Youngest Colquitt is charged By DON JACOBS, [EMAIL PROTECTED] October 28, 2003 Britton Colquitt, the latest planned addition to the line of University of Tennessee football punters, faces four alcohol-related charges logged against him during three separate incidents in 12 days. Colquitt, 18, was charged Sept. 13, Sept. 16 and Sept. 25 by UT police with underage consumption of alcohol, records show. The Sept. 25 arrest included a charge of drunken driving. It was unclear what effect the arrests have had on Colquitt's standing as a student at UT. "I don't know if he's in school or not and if he isn't, I can't address why," Maxine Thompson, dean of students, said Monday. Colquitt had said he planned to attend UT in the fall after his graduation from Bearden High School and then sign scholarship papers with the Vols in January. He planned to redshirt his first year while his brother, Dustin, finished his final year of eligibility with the Vols. Craig Colquitt, the father of Britton and Dustin, punted for UT 1975-77 and is listed as No. 2 for career and season punting averages. The brothers' cousin, Jimmy Colquitt (1981-84), holds the No. 1 ranking in both categories. UT athletic director Mike Hamilton declined Monday to discuss Britton Colquitt's situation. "Britton is not a member of the football team," Hamilton said. "He is a prospect and as such I am forbidden by NCAA rules from making any comment about him." Court records show Britton Colquitt listed himself as a UT student at the time of each arrest. Colquitt could not be reached for comment. His attorney Steve Sharp declined to comment because his office is still investigating the allegations. UT Police Officer Chris Sharp cited Britton Colquitt at 1:51 a.m. Sept. 13 on a charge of underage consumption, records show. Colquitt was driving a 2002 Ford Expedition with a Texas license plate in the parking garage on Lake Avenue. The City Court citation notes Colquitt was given a field sobriety test "after having an accident in the garage," but UT Police Chief Ed Yovella said records at his agency don't show a wreck. Colquitt told Sharp "he had drunk two shots," records show. The case is set for Dec. 1 in City Court, where Colquitt faces a $147.25 in court costs and a fine if found guilty. Three days later Officer Sharp at 2:39 a.m. noted a 1995 Jeep Cherokee traveling the wrong way on one-way Melrose Avenue and running a red light, records show. The Jeep was driven by a UT student and contained three other UT students, including Colquitt. Colquitt told Sharp the group had been drinking at a pledge mixer off campus for the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Colquitt said he drank eight to nine beers. Sharp cited two passengers on a charge of underage drinking and the driver on traffic offenses, but arrested Colquitt. Colquitt was taken to the Knox County Jail where he later was released on his own recognizance, records show. Colquitt is scheduled to appear Nov. 13 in General Sessions Court on the charge. At 3:36 a.m. Sept. 25, UT Officer Jerold Johnson saw Colquitt driving a 1998 Jeep Cherokee. Johnson noted Colquitt stopped "for an unusual amount of time" at a stop sign on Lake Avenue and then began drifting and weaving on Volunteer Boulevard. Colquitt drove into a parking garage, circled once and then parked. "It appeared that Colquitt was avoiding me, because he didn't exit the garage till I left the ground level," Johnson wrote in a report. When Colquitt left the garage, Johnson followed and turned on his blue lights when he again saw the Jeep "weaving across lanes of traffic." Colquitt denied drinking anything, but Johnson said there was a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on the teen's breath despite the breath mint the teen was sucking on. After a field-sobriety test, Colquitt was charged with drunken driving and underage consumption. Colquitt submitted to a blood test, but the results were not available Monday. He was booked into the Knox County Jail and released after posting a $1,000 bond. He is slated to be arraigned Oct. 29 in General Sessions Court on the charges. According to the Department of Safety, a first conviction on the offense of underage consumption can lead to a one-year suspension of driving privileges. A second conviction can lead to a two-year suspension.
______________________________________________________ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List "Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup!" To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
