A DUI conviction can cost any individual time, money, and their privilege to drive. But for college athletes, a DUI offense can cost even more, from the privilege to play to their career. Yet, college athletes continue to drink and drive, perhaps thinking they won’t get caught. However, even college athletes aren’t immune to the law and both their state’s and college’s DUI penalties.
University of Michigan football player, junior offensive Graham Glasgow, number 61 in the above photo, is the most recent college athlete facing a drunk driving charge. After a police officer caught him driving drunk on March 15, Glasgow, 21, was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor DUI offense. Glasgow entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment in March through his attorney John Shea.
However, it will be weeks before Glasgow faces a verdict. His recent pretrial was adjourned for two weeks due to a “housekeeping matter,” as Shea stated in his request for adjournment. The University of Michigan football player was released on a $1,000 bond and is prohibited from leaving the state. More importantly, Glasgow is prohibited from drinking alcohol or using any illegal drugs before his June 16 court date, as emphasized by Judge Joseph F. Burke. If Glasgow breaks the conditions of his bond, he could face more serious consequences.
If convicted, Glasgow will face up to 93 days in prison and/or a fine of $500. As for football, Glasgow is already facing the consequences…as is his team. Glasgow was suspended from part of spring practice and will not play in the Wolverines’ first game of the season against Appalachian State in August. As the team’s only interior lineman to start all 13 games last season, Glasgow could cost his team the game. But that’s nothing compared to the loss Glasgow would have faced if he had injured himself or harmed anyone else when he chose to drive while impaired.
As upsetting as it is for Michigan fans to see Glasgow absent from the season-opener, any college athlete should be held accountable for his or her actions, especially those that pose a threat to others. At Car Breathalyzer Help, we hope that Glasgow and other college athletes learn from his mistake and remember that their lives and the lives of others, their career, their team, and the reputation of the college they represent are far more important than the risk of driving drunk.