I
Anything can happen
Oregon cornerback Rodney Woods
understands what kind of a chance
he has received from UO football
By Hank Hager
Sports Editor
There's a birthday party on May 19,
2000, in Palmdale, Calif.
A fight breaks out among high
schoolers. Punches are thrown and
kicking is involved.
Christopher O'Leary, 18, is fatally beat
en. Another, Kevin Walker, is assaulted.
Rodney Woods, then 17 years old, is
involved in the incident. Months later,
he pleads no contest to felony assault
for hitting Walker. 1 le is sentenced to
one year at Eastlake Juvenile I fall in Los
Angeles.
"I remember it a little, but it's been so long," Woods said Tuesday.
Woods was originally charged with O'Leary's death, byit the charge was
dropped when witnesses said he never struck the fallen teenager. Marc
Raines and Richard Newton, two of Woods' high school teammates, were
charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Woods spent over 100 days behind bars for his participation that fateful
night after having already served 231
days while in custody. 1 le walked out of
the detention center on April 7, 2001.
"1 always tell my little brother and all
his friends to be careful wherever (they)
go because you never know what can
happen," Woods said. "I try to tell peo
ple to do the right thing. No matter
where you're at, anything can happen at
any point of time. Be careful and be
aware of your surroundings."
It's Nov. 5 and more than two years
later, and Woods is a starting cornerback
for the Oregon football team. I le was
brought to the program by Oregon
head coach Mike Bellotti, who recruit
ed the Lancaster, Calif., native out of
I ’resno City College.
I Ip ramp In I iiopiip rmlv aftpr liwloo
Thomas White reduced his charge tp a misdemeanor, allowing the 5-fodt
10-inch junior to attend classes at Oregon and become eligible to play
football.
"I see it as being blessed," Woods said of the support and letters in his
Turn to WOODS, page 12B
Eugene, OR 97401
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