Pitt's Gunn looks to restore image

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett One of the more surprising summer stories in the Big East was Pittsburgh linebacker Adam Gunn's arrest outside a nightclub for resisting arrest and other charges. Gunn had been a model citizen at Pitt, had worked his way back from a broken neck and talked to me in April about his desire to start a foundation for underprivileged kids. He was suspended from the team after the arrest but reinstated after charges were dropped. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Paul Zeise talked to Gunn, and the senior was apologetic in his first interview since the incident. "I have never been on the other side of the law before and I don't ever want to be there again. I think the first thing I need to say is that I'm sorry and I take full responsibility for my actions -- I know I let my team down, my family down and my coaches down -- but more than anything else, I let myself down.

"The whole entire incident could have and should have been avoided."
Gunn and some friends, including former Panthers linebacker Austin Ransom, tried to cut in line at a local nightclub on May 9 and then tried to skirt past the police who stopped them. An altercation followed, with Ransom allegedly punching an officer and Ransom allegedly running away before being hit with a Taser. Zeise writes that the charges were dropped mostly because of Gunn's lack of previous problems. "Right after the incident, I talked with the officers and made sure they know how much respect I have for them and for their profession and for what they do. I think they understood that I was genuinely being apologetic. I respect them, I always have.

"I think what made me feel good was when I met with the team leaders and apologized for them and [Cedric McGee] said to me, 'you've been here five years and you've never been in trouble -- that's all you need to say. We know who you are and what you stand for and we're behind you.' -- that was special to me."
Dave Wannstedt is quoted in the story saying that he "never lost faith" in Gunn, who is expected to replace 2008 Big East defensive player of the year Scott McKillop at middle linebacker this fall.