ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio coach Frank Solich will be put on probation by the university following his drunken driving
conviction.
Athletic director Kirby Hocutt said at a news conference Tuesday
that Solich also will publicly address his arrest and conviction
and become involved in alcohol education initiatives on campus.
"I cannot crawl in a hole. I cannot take a step backward," said Solich, whose team went 4-7 in his first year after six seasons at Nebraska. "I can try to use this as an experience in my
life that has happened. There's no way I can take it back."
Solich, 61, appeared to be passed out when police found him
Saturday night in his car, which was facing the wrong direction on
a one-way street and in drive, according to a police report.
He was found guilty Monday after pleading no contest. He had his
license suspended for 180 days, was fined $250 and ordered to
complete a three-day driver intervention program.
"There is a lesson here. It is a lesson that all of us have to
be much more conscientious in our behavior," Ohio president
Roderick McDavis said.
Solich apologized in the courtroom Monday, then apologized
several times Tuesday.
Hocutt said he and McDavis met with Solich and discussed the
possibility of firing him or asking him to resign. Solich said he
was trying to reach his players and hoped to have a meeting where
he would discuss what happened.
"My feeling is that when I have an opportunity to get in front
of them, we'll have a strong discussion what this all means and
where this is going to take us all," Solich said. "We'll try to
move forward from there."
Solich was 58-19 as Nebraska's coach before getting fired after
the 2003 regular season.