Ford 's troubles continue to mount

The recent arrest of former USF running back Mike Ford is another example that athletic ability doesn’t guarantee success.

Ford participated in last week’s Slam Jam celebrity charity basketball game at the Manatee Convention Center. He said he was headed for the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts, but now that seems to be another vanished dream.

Ford’s career has been on a downward spiral with a few bumps upward since the graduated from Sarasota High in 2005 as arguably the best high school running back the Manatee-Sarasota County area ever produced.

It took Ford two years to finally get into college and his three years at USF were marred by off the field troubles along with a disappointing ankle injury his sophomore year that ruined what most people thought would be his break-out season.

Ford was booted off the USF football team in the spring for violating unspecified team rules. There was talk he would transfer to Division II North Alabama or try his hand at professional football.

The 6-2, 225 pound running back has been arrested for traffic violations that included non paid tickets and driving without a license.

His most recent arrest is on a misdemeanor count of domestic battery, which he claims is not true. Regardless of how this case turns out, Ford is definitely running out of chances to play football.

In 2004 for Sarasota High, Ford rushed for 37 touchdowns and 2,836 yards, which is the sixth highest single season mark in state history. It is 82 yards shy of NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, who recorded that number in 1985.