Clemson LB arrested may still start in bowl.

[Unknøwn]

ATLANTA (AP) - Clemson linebacker Cortney Vincent is expected to start in the Chick-fil-A Bowl even though he was arrested on a drunken driving charge last weekend.

The 22-year-old Vincent was pulled over early Sunday by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and booked at the Pickens County jail, officials said.

The junior was charged with first offense driving under the influence, detained for about eight hours and released on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond, jail officials said.

"We'll let the legal process run and then make a decision accordingly," Bowden said Thursday during a bowl news conference.

No. 15 Clemson (9-3) faces No. 22 Auburn on Dec. 31 at the Georgia Dome.

It was not immediately clear whether Vincent had an attorney. His phone number was unlisted in the university directory and he did not return an e-mail requesting comment.

A Highway Patrol officer observed Vincent driving suspiciously on state Highway 93 in the city of Clemson and gave him a field sobriety test, patrol spokeswoman Lance Cpl. Kathy Hills said.

The junior has 64 tackles and two sacks in 12 starts this season. Bowden said Vincent is practicing with the team and the coach said he was immediately made aware of the arrest Sunday

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/7560360

[ki45toryu]

Stay classy Clemson!

[SacFalcFan]

I would like to hear Clem's take on this.. he seems pretty reasonable about stuff regarding clemson.

[clemumo82]

There's more to it. According to other sources, Vincent was pulled over for unknown reasons by a South Carolina highway patrolman, and admitted that he had very little to drink at a party as he knew he would be driving later in the night. He was then asked to step out of the car to take a field sobriety test, and passed numerous tests. It gets confusing after that.

The cop wanted Vincent to take a breathalyzer, but didn't have one with him. There apparently wasn't another cop with one in the area, so he was taken to the station. Upon arrival at the station, Vincent decided to refuse the breathalyzer, which supposedly is an admission of guilt in SC (I don't know if that is true). For some unknown reason, he was not given a blood test. So, basically, there is no evidence of him driving impaired, and Vincent has said he will fight the charges. I would imagine that is why there are reports out that he will still start in the Chick Fil A Bowl.

I'm not familiar with DUI law at all, and hopefully I will never need to be, but I have been told over the years not to take a breathalyzer as they're unreliable and not exact. This isn't as cut and dry as most disciplinary issues such as Duane Coleman's suspension (pot) for the Music City bowl last season. If convicted of a DUI, I would think Vincent would be suspended for the bowl game. That's been set as a precedent in the past.

[Unknøwn]

Refusal to take the test results in a positive testing or whatever you wanna call it and therefor an automatic DUI i do believe.

[SacFalcFan]

clemumo82 (12/13/2007)

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There's more to it. According to other sources, Vincent was pulled over for unknown reasons by a South Carolina highway patrolman, and admitted that he had very little to drink at a party as he knew he would be driving later in the night. He was then asked to step out of the car to take a field sobriety test, and passed numerous tests. It gets confusing after that.

The cop wanted Vincent to take a breathalyzer, but didn't have one with him. There apparently wasn't another cop with one in the area, so he was taken to the station. Upon arrival at the station, Vincent decided to refuse the breathalyzer, which supposedly is an admission of guilt in SC (I don't know if that is true). For some unknown reason, he was not given a blood test. So, basically, there is no evidence of him driving impaired, and Vincent has said he will fight the charges. I would imagine that is why there are reports out that he will still start in the Chick Fil A Bowl.

I'm not familiar with DUI law at all, and hopefully I will never need to be, but I have been told over the years not to take a breathalyzer as they're unreliable and not exact. This isn't as cut and dry as most disciplinary issues such as Duane Coleman's suspension (pot) for the Music City bowl last season. If convicted of a DUI, I would think Vincent would be suspended for the bowl game. That's been set as a precedent in the past.

Thanks for the info. As what unknown said, in most states a failure to comply with a breathalyzer = a positive dui test. You really don't have a right to deny that test especially if the police officer has a reasonable doubt to your sobriety. You can fight it after the fact, but i have had a few friends who have found and lost.

[clemumo82]

In a lot of states, it is an admission of guilt.

In SC, if you refuse to take the test, it is not automatically a DUI, but you lose your license for 3 months. Sounds like Vincent wants to take it to court. I've had a friend beat the charge completely in Clemson. He did pretty much the exact same thing Vincent is currently doing, and was even caught driving without his headlights on. Another buddy wasn't so lucky fighting a it in SC, but he took the breathalyzer, and blew a .09. He took it court and lost, but since it wasn't a .10, he received a lesser charge.

[SacFalcFan]

clemumo82 (12/13/2007)

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In a lot of states, it is an admission of guilt.

In SC, if you refuse to take the test, it is not automatically a DUI, but you lose your license for 3 months. Sounds like Vincent wants to take it to court. I've had a friend beat the charge completely in Clemson. He did pretty much the exact same thing Vincent is currently doing, and was even caught driving without his headlights on. Another buddy wasn't so lucky fighting a it in SC, but he took the breathalyzer, and blew a .09. He took it court and lost, but since it wasn't a .10, he received a lesser charge.

Thanks man for the info. I didn't know what the rules were for SC.