Radford University point guard Amir Johnson was convicted of petit larceny yesterday, after breaking into the off-campus apartment of two former teammates and stealing their "PlayStation," some games for it, and an iPod. (I'm going to assume it was at least a PS2, but that the Roanoke Times doesn't know the difference.)

Meanwhile at Ohio University, cornerback Travis Carrie and defensive lineman Corey Moncrief each plead guilty to charges of receiving stolen property after they were found in possession of computers stolen from two residence halls.

So who got off better? Johnson merely had to pay a fine and reimburse his teammates for their electronics. But Carrie and Moncrief each have to serve two days in jail, and write a letter of apology to the computers' owners. If I know college athletes, they can do the jail time standing on one leg, but that whole writing a letter thing's gonna be a bitch.

Radford University's Amir Johnson Enters Alford Plea to Misdemeanor Charge [Roanoke Times]
Second OU player Sentenced in Computer Theft [Columbus Dispatch]

• 1. Oh My! The MAC has a very high concentration of sportswriters and broadcasters that claim a MAC school as an alma mater. A sampling: Dick Enberg (CMU), John Saunders (Western Michigan), Thom Brennaman, Peter King, Jay Mariotti (Ohio), Jay Crawford of "Cold Pizza," Mike Emrick (Bowling Green), Steve Stone (Kent State), Chris Rose (Miami) and Jason Whitlock (Ball State), just to name a few. (Thanks to Brandon Veale).

• 2. What's That Spell? GHB! They take their drinking seriously in the MAC, where even the coaches are known to party hardy. Actually it's no laughing matter that Ohio coach Frank Solich was convicted of DUI in November and pleaded no contest to the charge of DUI in Athens, Ohio in January. From AP: "Solich, 61, appeared to be passed out when police found him Saturday night in the vehicle, which was facing the wrong direction on a one-way street and in drive, according to a police report. The report said Solich had trouble figuring out to how to roll down the window, had difficulty understanding simple questions and was unsteady on his feet. He refused to take a breath test." Solich has asked that the conviction be overturned, perhaps on the premise that the car wasn't moving ... much like his offense. But you knew this already.

• 3. Mongo Like Sheriff ... . The above had a positive effect on Ohio senior Cory Logan, who was arrested for punching a police horse in late April. Well, after all, Ohio was voted No. 7 in Playboy's 2006 list of top party schools.

• 4. The Long And Winding Road. Among those who have attended Eastern Michigan have been Charile Batch, Earl Boykins, George Gervin, Bob Welch and an anonymous EMU student who is generally credited with starting the "Paul is Dead" Beatles hoax, when he called WKNR-FM radio on Oct. 12, 1969, with a series of clues that seemed to point to the pop singer's demise.

Local newspaper The Athens News did a little research on Solich's claim that he was dosed with GHB, and apparently toxicologists don't buy Solich's story.

"It is absolutely not possible to find such an amount of GHB in hair after a single exposure (nor chronic exposure)," wrote Dr. Pascal Kintz by e-mail. "Something is wrong."

What's the implication here? Another toxicologists writes "the lab finding is suggestive of external contamination as a result of physical application. Although, I can't be absolutely sure that the test was conducted properly with washing prior to the test, or if the coach doped his own hair." That's right: Scientists suspect that Solich might have doped himself.

Ohio. Seriously.

Scientists Cast Doubt On Coach's Hair Samples [Athens News]
Do Not Give Frank Solich, The Date Rape Drug [Deadspin]

(So it's clear, this is not video of Solich's arrest. Pity.)

The memorandum of [Solich's lawyer's= motion indicates Solich was "not aware of ingesting GHB (or any other drugs of abuse, for that matter), and he would not have pled no contest to OVI if he had been aware of the information."

So in other words, Solich is now officially claiming that he was given the date-rape drug. In the wake of Carl Monday, Scott Sauerbeck and everything else, we ask again: What the heck is going on with Ohio?

Solich To Fight DUI Conviction [The Sporting News]
The Frank Solich Conspiracy Theory [Deadspin]
Frank Solich, Meet Bob Huggins [The Mighty MJD]

The Athens News has a full report on the email and the fact that sources say Solich is considering pulling back his guilty plea because of the drugging.

Jon Dalton, of Lincoln, Neb., did not return multiple phone calls. But on Monday, another family member reached in Nebraska confirmed the GHB hair test and the reluctance of the university administration to publicize it. The family member, who asked to remain anonymous, repeated some of the points mentioned in the supposed Dalton e-mail.

Now that it looks at least a little more possible that Solich might have been drugged, the question arises: Who would do this to such a nice man? We have a potential suspect.

Coach Mum On Reports He Was Drugged [Athens News]
The Frank Solich Conspiracy Theory [Deadspin]

Well — and take this with healthy dollops of sodium — apparently an email is circulating, allegedly from Frank's son-in-law Jon Dalton, that claims Solich was, in fact, drugged rather than drunk. Apparently, according to the email, Solich was slipped GHB at the bar where he was drinking.

Coach had a hair analysis test ran and it was confirmed that he was drugged, not intoxicated. The GHB levels in his system were extremely elevated, which caused him to "pass out" within 20 minutes of the drug entering his system. He has been working to have this information released to the public, but has not necessary gotten full support of the University President.

No reason is given as to why someone might dose Solich with the "date-rape drug," but that should be self-evident. Who hasn't wanted to drug a football coach right before he gets in a car? It's fun!

Full email after the jump.

I Hope He's Wrong [Heavy Soul]
Sleepless In Athens, Ohio [Deadspin]

————————————————————————————————————————-

Okay, It has been some time since I last emailed most of you on this subject, and I have been cleared to share some information about an "Incident" that occurred with my father-in-law back in November. As most will probably recall, Coach Solich was picked up for "DUI", to which he was advised and pleaded "No Contest" on the first business following the incident. I also sent an email on this speculating that there was foul play.

Coach had a hair analysis test ran and it was confirmed that he was drugged, not intoxicated. The GHB levels in his system were extremely elevated, which caused him to "pass out" within 20 minutes of the drug entering his system. He has been working to have this information released to the public, but has not necessary gotten full support of the University President. The Athletic Director is beside himself, as is Frank, and well, most of the rest of us this close to the situation. The school is a notorious party school, frequently finding themselves in the TOP 5 party schools in the US, including the last 2 years that I am aware of. They have also recently had at least 3 Doctorial professors, presumably in their medical program that have been "busted" for distributing prescription drugs to be sold via non-legal means. Interestingly, the bartender at the establishment, is a hippy child, who happens to be the son of an Ohio University medical professor, that has access to this drug, GHB.

While I would be shocked if the local DA or University is willing to investigate any further that to find a way to NOT implicate the locals, particularly tenured instructors, the facts of this "incident" will eventually be released. It may come when Frank finally has had enough and goes public himself, on his way to a different opportunity, but he hopes it does not come to that.

It has been interesting trying to feed this information to Bobcat followers on the web. Folks back there don't seem to think it is even remotely possible, while others would "like to believe". Even the arresting is certain that Frank was the victim, based on recent conversations Frank has had with her, from what I hear. Feel free to inform anyone you might think would appreciate this information. The more that know the truth, the more likely the truth will be officially released. Incidentally, I have also seen, read, hear of pretty much all of the other "rumors" and can assure you that Cindy has no illegitimate brothers or sisters, there have NEVER been any affairs, no-one is getting a divorce or separated, and whatever else might be out there is just something only naive people would believe to be true.

Jon

Sleepless In Athens, Ohio [Deadspin]

(To clarify, since there has been some confusion: This is NOT a photo from the night of Solich's DUI. Wanted to make that clear.)

(Second clarification: Multiple people have informed us that this picture is taken at Courtside Pizza, where Solich does his weekly radio show. So he's likely not out drinking with those guys in that picture. Which is probably for the best; it's better to take care of drivers' prep on your own time.)

What's that? Your car is facing the wrong direction? On a one-way street? What in the How did that happen? Sorry? The car is in "drive?" Well, there has to be a reasonable explanation for this.

Why did you decide to have that fourth appletini, anyway? We know it was half-off at the Athens Applebee's, but you really should have thought about at least snacking on a Baja Potato Boat appetizer first. Now you're all out of sorts. And you were asleep for a while. And that guy still has the light. And now he s knocking harder.

At least you're not in Lincoln anymore. At least you have that.

Ohio Coach Frank Solich Convicted Of DUI [FanBlogs]

(Sorry about the tech issues earlier, by the way. We should be good to go now.)

(Update: We're told that there is not only not an Applebee's in Athens, Ohio, there is, in fact, NOTHING in Athens, Ohio. Unless you're able to sneak in underaged at The Greenery.)

(Second Update: A reader writes: "While there may be no Applebee's in Athens, there's no Greenery either anymore. For about five years now. Solich could have come from BW3's, the Smiling Skull or any other of the umpteen bars in the five-block radius. A newcomer to Athens, Solich forgot the cardinal rule of OU students: Drink and Walk. Much safer.)