Will Campbell's status with Michigan football team has not changed in light of felony charge
Will Campbell's status with the Michigan football team has not changed, coach Brady Hoke said Thursday.
The senior defensive lineman is facing one misdemeanor and one felony count of malicious destruction of property. The charges stem from an incident that occurred in the early morning of April 7, when Campbell allegedly attempted to slide across the hood of a vehicle in Ann Arbor.
Michigan defensive lineman Will Campbell, above, faces charges after allegedly attempting to slide across the hood of a vehicle. Coach Brady Hoke declined comment Thursday, besides saying Campbell's status with the team has not changed.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
An officer in the area heard the hood's sheet metal buckle under Campbell’s weight -- he’s listed at 322 pounds -- and arrested him, according to police.
Campbell, 20, also was intoxicated, police said. He faces a charge of minor purchasing, consuming or possessing liquor, court records show.
He will appear in court July 23 for that charge. That's 17 days after his 21st birthday.
Hoke, speaking to reporters at Michigan Stadium after the University of Michigan Men's Football Experience camp, declined further comment on the matter.
Campbell is expected to enter the lineup next season, after the Wolverines graduated three of their four defensive line starters. He's anticipated to replace All-Big Ten player Mike Martin.
Hoke also has consistently named Campbell a candidate to be named captain. The senior led the Wolverines onto the field for their spring game earlier this year.
Campbell, once a big-time recruit from Detroit Cass Tech, has 19 career tackles, two sacks and one fumble recovery. He's started once.
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
RWBill
Tue, Jun 5, 2012 : 3:53 p.m.
It might be in the comments somewhere I haven't seen, haven't read them all yet, should be written in the article itself. The reason this is a felony is because ..... ( the value of the damage exceeded $xxx )? Often the category of crime is defined by dollar value, and often that value has not been updated in the code for decades or longer, making it too easy for someone to commit an act that is a felony. Is that the "why" in this case?
Bogie
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 9:31 p.m.
Poor car, didn't have a chance
missme
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 5:26 p.m.
aw come on! leave the kid alone! I know Will personally, he is a good guy! What drunk teen doesn't get a little rambunctious at times?? At least he isn't out eating people's faces off ;) There are a lot of other people in the area doing much worse stuff....He is only being highlighted because he plays for the team. GO BLUE!!!!
The1Cool
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 4:39 p.m.
Really? A felony?
Doug
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 4 p.m.
Give him a break! He's one of the good guys who has never been in trouble.
Elizabeth
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 2:14 p.m.
The real felony here is that to replace or repair the hood of a car costs more than $1,000.
Trisha
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 2:13 p.m.
Keep your head up Will Campbell. A lot of people DO believe in your capabilities! Also, I think rightmind250 is really a closet MICHIGAN fan!! He seems to be on all of these discussions!! GO BLUE!
daveM
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 2:01 p.m.
Enough is enough! Athletes must understand their position of influence with the youth, and the vital responsibility to represent their school (Michigan) as responsible individuals. Inspite of his potential effect as a defensive football player (although little has been demonstrated so far) he should be excused from playing at Michigan. Brady Hoke must take a stand or any accomplishment as head coach will be deminished by failure to take decisive action against such juvenile behavior behavior by some of his players. "Leaders and Best" is the the oft used phrase to identify Michigan. It must apply across the board! Go Blue!
Bogie
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 5:59 p.m.
If they influence youth, then pay them.
The1Cool
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 4:36 p.m.
When will people realize athletes are just normal people with an extremely marketable skill. That skill does not change the fact that they are normal people. They are not any more fit to being role models than anyone else. People need to stop being absentee parents and influence their own kids.
hail2thevict0r
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 3 p.m.
Really? Kick a kid off the team for sliding over the hood of a car? There is a time and place for tough love - but this isn't one of them.
GoBigBlue
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 2:26 p.m.
I'd just like to add that I'm sure many would say the only reasons kids get cut extra slack and get more chances is because of their talent or need of the team based on lack of numbers. But I truly believe many coaches, including Hoke, also want to see a kid grow into a man and have success in life. Whether they make it on to the NFL or have to figure out their career path, many coaches want to see them do well. Being dismissed from any major football program/scholarship is a huge negative in a 19-23 year olds life. It would have the tendency to create a downhill spiral in many cases.
GoBigBlue
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 2:20 p.m.
Dave, Though I understand your point, you have to understand that Hoke is not going to dismiss a kid from the team for a first offense such as this. Hoke himself has admitted to being a so called "bone head" when he was in college at Ball State. He will express the type of behavior that is expected of a Michigan football player. But he will also cut a first time offender some slack. If you push it to far and leave him no choice, (ex. Stonum) then you will be dismissed.
chuck
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 12:44 p.m.
SAME OLE WILLLLLLLL !!!! No BIG expectations from this guy...you are wasting your time expecting this guy to IMPROVE !!!!
vg550
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 11:39 a.m.
What does this behavior and consequence (or lack of) send to the rest of the team... and the thousands of young teenage boys who look up to the college and pro players. Please don't say it's not the players responsibility what others think ... it comes with the territory.
craigjjs
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 1:26 p.m.
Why do you assume a lack of consequences? Perhaps Hoke is allowing the legal process to play out, as he has done in the past. If he is found guilty, I am sure there will be team sanctions as well as legal ones. The message to the team: don't get drunk and do stupid things or you'll be charged with a crime, embarrassed, and face the consequences. As for the poor, poor traumatized children, if you think this conduct even registers on the scale when considering other programs and the pros, you are way out of touch.
vg550
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 11:47 a.m.
Sorry, I forgot to mention ... I don't think it should be a felony charge. However, some type of punishment should be given. Obviously paying for the damage, maybe community work and fine for the drinking, and certainly sitting out for several games.
rightmind250
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 10:09 a.m.
I guess Meyer has nothing on Hoke. All we heard about was all the arrests Meyer's florida teams had while he was there. Hoke is piling up the numbers quickly. Hoke's comments are pretty predictable also. His status has not changed, atleast until the public pressure gets be too much.
GoBigBlue
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 2:15 p.m.
Rightmind's a buckeye fan. Which gives him pretty much 0 ground to stand on when it comes to commenting on players "misbehaving".
craigjjs
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 1:20 p.m.
So, you RichRod fan boys attack any success by Hoke by claiming he is playing with RR's players, but blame him for police incidents involving the same players.
Huron74
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 9:31 a.m.
Bad as this is should this really be charged as a felony?
Brad
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 12:03 p.m.
Seems a bit overdone. Unless in addition to hearing the story late we're also hearing only part of it.
Hailyes1
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 4:42 a.m.
Felony? He had a few beers and then forgot he weighed 300+ lbs. He didn't get behind the wheel (i.e. Nix), or sucker punch a innocent person (i.e. Winston). There was no intent to be distructive or to hurt anyone. Keep your head up Big Will.
rightmind250
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 2:17 a.m.
Michigan has definitely taken the B10 lead in criminal behavior. How many is that this summer 4 convicts? You go Big will make em proud in Ann Arbor.
golfer
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 3:28 p.m.
not even close to ohio state. then are the leaders in criminals.
umgoblue47
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 2:25 p.m.
hey rightmind. . . are you proud of what tp and jt did to your program? are you proud of the 12 new NCAA VIOLATION'S in addition to the 46 other pending NCAA VIOLATION'S at good old o$u? meyer is just picking up where jt left off!! you go oscar meyer, make c-bus proud just just like jt did!! GO BLUE!!!!!!
Ted Bundy
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 12:55 p.m.
felony? There is a 0% chance of that charge sticking. Hey rightmind, good luck in your bowl game this year! Oh wait...
MRunner73
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 11:47 a.m.
Terell Pryor has done much more disgusting things while at ohio. I think the I.R.S. will also come after him. Campbell will get his just punishment. To your point, Brady Hoke is probably keeping score on this (too) and will have to address all of these issues to the team.
rightmind250
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 10:04 a.m.
So wait, you are proud of this 20 year olds public drunkeness and resulting felony charge?
TheWay
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 7:46 a.m.
Yeah, such a bad seed, this Will Campbell. Attempting to slide over a car's hood only to damage it because he's too big to pull off the move. Such malicious intent there...
heartbreakM
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 1:26 a.m.
This is just yet one more example why being a coach must be so hard, because you have players (who are huge) mixed with alcohol == STUPID behavior (if not illegal). It happened at AZ earlier this year, it happened here earlier and now, and many other schools. How many times must the coaches tell these players not to make jerks or worse of themselves???
Soft Paw
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 12:42 a.m.
WC is overweight at 320. If he trimmed down to 290 he would make more tackles, and cause less damage to vehicles.
Meangoblue
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 12:14 a.m.
There's this one guy that I know and he said that what Will Campbell did was shtoopid!! MEEEEEEEEEEEEEANchigan football has returned from the muck!!! To young Will Campbell....Good Night and Good Luck!!!!
edjasbord
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 11:27 p.m.
Kyle and AA staff - why would you not just update the other story on this same topic? This practice has happened time and time again and has grown really tiresome and annoying. Its a slap in the face to all who took the time to comment on the other write-up of the same story. You are basically telling us that you could care less about developing a community among your readers. And you will only lose readers in doing so. It really feels like you are cheating your readers just for more clicks - which a "Second update" headline would get you.
TheWay
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 7:44 a.m.
Get over it.
MRunner73
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 11:12 p.m.
I hope this turns out to be a misdemeanor and then let Brady Hoke apply the right kind of punishments.
7718
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 10:30 p.m.
Sorry Will, I think you may have lost your chance of being captain.
Hebner
Fri, Jun 1, 2012 : 1:16 a.m.
yes, I also agree. His credibility with the team is diminished; however, with a great attitude on and off the field he may still be the player others look up to. This is a tough situation to be in, but Will can overcome this if he is accountable...sounds familiar. Go blue! Keep your head up Will, we all make mistakes; it is how we handle it that matters.
garrisondyer
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 10:53 p.m.
Although, we should also just wait until the legalities are worked out to really pass our fan-based judgement.
garrisondyer
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 10:52 p.m.
I'm inclined to agree. It's all pretty unfortunate...