Like It Is

UA takes wait-and-see approach with Beard

Anton Beard of Arkansas looks to pass as Wade Baldwin, IV of Vanderbilt guards during the first half of the game in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville on Saturday Jan. 10, 2015.

Every high school or junior college football player who cares about academics and visits the University of Arkansas will be impressed with the newest Jerry World, the Jerry and Gene Jones Family Success Center.

It is a 55,000-square-foot opportunity for success in the classroom.

Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, and his wife donated $10.65 million for the facility.

That was one of several things Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long talked about Tuesday during a news conference. Long doesn't have many news conferences so he covered a number of subjects, including the search for his fifth executive director of the Razorback Foundation.

However, he didn't say much about Anton Beard, the main Razorback remaining from the arrest of three Arkansas basketball players in July for forgery, which is the state of Arkansas' way of saying passing counterfeit bills.

The other two players in trouble are Jacorey Williams and Dustin Thomas.

Williams was dismissed from the team last week after the UA looked into accusations that Williams had physical altercations with his ex-girlfriend and a bouncer at a club.

Williams was a fiery competitor, sometimes a little too much, like when he was charged with an intentional foul during a close game.

Thomas transferred from Colorado and was going to have to sit out this season anyway, so he couldn't be missed except maybe in practice.

That leaves Beard, a sophomore from North Little Rock, to face the music as far as the basketball season is concerned.

The arraignment of the three -- who are out on $2,500 bond, which isn't that much, all things considered -- was pushed back from this past Monday to Sept. 2.

So for now the UA -- namely Long, because these types of decisions are made far up the food chain -- is waiting to see what happens.

Make no mistake, the Razorbacks basketball team needs Beard. He was the only returning starter, one who broke into the lineup midway through last season and helped the Hogs advance to the NCAA Tournament and a victory in the opening round.

But that obvious need will not carry weight if the judicial system prosecutes Beard for passing several hundred dollars of counterfeit bills. He was caught on video during an undercover operation.

It is hard to believe that passing 10 phony bills is an accident.

However, Beard's record since high school is apparently clean. It seems the most controversial thing he ever did was transfer from Parkview High to North Little Rock to be closer to home.

That means this is his first offense, and quite often first offenses are met with judicial leniency. Everyone makes a mistake, especially teenagers.

If he were to get probation, then Long and Coach Mike Anderson -- who observers said was sick about the arrests -- will meet and make a decision about whether Beard gets a second chance with the Razorbacks.

Beard has paid a little already in public humiliation, but nothing compared to what he would face on the road during the season.

Most likely he now understands it is an honor to be a Razorback, something thousands of kids dream about being but don't have the God-given talents to achieve.

If he were reinstated to the basketball team, it would most likely be with strong boundaries and he would probably miss a few games for good measure. Of course, that is speculation.

The final decision will be Long's, and that's what he is paid the big bucks to do.

Sports on 08/27/2015