Can Keith Williams Stay as the Huskers Receivers Coach?

When news breaks, it's almost inevitable that someone is going to go on Twitter with a truly awful #HOTSPORTSTAKE.  On Sunday, after CornNation's Brian Towle broke the report of Nebraska assistant football coach Keith William's arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence, the worst takes started with concerns about recruiting.

I truly understand where the thought comes from:  Williams has done a fine job with his on the field coaching and has seemed to be a pretty effective recruiter. But all of that is secondary in this situation, as football implications have zero relevance as to what happens with Williams.

Let's clear up a couple of misconceptions folks have: first, according to police reports, this is Williams' third incident with driving under the influence.  It's not "one mistake"...but his third time making a very serious mistake.  Second, it wasn't just one-too-many beers; Williams was double the legal limit when tested, which according the blood alcohol chart, indicates that he'd had at least three or four too many.

"Is this going to hurt recruiting?"  Well, duh.  It's already happened.  Done and done.

I'm sorry... I just can't even... 🤐#Zone6 is busy getting ready to be the Best in America (on the Field... Not on Twitter)

— Zach Smith #Zone6 (@CoachZachSmith) August 14, 2016

Williams set an awful example for his players and showed huge irresponsibility.  No matter what Nebraska decides to do with Williams, this is out there.  And that's even before we consider the legal ramifications:  third offense DUI would seem to involve some serious jail time and a loss of driving privileges. Want to worry about recruiting?  OK, how is Keith Williams going to get to a rural area to look at a recruit?  Take a bicycle on the plane?  If taxis or Ubers aren't available, he's not going to be able to do his job?

I see one way Keith Williams salvages his coaching career at Nebraska, and that is that as soon as he's released from police custody, he heads into alcohol rehabilitation for as long as it takes.  (At a minimum, he's going to be suspended multiple weeks anyway.)  He needs to own up to his mistake, and look his players in the eye and tell them how he failed them and how he failed his family.

Then, and only then, is it even possible to discuss whether Keith Williams can coach for the University of Nebraska ever again.