? $40,769 in base salary and guaranteed incentives. Pinkel is barred from coaching or game preparation with the MU football team until Thanksgiving Day. Pinkel?s contract, which runs through 2017, pays him a guaranteed yearly salary of $2.3 million.
?An additional week?s salary will be donated to the MU Wellness Resource Center, a campus program that deals with alcohol, tobacco and other substance-abuse prevention and treatment.
?A one-year salary freeze, costing Pinkel a $50,000 increase at the end of 2011.
?Elimination of a $75,000 bowl bonus should Missouri qualify and participate in a postseason game.
?Forfeiture of a $100,000 social/academic incentive in Pinkel?s contract.
?Completion of 50 hours? community service and a written public letter of apology.
?There?s no question that we?re extremely disappointed in Gary?s lack of judgment,? Alden said as he stood at a lectern in front of the Stalcup Room on Thursday.
Alden said it was his decision that Pinkel not attend.
?Gary is someone who has tremendous character and integrity,? Alden said, ?and he is someone that over the course of the 11 years that he has been here ? and all the years preceding when he came to Mizzou ? has exemplified those characteristics that we hold important to us as we?re mentoring young men and women in intercollegiate athletics.
?We would not want one instance, certainly, to be able to tear down what?s taken place here those 11 years. However, this absolutely goes against everything that we stand for and everything that he teaches his players in regards to our social responsibilities.?
At 10:15 p.m. Wednesday night, according to Maj. Tom Reddin of the Boone County sheriff?s office, Pinkel was stopped on Keene Street near Broadway in Columbia for lane and signal violations while driving a Chevrolet Avalanche.
Pinkel, 59, was arrested and booked into the Boone County Jail on a charge of driving while intoxicated, first offense. Pinkel posted $500 bond and was released.
?He was cooperative throughout the contact,? Reddin said.
Reddin would not comment on what tests ? field sobriety or breath analysis ? were conducted or on their results. Neither would MU athletic officials or the attorney who represents Pinkel comment.
Pinkel, in a news release, said he had met friends for dinner after practice Wednesday and was stopped afterwards.
?First and foremost, I am very disappointed in myself for my lack of judgment in this instance,? he said. ?Nobody should drink and drive, including me. My staff and I constantly reinforce with each of our players the importance of not putting yourself into a position such as this.
?I did not follow that here and for that, I sincerely apologize to the University of Missouri, to our administration, to the board of curators and to our fans.?
Last season, Missouri players Will Ebner and Beau Brinkley were suspended after DWI arrests and missed two games. Also last year, current MU co-offensive line coach Bruce Walker was arrested on suspicion of DWI in a parking lot outside the Missouri training complex. He was not suspended for any games, but that incident took place over the summer.
In October 1987, then Missouri football coach Woody Widenhofer was arrested, and later convicted, of driving under the influence after Mizzou?s 34-10 homecoming victory over Kansas State. Widenhofer was allowed by MU to coach the Tigers? next game against Iowa State.
MU chancellor Brady Deaton also expressed disappointment at Pinkel in a news release.
?Coaches must hold themselves to the very highest of standards,? Deaton said. ?His lack of judgment is especially concerning since he serves as a role model for our students.
?I expect Mike Alden to take appropriate action, and he has my support in doing so.?
Alden said that a letter of reprimand had been placed in Pinkel?s personnel file and that if Pinkel were commit a similar action, further disciplinary action would be necessary ?up to and including termination.?
Sources familiar with the situation told The Star that the decision not to coach Saturday?s game or take part in Senior Day activities for 26 departing football players was Pinkel?s. A news release by the MU athletic department said the additional week?s salary donated to the MU Wellness Resource Center was at Pinkel?s request. Alden, however, would not say what penalties, if any, were suggested by Pinkel.
Alden said defensive coordinator Dave Steckel will serve as acting coach during Pinkel?s suspension.
?I deeply regret the negative attention this has brought to the University of Missouri,? Pinkel said in the news release by the MU athletic department, ?and I offer my sincere apology to everyone associated with this institution.
?I hope that our fans will be supportive of our team during this time; they will need their encouragement.?
Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/11/17/3272480/drunken-driving-charge-costs-pinkel.html#ixzz1e42GmYdi
Pinkel can return to his office next Thursday and coach the Tigers in the Border War against Kansas, set for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff on Nov. 26 at Arrowhead Stadium. But MU athletic director Mike Alden, in an afternoon news conference at Mizzou Arena, announced several penalties against Pinkel:
?A one-week suspension without pay ? $40,769 in base salary and guaranteed incentives. Pinkel is barred from coaching or game preparation with the MU football team until Thanksgiving Day. Pinkel?s contract, which runs through 2017, pays him a guaranteed yearly salary of $2.3 million.
?An additional week?s salary will be donated to the MU Wellness Resource Center, a campus program that deals with alcohol, tobacco and other substance-abuse prevention and treatment.
?A one-year salary freeze, costing Pinkel a $50,000 increase at the end of 2011.
?Elimination of a $75,000 bowl bonus should Missouri qualify and participate in a postseason game.
?Forfeiture of a $100,000 social/academic incentive in Pinkel?s contract.
?Completion of 50 hours? community service and a written public letter of apology.
?There?s no question that we?re extremely disappointed in Gary?s lack of judgment,? Alden said as he stood at a lectern in front of the Stalcup Room on Thursday.
Alden said it was his decision that Pinkel not attend.
?Gary is someone who has tremendous character and integrity,? Alden said, ?and he is someone that over the course of the 11 years that he has been here ? and all the years preceding when he came to Mizzou ? has exemplified those characteristics that we hold important to us as we?re mentoring young men and women in intercollegiate athletics.
?We would not want one instance, certainly, to be able to tear down what?s taken place here those 11 years. However, this absolutely goes against everything that we stand for and everything that he teaches his players in regards to our social responsibilities.?
At 10:15 p.m. Wednesday night, according to Maj. Tom Reddin of the Boone County sheriff?s office, Pinkel was stopped on Keene Street near Broadway in Columbia for lane and signal violations while driving a Chevrolet Avalanche.
Pinkel, 59, was arrested and booked into the Boone County Jail on a charge of driving while intoxicated, first offense. Pinkel posted $500 bond and was released.
?He was cooperative throughout the contact,? Reddin said.
Reddin would not comment on what tests ? field sobriety or breath analysis ? were conducted or on their results. Neither would MU athletic officials or the attorney who represents Pinkel comment.
Pinkel, in a news release, said he had met friends for dinner after practice Wednesday and was stopped afterwards.
?First and foremost, I am very disappointed in myself for my lack of judgment in this instance,? he said. ?Nobody should drink and drive, including me. My staff and I constantly reinforce with each of our players the importance of not putting yourself into a position such as this.
?I did not follow that here and for that, I sincerely apologize to the University of Missouri, to our administration, to the board of curators and to our fans.?
Last season, Missouri players Will Ebner and Beau Brinkley were suspended after DWI arrests and missed two games. Also last year, current MU co-offensive line coach Bruce Walker was arrested on suspicion of DWI in a parking lot outside the Missouri training complex. He was not suspended for any games, but that incident took place over the summer.
In October 1987, then Missouri football coach Woody Widenhofer was arrested, and later convicted, of driving under the influence after Mizzou?s 34-10 homecoming victory over Kansas State. Widenhofer was allowed by MU to coach the Tigers? next game against Iowa State.
MU chancellor Brady Deaton also expressed disappointment at Pinkel in a news release.
?Coaches must hold themselves to the very highest of standards,? Deaton said. ?His lack of judgment is especially concerning since he serves as a role model for our students.
?I expect Mike Alden to take appropriate action, and he has my support in doing so.?
Alden said that a letter of reprimand had been placed in Pinkel?s personnel file and that if Pinkel were commit a similar action, further disciplinary action would be necessary ?up to and including termination.?
Sources familiar with the situation told The Star that the decision not to coach Saturday?s game or take part in Senior Day activities for 26 departing football players was Pinkel?s. A news release by the MU athletic department said the additional week?s salary donated to the MU Wellness Resource Center was at Pinkel?s request. Alden, however, would not say what penalties, if any, were suggested by Pinkel.
Alden said defensive coordinator Dave Steckel will serve as acting coach during Pinkel?s suspension.
?I deeply regret the negative attention this has brought to the University of Missouri,? Pinkel said in the news release by the MU athletic department, ?and I offer my sincere apology to everyone associated with this institution.
?I hope that our fans will be supportive of our team during this time; they will need their encouragement.?
Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/11/17/3272480/drunken-driving-charge-costs-pinkel.html#ixzz1e42GmYdi
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