Cal U resumes football season after players arrested for assault
The interim president of Pennsylvania’s California University decided to allow the football season to continue after six players were arrested for assault last week. However, she is currently reviewing the football program due to the outcry of people in the California community and others who are upset about what happened to the victim. That victim was brutally beaten and now remains hospitalized with what officials are calling a serious brain injury. The interim president, who cancelled the football team’s last game against Gannon last weekend, released an official statement saying that play will continue this weekend versus Mercyhurst University, but that the incident will not be forgotten. She told a group of reporters that she is allowing the season to continue for the sake of those football players, band members, and students who have “lived up to the university’s core values and expectations.” She went on to say that she has reminded the football players that there is a zero-tolerance policy and that “any infraction of team conduct rules will result in immediate suspension from the team.” In addition, the interim president had a closed-door meeting with Cal U’s football coach over the weekend. According to witnesses, a group of California University football players attacked a 30-year-old man outside of a bar that is located near Cal U’s campus shortly after the bar closed at 2 a.m. last Thursday. Witnesses say the victim attempted to intervene during an argument between his girlfriend and one of the Cal U players. The player’s teammates then stepped in and began to furiously beat the victim while chanting “Football strong.” They continued the chant as the victim laid lifeless on the sidewalk. A healthcare professional from AGH told reporters that the victim has suffered brain damage, but that he is expected to live and that he is currently is fair condition. Five players were initially arrested at the team’s practice on Thursday evening, and a sixth player turned himself in on Saturday morning. The players’ ages range from nineteen to twenty-two. All six of them have been charged with aggravated assault, harassment, criminal conspiracy, and reckless endangerment. If you have a son or daughter in college who has been arrested for assault, it is imperative that you have an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side to protect them and their future. If you have questions, please call Pittsburgh assault attorney Gary Gerson at 412-219-6875 for a free consultation. Source: TribLive.com, “Cal U president vows review of football program in wake of 6 players’ arrests” 3 November 2014
