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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (March 30, 2005)
Former Sun Devils running back charged with murder BY MFX REISNER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TEMPE, Ariz. — Former Arizona State running back Loren Wade was charged Tuesday with first-degree Tnurder in the shooting of another for mer Sun Devils player. The 21-year-old Wade has been held without bond since Saturday, when he was arrested at the slaying site outside a Scottsdale, Ariz., nightspot. Witnesses say they saw him approach the car of Brandon Falkner, and exchange words with Falkner before a gunshot rang out. Falkner, 25, was killed by a bullet. Before Wade was charged Tliesday, Arizona State head coach Dirk Koet ter said at a news conference he had been concerned by Wade's behavior since September, but never interpret ed any of it as cause for alarm. “I did not connect that dot,” Koetter said. “I missed it.” Koetter said Wade made verbal threats against two female athletes and was involved in two other inci dents. Koetter declined to elaborate. Wade’s girlfriend, former Arizona State soccer player Haley van Blommestein, is one of two women who felt Wade threatened them. The other was gymnast Tisha Dixon, who told her coach John Spini that Wade was enraged at her be cause she told a friend she saw Wade with another woman, and word got back to van Blommestein and Wade, who were living in Los Angeles. Wade phoned Dixon on Nov. 24 and allegedly warned her to stay out of his business. “There was no gun involved in that threat,” Spini said. “But she was afraid for her life, she said. ‘Just don’t be walking alone.’ To me, that’s a threat.” Spini said Dixon asked him not to get the police involved, and the inci dent blew over after Wade apologized to both of them. Wade set a school freshman rush ing record in 2003, but played only three games last year before he was suspended for the season for receiv ing improper benefits involving an overdue utility bill. Even earlier, Wade was troubled. He told Koetter in September he wanted to give up football out of fear of getting hurt. “I’ve never had a player tell me that,” said Koetter, who sent Wade to a counselor. Koetter theorized that Wade was feeling guilty about the im proper-benefits scandal, which in volved the firing of a school compli ance officer for using her line of credit to pay his utility bill. At some point after Wade’s sus pension, he broke off the counsel ing sessions. IN BRIEF Seahawks sign defensive back Herndon for five years KIRKLAND, Wash. — Kelly Hern don was on the verge of falling out of football so often he had no choice but to be mentally strong. After being cut three times and spending a season on the Denver prac tice squad before catching on with the Broncos, Herndon’s perseverance has paid off with a five-year, $15 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks. “I am elated, and it’s just a bless ing,” Herndon said Tliesday at team headquarters, adding he can tell his story back in his hometown of T\vins burg, Ohio, to prove “that you can keep working at what you do and nev er give up.” Herndon started all 16 games for the Denver Broncos last season and led the team with 20 passes defensed and was fifth with 77 tackles. He had two interceptions. He will join a talented but young secondary in Seattle, including cor nerback Marcus Trufant and safeties Ken Hamlin and Michael Boulware. He is expected to take the spot of Ken Lucas, who signed a six-year contract with the Carolina Panthers. Lucas tied for the NFC lead with six inter ceptions last season. Herndon will be reunited with Seat tle defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes, who held the same position in Denver in 2001 and 2002. The possibility of playing for Rhodes was a factor in Herndon’s decision. “I like how he goes about what he does,” Herndon said. “I like how the defense plays and they get after it, and it’s a chance to get out there and make plays to help this team win. It’s a great situation.” Seattle signed Herndon, a restricted free agent, to an offer sheet March 17. Denver had one week to match the Seahawks’ offer and chose not to. Be cause Herndon had signed with the Broncos as an unrestricted free agent, Seattle will not lose a draft pick. Herndon’s looking forward to his chance to grow with Seattle’s youth ful secondary. “I like how they play,” Herndon said. “It’s a young group, but we’re definitely going to jell together and get it done.” The Associated Press CURE CANCER with your old couch! Donate to a chanty garage sale to help Mieka Hopps pay for her medical bills. n is g MIEKA HOPPS, a U of O c student was recently diagnosed c with Hodgson’s Lymphoma. She | is in high spirits while currently undergoingchemotherapy, but she needs your help | Please donate sellable items. Items can be picked up! Contact Aaron or Cevinah for questions or assistance at or aaronhopps@gmail.com. £ Don’t forget to attend the sale E April ?th & lOth at ++5 E }2nd. |c r 021277 *1/0ednebdaij, ik ^hate Nicjsht $26 {Le>i Go-uple A Night To Remember • bruschetta • caesar salad • choice of our pasta-for two dishes • amaretto creme brulee • full bottle of Oregano's house wine Get Ready for Summer Plan Your Classes Now! The UO Summer Session Catalog is available on campus. It’s free. Summer session starts June 20. Group-satisfying and elective courses, seminars, and workshops begin throughout the summer. Check Our Website. http://uosummer.uoregon.edu The 2005 UO Summer Session Catalog is here! Read it online, or pick up a free copy today in the Summer Session office, 333 Oregon Hall, or at the UO Bookstore Telephone (541) 346-3475 Book Your Summer in Oregon UNIVERSITY OF OREGON The University of Oregon is an equal-opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
