Penn State football coach Joe Paterno released a statement Friday stating that the playing status of five players will be altered as a disciplinary action.
Defensive linemen Ed Johnson and Matt Rice are off the team through the summer, and quarterback Michael Robinson is also on probationary status with the team because of the players' role in an on-campus fight. No criminal charges were filed in connection with the fight.
Paterno also stated that in a separate situation, defensive end Lavon Chisley "has decided to appeal charges against him," and he will not be able to participate with the team pending that appeal.
Paterno did not say what charges Chisley was appealing, and no criminal charges have been filed against him. In February, Penn State University Police took Chisley's fingerprints to see if they matched condom wrappers found in the purse of a woman who accused Chisley of sexual assault. However, the incident, which allegedly occurred on Nov. 23, is still under investigation, and no charges have been filed.
Paterno also said walk-on Richard Cheek is no longer with the team.
Cheek is the only one of the five who has been criminally charged. According to the Centre Daily Times, Cheek and two other students have been charged with using a stolen credit card to make about $2,200 in purchases.
University spokesman Tysen Kendig said to his knowledge, none of the players mentioned had been sanctioned by Penn State's Office of Judicial Affairs.
"To my knowledge, they are all still students at the university, and this is a decision made by athletics that only concerns the players' status with the football team," he said.
University spokesman Bill Mahon also said he was not aware that any action had been taken against the players by judicial affairs.
The Penn State Office of Judicial Affairs was closed yesterday, and repeated calls to Director Joseph Puzycki were not answered.
Paterno's statement read as follows: "Ed Johnson, Matthew Rice and Michael Robinson were involved in a fight at a campus skating party. It appears that Ed and Matt's participation was more aggressive and potentially more harmful than Mike's. As a result, Ed and Matt will not be members of the football team through the summer. Their role with the football team will be reviewed at a time when we are able to determine what is best for them and the football team. Michael Robinson's participation was not as aggressive, but no less disappointing, and he will be on probationary status.
"In a separate situation, Lavon Chisley has decided to appeal charges against him and in doing so is not permitted to participate pending that appeal. Walk-on Richard Cheek is no longer with the team."
The fight for which Johnson and Rice were suspended occurred on Feb. 7 at the Greenberg Ice Pavilion at Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity's Black Ice Party. Alpha Phi Alpha president Chris Johnson, who e-mailed a message to the Collegian to bring public attention to the incident, said the fight became a "bar-style brawl" among 10 to 20 people.
University police investigated the fight but did not press any charges. In March, officer Ted Delaney said police had heard too many conflicting stories to press charges, but between five and 10 students had been referred to Penn State's Office of Judicial Affairs.
Kendig said to his knowledge, Judicial Affairs proceedings with each of the students were still in the preliminary stages.
Robinson received 24 stitches above his left ear after being pushed into a glass trophy case during the fight.
His probationary status will not keep him from practicing with the team.
Sports Information Director Jeff Nelson said the athletic department would not have any further comment on the situation. When asked why Paterno had made the statement and the suspensions, Nelson said that he believed it was a combination of information Paterno had received from police, Judicial Affairs and through his own investigation.
Nelson also said he did not know of any Judicial Affairs case against any of the players.
