The Dunce Cap: Highlighting the shortcomings of America's student-athletes

December 12, 3:23 PMCollege Sports ExaminerJacob Osterhout

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Newton with a bad case of the munchies.

Today marks the anniversary of Florida A&M alumnus - and Dallas Cowboy offensive lineman - Nate Newton's second arrest for massive marijuana possession. (Special thanks to the Dawg for the heads up.)

For those of you not familiar with Newton's history, it goes a little something like this. Newton, a six-time pro bowler, retires from the NFL in 1999. In November of 2001, the 300+ lbs. lineman is caught with 213 lbs. of marijuana in his white van. One month later, on December 12th, the big man is busted again, this time with 175 lbs. of marijuana.

Newton would end up spending 30 months in federal prison before being released and turning to God.

In 2006, when asked about the incident by ESPN Newton replied, "It was all the fun the law would allow … and then some.”

This week's Dunce Cap is dedicated to you, Newton. As the Dawg says: Happy 7th anniversary. Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

1. Nathan Williams, Ohio State defensive end - The 19-year-old freshman was arrested for shoplifting three shirts worth $80 from a Macy's at a suburban Dayton mall. Store security was alerted to the robbery attempt when alarms went off as Williams and a friend exited the store. In his defense, Williams claims that he was taking the fall for his friend, who was already in trouble with the law. Doesn't telling everyone you are the fall guy defeat the whole point of a fall guy?

2. Sterling Lewis, Arizona linebacker - There are DUIs and then there are extreme DUIs. (No joke, that's how the state of Arizona characterizes Lewis' legal transgression.) Lewis, a back-up linebacker with 59 tackles this season, was suspended for the Las Vegas Bowl by coach Mike Stoops after being arrested on an extreme DUI charge. Officers pulled Lewis over on Thursday morning for driving on the wrong side of the road. Lewis blew a .15, nearly twice the Arizona legal limit, and then accused the arresting officer of being racist when told that his car was going to be impounded. Sure, that's why you got pulled over, because the cop is racist, not because you were hammered and driving on the wrong side of the road...

3. Eric Devendorf, Syracuse guard - A Syracuse University judicial board has ruled that Devendorf violated the Student Code of Conduct when he allegedly punched a girl in the face. The board recommended that the Orange's third-leading scorer be suspended for the remainder of the academic year, which would obviously keep him off the basketball team. Devendorf will continue to play through the appeals process, which could take three weeks. The alleged incident occurred back on November 1st when Syracuse junior Kim Smith accused Devendorf of punching her in the face after a party. Devendorf claims that he was acting in self defense after Smith, who had been consuming alcohol, almost ran him over. Regardless of the exactitude of the accusation, Devendorf is a high-profile star on a high-profile basketball team and should not be getting into confrontations with female students.

4. Dirk Minniefield, former Kentucky guard - Minniefield, who played at Kentucky from 1980-83 and is the Wildcats all-time assists leader, was arrested on Tuesday and charged in an alleged $10 million mortgage scheme in the Houston area. The 6-foot-3 guard is accused of playing the role of real estate agent in a scheme that secured fraudulent home loans for expensive upgrades that were never performed. How the mighty have fallen. In case you don't remember Minniefield's basketball prowess, check out the following video: 

5. Markieff Morris, Kansas forward - Back in August, the freshman forward thought it would be funny to shoot a woman with plastic BBs from a dorm room window. As happens to many freshman, Morris quickly discovered that what he found funny, others saw as illegal. Morris was originally charged with battery, but he recently pleaded down the charges in return for performing 20 hours of community service. Let this be a lesson, Markieff. No more guns, not even air guns.

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