Spurrier lifts McEvoy suspension after North Carolina DWI arrest
A redshirt freshman quarterback for the South Carolina Gamecocks was arrested in Late June for underage drinking and driving in North Carolina. The college football program nearly immediately suspended Tanner McEvoy from activities. The suspension was automatic under a USC policy. Now Coach Steve Spurrier has lifted the suspension of the football player.
Coach Spurrier says that North Carolina’s law for underage drinking and driving was not a sufficient reason to suspend the football player. Spurrier lifted McEvoy’s suspension less than a week after the North Carolina underage DWI and speeding arrest.
Spurrier apparently recognized that North Carolina’s strict underage drinking and driving law has a zero tolerance for alcohol for driver’s under the age of 21, That is, any evidence of alcohol consumption, in any quantity, can be sufficient for law enforcement to bring underage DWI accusations in North Carolina.
The football player was arrested June 29 in Mecklenburg County for speeding and underage drinking and driving. Few details about the incident have been printed in the media. The football player was released on 0 bond shortly after his arrest.
McEvoy’s arrest came as players were gearing up for the start of fall practice. The quarterback did not play last year as a redshirt. He is currently listed as a fourth string quarterback with the Gamecocks. He will compete this year with two other players to back up starting quarterback Connor Shaw.
Students can often face consequences that fall outside the criminal justice system after receiving a ticket for underage drinking, or an arrest involving allegations of drunk driving. North Carolina law sets a zero tolerance level for alcohol for drivers under the age of 21. Many teens are surprised to learn that all charges filed against anyone 16 or older are filed in adult court. That means a conviction is placed on the defendant’s permanent adult record.
Sources:
- Atlanta Journal Constitution, “Spurrier lifts QB’s suspension after a few days,” Joel Provano, Aug. 6, 2012
- Midlands Connection, “Gamecocks backup QB McEvoy suspended after arrest,” July 31, 2012
- Our firm handles criminal defense, including in the areas of underage DUI and alcohol offenses in the Pitt County area. For more information, please visit the student offenses page.
Tags: After, arrest, Carolina, lifts, McEvoy, North, Spurrier, Suspension