November 15, 2004
Four Beavers suspended after racial fight
Freshman defensive sub Joseph Rudulph was arrested and suspended indefinitely (along with three other Oregon State players) following a bar fight with a National Guardsman this weekend.
Teammates Anthony Wheat-Brown (an eight-game starter), Whitfield Usher and Ryan Rainwater were present at the restaurant during the fight, but were not charged. All four players will miss the 'Civil War' this weekend against Oregon.
The alleged incident happened as Staff Sgt. Gabriel Sapp was dancing with his wife. The couple was allegedly approached by a group of black men, identified as Oregon State football players.The men began making comments to Sapp's wife, who is also black, about her relationship with her husband, who is white, Corvallis police said.
Witnesses said Rudulph then punched Sapp in the face, knocking him to the ground. Sapp, who was celebrating his last night of leave, is back in Iraq.
Rudulph faces assault, harassment and disorderly conduct charges.
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Aaron said:
posted on November 16, 2004 12:21 AM — 24.248.64.23 — link — abuse?I know that specific circumstances shouldn't really come into play for punishments, but as a member of the military who has done my time away from home overseas in the military and will be again next May, that player should be booted off the team. I find that behavior unacceptable.