Details of ND arrest disputed
Two women who said they were eyewitnesses when suspended Notre Dame senior cornerback Devin Butler was arrested early Saturday morning dispute police reports that said Butler resisted arrest and hit and tackled an officer, according to the South Bend Tribune.
Butler’s girlfriend, Haleigh Bailey, told the newspaper Butler “was abused and wrongly arrested” and that he neither tackled nor hit police officer Aaron Knepper in an altercation outside a South Bend, Ind., bar.
Butler broke his left foot for the second time in six months in June. He was suspended indefinitely Sunday, three days before he pleaded not guilty to two felonies — resisting law enforcement and battery of an officer.
If convicted, Butler faces up to 2½ years in prison. His next court date is scheduled for Sept. 1.
Another woman, Selina Bell, the fiancee of Irish receiver and captain Torii Hunter Jr., told the newspaper that Butler did not tackle Knepper and said he wasn’t capable because of his foot injury.
According to an affidavit, Knepper used a Taser to subdue Butler after Butler “grabbed onto Officer Knepper’s duty belt and physically ripped it off of him.”
Knepper has been named in civil lawsuits alleging misconduct three times since 2012.
North Carolina
The school said former Illinois coach Tim Beckman is out as a volunteer assistant with the 22nd-ranked Tar Heels.
Beckman and three school officials said in statements issued Thursday night by the school that Beckman — fired by Illinois last year amid allegations of player mistreatment — would not continue in that position. Chancellor Carol Folt said she didn’t learn of Beckman’s role with the team until Wednesday, and was “surprised and disappointed.”
Virginia Tech
Junior college transfer Jerod Evans will be the Hokies’ starting quarterback in the opener against Liberty, first-year coach Justin Fuente announced. Evans beat out redshirt senior Brenden Motley and freshman Josh Jackson. All three learned the decision before practice.
Wisconsin
After toiling as a reserve for the last three seasons, Bart Houston finally will get the opportunity to lead the Badgers offense as the No. 1 quarterback. Coach Paul Chryst announced, two days after the close of camp, that the fifth-year senior will start the opener Sept. 3 against LSU at Lambeau Field.