Football players assault students, report says
Chelsea Pflugh, Editor-in-Chief & Josh Stipanovich, News Editor
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: News
According to the police report, Long stated "he went to [the] hospital because his lip was split open, which required five stitches. He had bruises on his head, [a] fractured nose and contusions on his right eye."
Long said the players have tried to make amends.
"They've tried to come to us," he said. "Because they're on the football team, and they try to say that they didn't mean to do it or whatever … I tried to ignore it … my one friend said they were coming up to me 'cause they're afraid to get kicked off the team."
Coach Heacock said he had only just heard about the incident this afternoon. When asked about the consequences for the players involved, he said he wasn't sure due to legal processes that are pending.
"We will sort through it, the guys who were involved will not travel … until we get further reports, that's how we're gonna do it," Heacock said.
Gooden was slated to start this weekend for the Penguins in their final game of the season at North Dakota State University. Heacock said he was disappointed to see his players involved in the incident, but understands confronting issues of this nature is sometimes part of the job as head coach.
"It's just part of the process," he said. "When you have 100 young people, you're always dealing with things [like this.]"
Aside from potential team consequences, there may also be pending legal actions. YSU police received the call about the incident yesterday, and it's still under investigation with YPD.
YSU Police Chief John Gocala said YSU police plan to join the investigation process tomorrow.
"Because it happened off campus … the city has to take the report," Gocala said. "We took the pictures of the injuries."
YSU Lt. Mark Adovasio said the actions of the football players may result in criminal charges.
"One charge they could be charged with is assault, and if anybody participated in the incident, they could be charged with complicity," Adovasio said. "Depending on what [the player] is charged with as far as the assault, it could be six months [in jail], then if it's bumped into felonious assault, it could be more than six months."
According to the police report, the three victims of the incident "all stated they wish to press charges against [the] suspects, who are all football players for YSU."
"I think any time there's an assault or there's physical harm done to someone, I think they should file the report with city police and let the proper procedure and the proper channels be followed," Adovasio said.
Long said that he and the two victims still plan on taking further action against the players.
Editor's note: The Jambar has attempted to contact the suspects House, Gooden and Cravens for comment, but a response has not yet been received from any player.
Long said the players have tried to make amends.
"They've tried to come to us," he said. "Because they're on the football team, and they try to say that they didn't mean to do it or whatever … I tried to ignore it … my one friend said they were coming up to me 'cause they're afraid to get kicked off the team."
Coach Heacock said he had only just heard about the incident this afternoon. When asked about the consequences for the players involved, he said he wasn't sure due to legal processes that are pending.
"We will sort through it, the guys who were involved will not travel … until we get further reports, that's how we're gonna do it," Heacock said.
Gooden was slated to start this weekend for the Penguins in their final game of the season at North Dakota State University. Heacock said he was disappointed to see his players involved in the incident, but understands confronting issues of this nature is sometimes part of the job as head coach.
"It's just part of the process," he said. "When you have 100 young people, you're always dealing with things [like this.]"
Aside from potential team consequences, there may also be pending legal actions. YSU police received the call about the incident yesterday, and it's still under investigation with YPD.
YSU Police Chief John Gocala said YSU police plan to join the investigation process tomorrow.
"Because it happened off campus … the city has to take the report," Gocala said. "We took the pictures of the injuries."
YSU Lt. Mark Adovasio said the actions of the football players may result in criminal charges.
"One charge they could be charged with is assault, and if anybody participated in the incident, they could be charged with complicity," Adovasio said. "Depending on what [the player] is charged with as far as the assault, it could be six months [in jail], then if it's bumped into felonious assault, it could be more than six months."
According to the police report, the three victims of the incident "all stated they wish to press charges against [the] suspects, who are all football players for YSU."
"I think any time there's an assault or there's physical harm done to someone, I think they should file the report with city police and let the proper procedure and the proper channels be followed," Adovasio said.
Long said that he and the two victims still plan on taking further action against the players.
Editor's note: The Jambar has attempted to contact the suspects House, Gooden and Cravens for comment, but a response has not yet been received from any player.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 15
losers
posted 11/19/09 @ 9:11 PM EST
what a bunch of thugs, kick them all off forever, freakin losers.
whitney kofax
posted 11/19/09 @ 11:14 PM EST
If the boys that got injured were white, it should be considered a hate crime. Agreed?
Come on
posted 11/20/09 @ 7:32 AM EST
Man its a college party fight. I guarantee you that the people that got beat up were swinging too but because they were less skilled fighters the football players are getting into trouble. (Continued…)
Bill Border
posted 11/20/09 @ 9:12 AM EST
How sad that educated people can not see that violence is never the answer to any situation. It appears that our youth find alcohol, substance abuse and violence as a way to cope with their feelings and self worth. (Continued…)
Ok
posted 11/20/09 @ 11:13 AM EST
OK, Bill, true violence is never the answer to anything. But in review of the "victims" interview, I find it hard to believe that he is totally innocent. (Continued…)
Jess
posted 11/20/09 @ 2:49 PM EST
Well I don't think anybody has any right to judge college kids for drinking at a party. However,I think that both sides of the story need to be told. Basically what happened was Dearth made a joke about Goode keeping his spot against his friend. (Continued…)
Scott
posted 11/21/09 @ 12:56 AM EST
The article was poorly written. It implies that the football players are not students. It sounds like a guy ran off at the mouth and got beat up...what's the big deal? If you throw a party off campus and invite whoever, there's a real good chance of a drunken fight!
Unjust
posted 11/21/09 @ 1:00 AM EST
I think that this entire article is one sided. Did anyone check how much alcohol everyone was drinking, or only the football players? It's interesting how the victim "showed up at a party, made an innocent joke, and got beat up. (Continued…)
Allyson
posted 11/21/09 @ 10:56 AM EST
I think all who have commented have brought up some interesting points. But the thing that disappoints me is that these four football players, although they had been drinking, didn't consider one of the most important things. (Continued…)
Jessica
posted 11/22/09 @ 5:46 PM EST
Hate crime! are you serious! this is soooooo one sided if you gonna say a hate crime why they jus interview the WHITE guys and not get the other side from the BLACK guys. (Continued…)
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