Football players suspended indefinitely

~ Athletic director says long-term fate of players will be determined after getting all the facts and after the new coach is hired.

Southeast Missouri State athletic director Don Kaverman said Wednesday the university's four football players charged with assault have been indefinitely suspended from the team.

D'Eldrick Taylor, Tim Holloman, Fred Williams and Gerald Breedlove were charged on Tuesday with the ambush beating of two Southeast students, Ransom Ward and Shaun Johnson, at a fraternity party early this month.

Holloman, Williams and Breedlove face two counts each of misdemeanor assault while Taylor faces a single misdemeanor count.

With Southeast undergoing a search for a head football coach after Tim Billings resigned last month, Kaverman said the decision to suspend the players was his.

"We just need to get all the facts. We don't have them all now," Kaverman said. "Until we do, these players have been suspended.

"We're not terminating their scholarships, we're not dismissing them from the team. Those types of decisions will come at a later time."

Kaverman said the fate of the four players will likely not be determined until a new head coach is in place. Southeast hopes to hire that person prior to Christmas.

"We will consult with the head coach and go from there," Kaverman said.

Taylor, Holloman and Williams were all key players for the Redhawks this year, while Breedlove saw very little action.

Taylor, a junior, started most of the season at safety before being moved to cornerback late in the year. He was third on the team in tackles with 59.

Holloman, a freshman, saw limited action early in the season, but because of injuries ultimately moved into the starting tailback role. He wound up being one of the Ohio Valley Conference's top freshmen.

Holloman led the Redhawks in rushing with 688 yards and in touchdowns with 10. He also caught 30 passes to rank second on the squad. He was voted to the OVC's all-freshmen team.

Williams, a sophomore reserve linebacker, saw action in all 11 games and recorded 27 tackles.

Breedlove, a junior defensive back, saw action in just one game according to final season statistics.

The police investigation started after Ward and Johnson reported they were attacked early in the morning Dec. 4 as they left a party sponsored by the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. They told officers they were surrounded by up to 15 people, punched and knocked to the ground and kicked repeatedly.

Ward suffered a black eye, fractured nose and cuts on his chin requiring stitches. Johnson also suffered a black eye, and three teeth were damaged, including one that was pushed back almost to the roof of his mouth.

Ward bled profusely, leaving large stains on the T-shirt he wore. Johnson was knocked unconscious, then helped to Southeast Missouri Hospital for treatment. Ward returned to campus on a shuttle bus, then went for treatment on advice of his roommates.

Witnesses also testified that Ward was intoxicated and "verbally trying to pick fights with other people at the party."

Both Johnson and Ward, in interviews with the Southeast Missourian, have said they did nothing to provoke the attack.

mmishow@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 132