Posted on 02/02/2005 1:17:27 PM PST by JCRoberts
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Iowa basketball player Pierre Pierce, under investigation in an incident last week in West Des Moines, has been permanently dismissed from the team, university athletic officials said Wednesday.
Pierce, 21, originally from Westmont, Ill., was under investigation for intent to commit sexual abuse, burglary, criminal mischief and false imprisonment for an incident at the home of a former girlfriend.
"Effective immediately, Pierre Pierce has been dismissed from the University of Iowa men's basketball team," head coach Steve Alford said in a statement.
"I regret this step has become necessary, but Pierre has betrayed the trust we placed in him when he was given a second chance two years ago," Alford said.
In 2002, Pierce was charged with third-degree sexual abuse. He later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of assault causing injury, but the case and the way in which it was handled by university administrators caused controversy across the state and triggered two faculty-led inquiries.
He received a deferred judgment, so the charge was erased from his record after he successfully completed a year of probation, counseling and 200 hours of community service.
Pierce sat out the 2002-2003 season, but he took it as a redshirt year and did not lose that year of eligibility. He returned to the team for the 2003-2004 season.
Pierce's attorney, Alfredo Parrish, said Monday that Pierce had agreed to cooperate with West Des Moines police in their investigation and would meet with detectives at a later date.
Parrish returned from a vacation Tuesday night and did not immediately return telephone messages left by the Associated Press.
A police report about the incident said the extent of any injuries was unknown. The report estimated damage at about $1,300, including a television, stereo, photographs and bedroom furniture.
He obviously didn't learn the first time. No wonder; I'm sure all he ever learned all his life was how great he was because he could play ball. Who wants to take bets on the number of times his "indiscretions" had been glossed over before he even set foot on the Iowa campus?
I coach baseball and basketball. I have two measures of success: 1) my former players smile at me and say Hi coach! in the supermarket, and 2) they all come back to play next year, whether or not I get to coach them.
Yeah, I've had some talented kids play for me. But talent is no substitute for character, and I hope that message gets through to every kid I've coached.
The man was simply training for the NBA job Kobe Bryant has.
Pamela Mackey and Hal Haddon, cleanup on Aisle 6
What is it with these basketball players?
So, Pierce is gone for good. Two years too late.
I wonder if this will cause fans to put Steve Alford on the hot seat again. The season started out great. When the Big Ten conference play started, they fell flat. Now, this. A lot of people thought Pierce shouldn't have been given a second chance. Now, they can say 'I told you so.'
I'm listening to Iowa City (Cedar Rapids) talk radio right now.
Alford vouched for the guy. When you vouch for a guy and he goes bad, it's your butt. Alford's days are numbered IMO.
Iowa's public universities seem to have a problem with recruiting.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.