We're not quite sure if this is altruistic or stupidity, but Washington State quarterback Marshall Lobbestael was arrested Saturday after being discovered passed out in a pickup truck at the police station. Being 19, he picked up a minor in possession charge. In response, Washington State has suspended him from the team.
We like to think the cause of his drinking was living with such an unwieldy last name -- then again mine's no work of simplicity -- or having to be the quarterback on a terrible team, pick 'em. Whatever the cause, he was considered a favorite for the Cougars' starting job this year.
Washington State saw all three of its quarterbacks battered last year. Lobbestael went down with a knee injury, but not before racking up a spectacular 103.1 rating to go with his four touchdowns and 571 pass yards.
This story has the feel of a 1980s football movie, doesn't it? Starting quarterback on a terrible team finds creative ways to get drunk and suspended. Played by someone pushing 30 in real life, of course.
Anyway, not good. Sort of like the state of Washington State football.
Athletes in Trouble With the Law
Feb. 21: Marshall Lobbestael, expected to compete for the starting quarterback job this season, picks up an alcohol charge after being found asleep in his pickup truck in a police parking lot. Click through for more athletes in trouble with the law.
Dean Hare, AP
Feb. 20: Lazare Adingono, seen here in a 2001 photo when he played for Rhode Island, faces a felony charge of second-degree assault and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child.
Jeff Gross, Getty Images
Feb. 20: Steelers kicker Jeff Reed pleads guilty to disorderly contest and criminal mischief after police say he broke a towel dispenser in a convenience store.
Gene J. Puskar, AP
Feb. 15: Jason Richardson of the Phoenix Suns is arrested and charged with reckless driving, excessive speeding and failure to use a child seat. Police say they clocked him at 90 mph in a 35 mph zone.
Barry Gossage, NBAE / Getty Images
Feb. 11: Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch was arrested in Southern California on a weapons charge. Police say they found a loaded firearm - as well as multiple marijuana cigarettes - in a 2006 Mercedes-Benz occupied by Lynch and two other men.
David Duprey, AP
Feb. 8: Former Atlanta Falcons star Jamal Anderson was booked on a felony charge of cocaine possession and a misdemeanor marijuana charge.
Jim Mone, AP
Feb. 5: Former Cowboys star Terry Glenn faces public intoxication and marijuana possession charges from his arrest on Jan. 25.
Tony Gutierrez, AP
Feb. 5: Chiefs rookie tight end Michael Merritt was arrested after being caught rolling a marijuana cigarette in a Florida parking garage.
Getty Images
Jan. 29: Miami guard Eddie Rios was arrested on grand theft and burglary charges. He was suspended by the team on Jan. 12 for undisclosed disciplinary problems.
Andy Lyons, Getty Images
Jan. 27: A warrant for the arrest of former NBA player Jason Caffey is issued for his failure to pay child support.
Lucy Nicholson, AP
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-24-2009 @ 7:49PM
roidfreeordie said...
A college kid and alcohol. No way.
---signed every baseball that roids.
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2-25-2009 @ 4:09AM
gonzo1 said...
you got to be kidding me , why are dumb-asses like this in college ? they have'nt even learned the basics in life. these guys need to go back to grade school and start over again . and need to keep doing that until they get it right . he must be taking charles barkley 101, and getting straight a's in that course.
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2-25-2009 @ 8:11AM
boliviascs said...
Relax, he's a college kid. We've all had too much to drink at some time at that age. If you didn't, then you are certainly some kind of anti-social type with no friends as an adult.
2-25-2009 @ 7:48AM
Dudley Haas said...
I passed out before in church and my toupee fell off and exposed my bald head for the entire congregation to see.
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2-25-2009 @ 8:42AM
Your Majesty said...
Listen-Dudley Haas do you think people don't know your bald because we do. You're not fooling anyone except yourself with the rug pal,so take it off and shave whatever other hair you have on your head and people won't even take a second look I guarantee. If nothinp else they'll stop laughing at the dead thing on your head.
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2-25-2009 @ 9:00AM
rolensteel said...
boliviascs, within your answer lies the social issues that we face here in America....society is plagued with the stigma that in order to enjoy life, have friends, and be intelligent enough to carry on a conversation.....to be popular and an up and comer, successful in your academic and professional endeavors, one must have an alcoholic beverage in their hand. It is not about how irresponsible some college kid is!!! It is about how we continue to allow big business marketing to calibrate our moral compasses. I am not anti-social or unable to maintain friendships, he will just get to relax a learn a little lesson in life call consequenses...probably something that is missing from most "star" college athletes.
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2-25-2009 @ 9:15AM
Jeanie said...
We got 18 and 19 year old kida dying in 2 wars so qb's and other athelets can make fools of themselves, GREAT.
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2-25-2009 @ 9:59AM
timjofred said...
WOW! There is nothing here to see folks, move alongplease, move along.
Talk about picking on a team and a school when they are down. That is truly cruel. WSU is noted for its students that binge drink. It is what they do. There is a reason for that. Have you ever been to Pullman? It is enought to be in Pullman and have a bad football team, Grummell really is just piling on with this sarcastic swipe at Loebbestael. He is now suspended from a really bad team, maybe it could be a blessing. But folks, please just move along.
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2-25-2009 @ 10:12AM
stftndoc said...
He was probably, and wisely, at the police station trying to get a disabled permit so he could park closer to the bar in the future. That little extra walking is why he fell asleep.
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2-25-2009 @ 10:15AM
Smiles R free! said...
I remember the guys in football doing stuff like this when I was in college. He probably was drinking and passed out at a party (yes, he is a minor and no it is not okay, but he's a kid) and "his friendly teammates" pranked him by driving him to the police station, placing him in his truck and they left.
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2-25-2009 @ 11:40AM
daply said...
boliviascs, yes but, we avoided the police, not seek them out.
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2-25-2009 @ 1:28PM
Joan said...
This is the scond story in recent weeks I have read about intoxicated people going to police stations and getting arrested. Maybe they realized help was needed and instead of help get arrested. It's no wonder people don't trust the cops.
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2-25-2009 @ 1:36PM
cclyde209 said...
Kids will be kids. We used to prop our drunk friends up between the doors of their house.We would then ring the doorbell & run.The parents would be mad but we NEVER got anyone arrested.That was just going too far.
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2-26-2009 @ 1:23AM
Bob said...
Hey Joan, you will appreciate this one--we had a guy in our town get arrested for DUI while PUSHING his motorcycle home, because he knew he had too much to drink to RIDE it home! Serious!
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3-02-2009 @ 6:14AM
Michelle said...
What this article fails to mention, is that Lobbestael was actually carrying his girlfriend (who was passed out and even drunker than he was) to the police station to get help for her. I know this because I GO to Washington State University. You can check our school newspaper for this info. "The Daily Evergreen". It's online.
So for all of you jerks who are just pointing the finger and name-calling, GET A CLUE. I don't have a "real" statistic, but I GO to college (I am a transfer student and have attended 2 universities), and aside from maybe religious universities, NEARLY ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS DRINK ALCOHOL, LEGAL AGED OR NOT!! And at least this one was still trying to do the right thing, despite his inebreation. And maybe it is not right, but it is a FACT that college students party, no matter where they attend school.
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