Hudson QB Smith reinstated; WR Collins dismissed

Posted Sep 23, 2010 by Bart O'Connell

Updated Sep 23, 2010 at 12:32 PM

HUDSON—After reviewing the cases of two Hudson football players who were arrested in an alleged attempted robbery in July, Cobras coach Justin Fenton has decided to reinstate one of the players, QB Austin Smith, and dismiss the other, WR Dontaie Collins.

Both players were suspended from extra-curricular activites at the outset of fall practice in mid-August, but had been enrolled and attending classes at Hudson after being held in juvenile detention immediately following the arrests, which took place at the end of July. Pasco County restored the eligibility of both players, but Fenton was given the final authority as to whether one, or both, would be reinstated to the football team. He declined to go into specifics about why Smith was reinstated and Collins was not. Collins remains enrolled in classes at Hudson.

“It was a coach’s decision,” said Fenton, who made the decision this week. “I arrived at the decision by taking in all the information that was given to me, but I am not going to discuss in detail why I did what I did.

“Austin is back on the team with stipulations, conduct-related,” Fenton added. “I have said since day 1 here that the most important ability you can have as a football player is dependability. You have no worth to us if you are not dependable.”

Smith and Collins were arrested following an incident where police say Collins tried to grab a large amount of cash from a bedroom dresser at a home in the Beacon Woods subdivision of Hudson he and Smith were visiting. Collins denied the charge when interviewed by police. Smith was shot in the leg as he attempted to flee the home with Collins. A third person also was arrested in conjunction with the alleged robbery but was not affiliated with the football team.

Fenton said Smith will not play Friday against Fivay in the first-ever meeting between the two schools, which are separated by less than three miles.

When asked what Smith’s role is on the team now, Fenton said, “Carrying out bags and footballs.” He did not say when he plans to use Smith in a game.