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June 12, 2005
 
MU Offensive Lineman John Inman Arrested, Charged with DUI
 
by Grant Traylor
Huntington News Network Sportswriter
 
For the second time in as many months, a Marshall football player has been arrested and faces suspension.
 
Marshall offensive lineman John Inman was arrested by Huntington police on Sunday evening, June 5, 2005, and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.
 
Inman, a sophomore offensive lineman from Knoxville, Tennessee, was expected to be the starter at right guard for the Thundering Herd in the 2005 season.
 
Right now, those plans are on hold as Marshall coach Mark Snyder talks about Inman's situation.
 
"Anytime one of our student-athletes makes a poor decision, it is very discouraging," Snyder said in a release. "This is a matter that we take very seriously and are addressing in an appropriate way."
 
Inman specializes in run blocking, which the Thundering Herd will depend on with the two-headed monster of Ahmad Bradshaw and Gerwin Williams.
 
The latest arrest marks the second time in two months that a Marshall player has had an altercation with the law and lost playing time because of it.
 
Roger Garrett was arrested on May 6 on multiple charges, including driving under the influence and could be suspended for the entire season. The arrest marked Garrett's third time being in the public eye due to off-field problems.
 
The two arrests prior to Marshall's move to Conference USA are eerily similar to problems that the Thundering Herd faced last season when arrests prior to the season-opener caused six players to miss playing time in Marshall's 19-17 loss to Troy.
 
With Marshall already behind and Snyder only having two practices with the team, establishing a productive opening day lineup will be a large task so Snyder addressed Inman's situation quickly.
 
"Unfortunately for John and the Marshall football family, he will be suspended for our opening game against William and Mary," Snyder said.
 
Last season, off-field distractions decimated the team to the point that former coach Bob Pruett held mandatory alcohol awareness meetings following the team's position meetings on certain days.
 
Barring further incident, Inman will likely make his first career start as the Thundering Herd hosts Kansas State on Sept. 10. Inman graduated from Webb School in Knoxville, the same school that produced former Marshall and current New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington.