Arrested football players won't start for UT

10/15/2008

Two University of Toledo football players who were arrested early Sunday morning outside of a West Toledo bar will play Saturday against Northern Illinois, the school announced yesterday.

Senior wide receiver Nick Moore and junior defensive end Albertson Alexandre, both starters for the Rockets, were scheduled to appear in court today, but their hearings were postponed to later this month.

At 2:30 a.m. Sunday outside Ryno's Bar and Grill at 2633 West Bancroft St., Moore was arrested for disorderly conduct intoxication, a minor misdemeanor, and Alexandre was arrested for obstruction of official business, a second-degree misdemeanor.

Moore and Alexandre will be held out of the starting lineup on Saturday and will face further unspecified discipline, UT coach Tom Amstutz said. It's unclear how much they will play.

"As head coach, it is my judgment that Nick and Albertson violated team rules, and as a result will face team penalties," Amstutz said. "Both players will be held out of the starting lineup this Saturday against Northern Illinois. In addition, they both will face internal team discipline."

According to court records, Moore is scheduled to appear in Toledo Municipal Court on Tuesday and Alexandre will appear Oct. 28.

Discipline for disorderly conduct charges varies from program to program.

At Bowling Green, coach Gregg Brandon suspended backup defensive lineman Andrew Johnson for one game earlier this season after Johnson was cited for disorderly conduct and underage consumption of alcohol the night of the Falcons' win over Pitt.

In 2007, Alabama coach Nick Saban, a former UT coach, did not suspend his starting cornerback Simeon Castille for the Crimson Tide's season opener after Castille was arrested for disorderly conduct during preseason camp.

Contact Maureen Fulton at:

mfulton@theblade.com

or 419-724-6160.