All-state running back Edward Britton was arrested last Wednesday for shoplifting a pair of MP3 players from a Northeast Wal-Mart.
The senior, El Paso's most sought-after football recruit last fall, was stopped by police at 10:45 a.m. near the store at 4530 Trans Mountain and was found with two audio players worth $157 each, police said.
The 17-year-old, who now attends Chapin, declined to comment. His father, Edward Sr., said he "deeply regrets" the incident and called it a "slip in character."
"It speaks for itself," Britton Sr. said. "But if you look at today's landscape -- the kids today and the trouble they're getting into -- it's unfortunate, but you always have to look at the bright side. It could be worse. ... My son doesn't go out and drink. He doesn't have a record. In school, he was never suspended for fighting, was never truant, so this definitely was a shock."
Texas Tech head football coach Mike Leach, who signed Britton to a full scholarship in February, said Monday that he was unaware of his arrest.
Asked if the incident would affect the athlete's scholarship, Leach declined to comment, adding "Don't you all have anything better to write over there?"
As of Monday evening, Britton Sr. had not contacted the Texas Tech football staff regarding his son's arrest, saying that "this is a personal matter and a situation where Edward is growing up, and we're going to handle this like anything else. If they call me, and it becomes a concern, we're going to address it."
The father added that he does not think Edward's scholarship is in jeopardy.
"We talk to (assistant football coach Dave Brown) on a regular basis, and character is something they value. I think Edward's character is still intact," Britton Sr. said.
The senior, El Paso's most sought-after football recruit last fall, was stopped by police at 10:45 a.m. near the store at 4530 Trans Mountain and was found with two audio players worth $157 each, police said.
The 17-year-old, who now attends Chapin, declined to comment. His father, Edward Sr., said he "deeply regrets" the incident and called it a "slip in character."
"It speaks for itself," Britton Sr. said. "But if you look at today's landscape -- the kids today and the trouble they're getting into -- it's unfortunate, but you always have to look at the bright side. It could be worse. ... My son doesn't go out and drink. He doesn't have a record. In school, he was never suspended for fighting, was never truant, so this definitely was a shock."
Texas Tech head football coach Mike Leach, who signed Britton to a full scholarship in February, said Monday that he was unaware of his arrest.
Asked if the incident would affect the athlete's scholarship, Leach declined to comment, adding "Don't you all have anything better to write over there?"
As of Monday evening, Britton Sr. had not contacted the Texas Tech football staff regarding his son's arrest, saying that "this is a personal matter and a situation where Edward is growing up, and we're going to handle this like anything else. If they call me, and it becomes a concern, we're going to address it."
The father added that he does not think Edward's scholarship is in jeopardy.
"We talk to (assistant football coach Dave Brown) on a regular basis, and character is something they value. I think Edward's character is still intact," Britton Sr. said.
Gig 'em Aggies!