Reynolds Suspended 1 Game For Choking Incident
Linebacker Makes Apology
POSTED: 5:28 p.m. EDT October 13, 2003
UPDATED: 6:26 p.m. EDT October 13, 2003
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State suspended linebacker Robert Reynolds Monday for one game after he choked Wisconsin quarterback Jim Sorgi during the third quarter of Saturday's game. Reynolds will sit out Saturday's homecoming game against No. 9 Iowa.
"Robert has apologized and is sincerely sorry for his actions last week," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "I want to emphasize that I think this is an isolated incident and completely out of character for Robert Reynolds.
"However, after getting a first-hand look at the tape and seeing what took place, I feel that the apology by itself is not enough," Tressel said. "Robert's conduct was totally unacceptable and has no place in intercollegiate athletics. I am therefore suspending him for the Iowa game."
The Big Ten Conference released a statement and said that it concurred with Ohio State's one-game suspension. The conference said that it also reprimanded Reynolds for violating the Conference Sportslike Conduct code.
"Robert Reynolds' actions toward Wisconsin student-athlete Jim Sorgi have no place in our game," Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany said. "We agree with Ohio State's implementation of the suspension and the direct apologies from Reynolds and head coach Jim Tressel to Sorgi, head coach Barry Alvarez and the entire Wisconsin team."
Reynolds issued an apology Sunday to Sorgi and Alvarez for choking Sorgi during the third quarter of Saturday's 17-10 loss at Camp Randall Stadium.
"I talked to Coach Alvarez and to Jim Sorgi earlier today and apologized for my actions," Reynolds said. "I lost my poise and there is no excuse for that. That is certainly not characteristic of Ohio State football. I take full responsibility for my action. As a senior, I have a responsibility to set a better example."
Sorgi said Monday that he had accepted his apology.
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