By now, you are probably well aware of the fact that Peter Lalich was dismissed from the football team Thursday after the sophomore quarterback had several run-ins with the law dating back to the summer. If you’re like me, phrases like “violating probation” and “underage possession,” and names like “Al Groh” and “Craig Littlepage” are zooming through your head, and you’re struggling to make sense out of how and why all of this resulted in Lalich’s removal from the team.
So, for my sake as much as anyone else’s, here is a chronological history of how this all went down. And, for what it’s worth, I’ll give you my take at every stage in the process.
July 13
Lalich is arrested at the corner of 13th Street NW and Wertland Street for possession or purchase of alcohol while being underage. He appears in Charlottesville General District Court for a hearing July 21 and is given a supervised probationary period and a deferred judgment to July 21, 2009. Court documents also show that his driver’s license is suspended until Aug. 8, 2009.
My take: Big whoop. Many people drink when they are underage. Granted, it often takes more than just having a quiet drink in your apartment to get arrested.
Aug. 26
In a probation interview with officials from the Office of Offender Aid and Restoration/Virginia Alcohol Safety Program, Lalich admits to using alcohol and marijuana while on probation, according to court documents. Based on the admission, a court date is set for Sept. 26 for failing to obey a court order. He is also unable to provide a urine sample for drug testing; however, he returns the following day and completes the test, which is negative for both alcohol and illegal drugs.
My take: Now we’re getting fishy. Get arrested once for underage drinking, fine; now he’s drinking and smoking on probation? And then there’s the business of being unable to take the test – why? Was he physically unable because of illness or dehydration?
Virginia faces its next game against Richmond Sept. 6. At this point, I am calling for Lalich to be removed from the starting lineup. From a disciplinary standpoint, Lalich needs to be punished; from an emotional standpoint, this is a troubled kid who needs to be given time to work through these issues. Of course, Groh does not agree, as Lalich starts against Richmond the following Saturday.
Sept. 9
In a press conference, Lalich denies having used marijuana or any other illegal drugs while on probation.
My take: Now I’m just confused; first a confession, then a denial. A key point here, though, is that Lalich did not deny drinking; illegal drugs do not entail alcohol. Nevertheless, the question lingers: Did he smoke weed or not?
Sept. 10
In a press release, Groh states Lalich will not be traveling with the team to its next game at Connecticut. Lalich is also quoted as saying it is the best decision for him and the team, and athletics director Craig Littlepage is also quoted as supporting the decision. The press release states that sophomore Marc Verica will start in Lalich’s place.
My take: The right decision overall, but it’s a week late and has horrible timing. Verica gets only two days to prepare for his debut as a starter in a road game against what we now know is a pretty darn good Huskies team.
And of course, there is the question of, why now? From the week before, when it broke that Lalich had confessed to marijuana and alcohol use, to this point, what has happened to make Groh all of a sudden change his mind? And, would a football mind like Groh knowingly make this decision with such odd timing?
Sept. 11
The Daily Progress quotes Peter Lalich’s father Todd Lalich as saying that the decision to not allow Peter to travel with the team “came from on high.”
My take: Here is the explanation I am seeking. “On high” can’t mean Groh; this must mean Littlepage, maybe even a higher University administrator.
Of course, this also creates even more drama; are Littlepage and Groh on good terms? If in fact Littlepage did defy Groh in this decision, what does this mean for Groh?
Sept. 18
This day has two parts: first, Lalich goes to court and testifies that he drank to celebrate the last day of training camp, which he reported to his probation officer late in August, resulting in the charge of violating a court order soon thereafter. He also testifies that he did also confess to smoking marijuana while on probation, but realized later that the marijuana use had occurred before the probationary period began. The judge hearing the case tells Lalich that he will keep the case at its current status; it will continue to be deferred until July 21, 2009.
Hours later, however, comes a press release from Virginia athletics, stating that Lalich has been kicked off the team. Littlepage says in a statement that the decision to remove Lalich was his, and Groh says in a statement that “we stand united with this decision.”
My take: There are several aspects to this final decision that are worthy of discussion. First and foremost, this is an unexpected move. Sit him out for a while, sure, but kick him off the team?
Then again, in looking at the big picture, the decision makes sense. It seems clear now that Lalich did not smoke marijuana while on probation; however, he did admit that he used marijuana a minimum of one time before that, and it was recent enough for him to confuse that time with the beginning of the probationary period. Put that together with two episodes of drinking – once in early July, and again while on probation — and it appears that Littlepage simply had enough.
Another facet to this scene is, again, the Littlepage-Groh relationship. Groh’s initial reaction to the charges brought against Lalich was to continue to start him; Littlepage, ultimately, threw him off the squad. No additional charges were brought against Lalich between these two decisions. This difference in opinion, at the very least, may provide a tension between the coaching staff and the athletics department.
Then, there’s the manner of Lalich. Should we stand rigid in saying that he brought this on himself and therefore deserves it, or should we perhaps show a bit of compassion for a college student who was experimenting with drugs as so many students do?
I’d say it’s possible to do both. Lalich absolutely should have known better than to use illegal drugs, and he certainly should have thought twice about drinking during his probationary period. Student-athletes, in addition to making the commitment to striving for academic and athletic success, also must bear the responsibility of staying out of trouble while being in the public eye. This is a responsibility Lalich clearly did not take seriously enough, and for that, his punishment was warranted.
By the same token, this is a 20 year-old kid we’re talking about. This statement may seem a little flaky coming from a 21 year-old, but perhaps being a peer lends even more credence to this point of view; I’ve made mistakes too, and I don’t have to deal with the pressure and responsibility of being a college football player.
So let’s not turn our back on Peter. While I disapprove of Groh’s decision to start Lalich against Richmond, Groh was there for his quarterback in the weeks that followed. Not once did he put Lalich in a bad light; in the opening statement of his postgame conference after the 45-10 loss at Connecticut, he preempted any question about Lalich’s absence by noting that the blowout wasn’t about “anybody who wasn’t here.” We should take our lead from Groh’s compassion; Lalich is still a University student, and he deserves the support of all of his peers. He was our starting quarterback, but first and foremost he was a fellow student.
Inside Scott Stadium, you may have booed and jeered when he threw a lame ball. But now, Lalich has to make perhaps the biggest completion of his life: moving on. And that’s a move we can all rally behind.
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