Jamar on the Bench?

Since the accident a week ago Monday and the ensuing events and reports, I've been all over the place with reactions to the fate of Jamar Smith. At times I've lashed out at Weber for the perception that he's coddling a team full of criminals. Other times I wonder where the players would be without someone who loves them like a father and refuses to give up on them. I almost wrote a blog entitled "Jamar Must Go" a couple days ago upon hearing about his apparent refusal of help for Brian. I've questioned whether Jamar was ever a "good kid" and doubted my support of college athletics and the surrounding culture it creates. I've empathized with Jamar, remembering times in my life where I've been filled with regret from mistakes I've made irresponsibly yet unintentionally that I wished I could simply undo. Plus there is the factor that I'm an Illini fan and I want us to win games. I have never wavered in my absolute disgust at drunk driving and its prevalence in our country.

Still, I found myself watching the Illinois/Michigan game in the wake of these seesawing opinions and emotions. In the wake of the latest developments, I posted the following in response to watching the game and reading the subsequent Tupper blog.

It was disconcerting to see Smith on the bench having a good time after the recent events for which he was directly responsible. However, it does hint that there may be more to the story than we're hearing from the prosecution in this case.

"The team was adamant that Jamar should be with the team and on the bench. The most outspoken of all was Carlwell and his opinion held extra weight, since the public perception is that Jamar Smith left him for dead in the car that snowy night. I can tell you everyone associated with the program strongly disputes that notion and Smith’s attorney, Mark Lipton, will no doubt be arguing that in court."

It seems to me that those associated with the team are the ones who would know the most about the events of that fateful night. For all this "left for dead" talk, we've never heard Jamar or Brian's side of the story. Surely any responsible decision-maker would take that into account. I think the sight of Brian and Jamar arm-in-arm is a powerful statement from those two individuals.
We condemn Jamar (and I'm not saying he's innocent or should go unpunished) for presumably looking out for his own reputation and self-interest when his teammate was clearly suffering and in urgent need of help. Jamar is suffering now and needs help. If we abandon him to protect our own reputation and self-interest, are we really any better?
Justice will be served and I doubt this is some grand cover-up. Perhaps it is really that Coach Weber understands that two wrongs don't make a right. It's that understanding that allowed Luther Head and Richard McBride to redeem themselves and we are all better for it.