Housewright cited for aggravated DUI

[PapaG]

Yikes. Both coordinators now charged with DUI within 6 months of each other...

If he crashed and fled, he has to be out, right?

You would think so. Aggravated DUI is a felony in most states.

According to the article.

“The charges are misdemeanor first-offense citations, per the documents.”

Montana seems to be pretty lenient when it comes to DUI penalties.

You used to be able to drive with an open container on the interstate when I was at MSU.

If the story is accurate, he’s gotta go but I’m not sure how Garza is justified staying.

[coloradocat]

Well WMG came here with a history and got another DUI charge and kept his job. This is Housewright's first but he crashed his car and caused property damage. Does that just count as one strike or two?

[Cat Grad]

I wonder what the basis is for the accusation that he was driving, crashed, switched cars, then was pulled over. Witnesses or did him or his friend break when questioned by the cops? If you're drunk enough to crash it probably isn't the best idea to then get in a different car and drive away.

He'll get his day in court one can assume. It concerns me when an individual refuses a test it gets elevated to aggravated. The only consolation with that is that the lawyers can beat the charge. Wonder if it was the same highway patrolman that cited Willie Mack? Time frame is similar.

I would guess that a lawyer would say the only reason to take a breathalyzer is if you haven't been drinking at all. I'm sure the charge gets elevated when you refuse as a way of bullying people into taking the test and just the general way the system looks for ways to stack charges on people.

Christ, we used to pull and/or push vehicles out of the ditch in the Gallatin Valley all the time. I assume the two drivers were already home when they received a knock on the door.

[mslacatfan]

[AFCAT]

Yikes. Both coordinators now charged with DUI within 6 months of each other...

If he crashed and fled, he has to be out, right?

You would think so. Aggravated DUI is a felony in most states.

Seeing it was a school issued vehicle that was wrecked. That certainly compounds things... I'd say sayonara House!

School issued? Where did you read that? I know some coaches and players get vehicles from local dealerships.

I knew Vigen has one in his contract but never really thought about if the other coaches got a vehicle.

I know the university used to have a fleet of vehicles back when I went there. I drove a couple of the vans and trucks for different projects. I never heard of a coach getting a school issued vehicle. I have heard that the local dealerships will loan coaches a free car or truck though.

[PapaG]

Well WMG came here with a history and got another DUI charge and kept his job. This is Housewright's first but he crashed his car and caused property damage. Does that just count as one strike or two?

I don’t like even bringing this up but is there a cultural problem of boozing with the staff? It kind of starts at the top and I’ve always thought not firing WMG was a mistake by MSU.

[CelticCat]

Well WMG came here with a history and got another DUI charge and kept his job. This is Housewright's first but he crashed his car and caused property damage. Does that just count as one strike or two?

Yea, what does Vigen do? This is a bad, bad look but can you fire Housewright for his first when Garza was retained after his 3rd?

You wonder what message Vigen's soft handling of Garza's DUI sent to the staff.

[PapaG]

Yikes. Both coordinators now charged with DUI within 6 months of each other...

If he crashed and fled, he has to be out, right?

You would think so. Aggravated DUI is a felony in most states.

Seeing it was a school issued vehicle that was wrecked. That certainly compounds things... I'd say sayonara House!

School issued? Where did you read that? I know some coaches and players get vehicles from local dealerships.

I knew Vigen has one in his contract but never really thought about if the other coaches got a vehicle.

I know the university used to have a fleet of vehicles back when I went there. I drove a couple of the vans and trucks for different projects. I never heard of a coach getting a school issued vehicle. I have heard that the local dealerships will loan coaches a free car or truck though.

This was in the early 1990s but I worked for the MSU ground maintenance crew for a few summers and drove a few fleet vehicles around Bozeman.

Got completely vetted then to be able to drive one.

[coloradocat]

Well WMG came here with a history and got another DUI charge and kept his job. This is Housewright's first but he crashed his car and caused property damage. Does that just count as one strike or two?

I don’t like even bringing this up but is there a cultural problem of boozing with the staff? It kind of starts at the top and I’ve always thought not firing WMG was a mistake by MSU.

This has happened with most/all MSU football staffs. I think it's more likely that there isn't enough to do in Bozeman.

[PapaG]

Well WMG came here with a history and got another DUI charge and kept his job. This is Housewright's first but he crashed his car and caused property damage. Does that just count as one strike or two?

Yea, what does Vigen do? This is a bad, bad look but can you fire Housewright for his first when Garza was retained after his 3rd?

You wonder what message Vigen's soft handling of Garza's DUI sent to the staff.

It’s bad and I don’t how Vigen remedies this without booting WMG too. Housewright would have a legitimate lawsuit.

[cat4lyf]

I have seen Housewright over-served on occasion but I did not want to raise the flag with MSU staff. Wish I would have. What Coach House needs from us is our support. Housewright is a great man when he is not binge drinking and putting members of our community in danger. Good luck Coach House.... You will be my families prayers tonight.

[coloradocat]

Well WMG came here with a history and got another DUI charge and kept his job. This is Housewright's first but he crashed his car and caused property damage. Does that just count as one strike or two?

Yea, what does Vigen do? This is a bad, bad look but can you fire Housewright for his first when Garza was retained after his 3rd?

You wonder what message Vigen's soft handling of Garza's DUI sent to the staff.

What if WMG was the friend in the story. Then you could fire them both.

As I said above, it's more likely a Bozeman problem than a coaching problem. You can fire either of these guys but Garza is the only coaching hire in the last 25 years that I can remember seeing it coming. Housewright didn't have a history and I don't think the guys before him did either. Firing sends a message that you're gone if you get a DUI but it definitely doesn't stop the DUIs.

[ND0479]

Yikes. Both coordinators now charged with DUI within 6 months of each other...

If he crashed and fled, he has to be out, right?

You would think so. Aggravated DUI is a felony in most states.

Seeing it was a school issued vehicle that was wrecked. That certainly compounds things... I'd say sayonara House!

School issued? Where did you read that? I know some coaches and players get vehicles from local dealerships.

I knew Vigen has one in his contract but never really thought about if the other coaches got a vehicle.

I know the university used to have a fleet of vehicles back when I went there. I drove a couple of the vans and trucks for different projects. I never heard of a coach getting a school issued vehicle. I have heard that the local dealerships will loan coaches a free car or truck though.

This was in the early 1990s but I worked for the MSU ground maintenance crew for a few summers and drove a few fleet vehicles around Bozeman.

Got completely vetted then to be able to drive one.

The story from Robbie's source sounds legit. I once had a company issued car towed on a Saturday for parking in a tow away zone. I had to wait until the following Monday to get notarized letters from the leasing company and my company, before the impound would let me get the car out.

[coloradocat]

I have seen Housewright over-served on occasion but I did not want to raise the flag with MSU staff. Wish I would have. What Coach House needs from us is our support. Housewright is a great man when he is not binge drinking and putting members of our community in danger. Good luck Coach House.... You will be my families prayers tonight.

[kennethnoisewater]

Yikes. Both coordinators now charged with DUI within 6 months of each other...

If he crashed and fled, he has to be out, right?

You would think so. Aggravated DUI is a felony in most states.

Seeing it was a school issued vehicle that was wrecked. That certainly compounds things... I'd say sayonara House!

School issued? Where did you read that? I know some coaches and players get vehicles from local dealerships.

I knew Vigen has one in his contract but never really thought about if the other coaches got a vehicle.

I know the university used to have a fleet of vehicles back when I went there. I drove a couple of the vans and trucks for different projects. I never heard of a coach getting a school issued vehicle. I have heard that the local dealerships will loan coaches a free car or truck though.

Having seen coaches up here in the Flathead Valley on recruiting trips, I know they use MSU's vehicles from time to time for official business. Makes me think he was driving in some sort of official capacity and not just using an MSU vehicle when he was just out socializing on Saturday night.

[ND0479]

Well WMG came here with a history and got another DUI charge and kept his job. This is Housewright's first but he crashed his car and caused property damage. Does that just count as one strike or two?

Yea, what does Vigen do? This is a bad, bad look but can you fire Housewright for his first when Garza was retained after his 3rd?

You wonder what message Vigen's soft handling of Garza's DUI sent to the staff.

I was always under the impression that they were waiting to see if WMG was convicted of the DUI before taking action. I then assumed he beat it, which is why he's still employed.

[MSU01]

Having seen coaches up here in the Flathead Valley on recruiting trips, I know they use MSU's vehicles from time to time for official business. Makes me think he was driving in some sort of official capacity and not just using an MSU vehicle when he was just out socializing on Saturday night.

Highly doubtful he was driving in an official capacity at 12:28 AM. Some of the coaches are issued courtesy cars from local dealerships to use as their personal vehicles, it's common to see a few parked outside the BAC when the coaches are in the office. The car likely wasn't school-owned, but instead school-issued as part of the courtesy car program.

[VimSince03]

Literally zero excuses for any of this. In Garza's case, I'm all for helping people beat personal issues but that doesn't mean it comes with being able to keep your current job. In Housewright's case, Bozeman has plenty of services these days to get someone home safe after having a few downtown. If the story is accurate, even if it is his first DUI he shouldn't be retained. For an up and comer like him to make this mistake...I just don't get it.

[CelticCat]

Literally zero excuses for any of this. In Garza's case, I'm all for helping people beat personal issues but that doesn't mean it comes with being able to keep your current job. In Housewright's case, Bozeman has plenty of services these days to get someone home safe after having a few downtown. If the story is accurate, even if it is his first DUI he shouldn't be retained. For an up and comer like him to make this mistake...I just don't get it.

ESPECIALLY because of what Garza did last winter.

[BelligerentBobcat]

When you let one get away with it basically scotch free, it doesn’t really teach others to toe the line.

This is a really bad look for MSU and Vigen. It’s past time to be strict now.