Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Football has always seemed to come easy for Michael Dyer.

Dyer, the state’s record holder for career rushing yards in high school and the MVP of Auburn’s BCS title game victory against Oregon, is a talented running back. Few folks have ever doubted his ability on the field.

Where Dyer seems to have problems succeeding is off the field. Dyer, who was dismissed at Arkansas State prior to the season after details of a traffic stop involving a gun and marijuana became public, can’t seem to stay out of trouble.

Dyer, who has admitted to drug use and had his gun used in an armed robbery while at Auburn, is now at Arkansas Baptist, working on skills outside of football. It’s there that USA Today writer George Schroeder caught up with Dyer and the folks charged with helping him.

"This ain't about football," says Donald Northcross, dean of men at Arkansas Baptist. "This is about Michael Dyer being a good man."

USA Today offers details on how Nothcross and the staff at AB are working to help Dyer. Football figures to be part of Dyer’s future, but for now he’s being asked to focus his energy elsewhere.

Dyer’s uncle, Andre, told USA Today that it was important to find someplace committed to helping Dyer the person and not Dyer the football player:

"Everybody else we spoke to, I knew why they wanted Michael at their school," Andre Dyer said. "Michael knew why they wanted Michael at their school. Arkansas Baptist didn't want that. We haven't won any games for them, haven't brought in any revenue, haven't sold any T-shirts that say 'Michael Dyer is here now.' They were simply there . . . just to help this family. And that's what they've done."

Read more here.