College football

Woman suspended for suspected assault of DE

By wire services
Published January 26, 2005

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A student suspended for allegedly assaulting her ex-boyfriend, a 320-pound football player, says University of Memphis officials are treating her differently than a male basketball player facing similar charges.

Jalysia Thompson, 22, was suspended Jan. 6 until the summer for a Nov. 27 incident in which Tigers defensive end Van Houston called campus police to his apartment. She also doesn't understand why Houston also hasn't been suspended after she was left with a deep scratch on her right arm.

"We all were involved," said Thompson, who is charged with domestic assault in Shelby County General Sessions Court.

Basketball player Jeremy Hunt sat out two games after being charged with domestic assault in the alleged Jan. 10 beating of ex-girlfriend Tamika Rogers.

University officials said the difference is that the incident involving Thompson occurred on campus, which falls under the school's code of conduct. The incident involving Hunt took place at Rogers' apartment off campus.

Thompson told police on Nov. 27 that Houston, a junior, manhandled her. Officers decided Thompson was the aggressor based on contradictory statements, a police report says.

In other Memphis news, defensive tackle Albert Means testified in the federal trial of an Alabama booster that Means' high school coach picked the college he would attend. Logan Young is charged with paying a $150,000 bribe to high school coach Lynn Lang to get Means to sign with Alabama. Lang has pleaded guilty to taking a bribe to send Means to Alabama and awaits sentencing.

ARIZONA: Josh Heupel, runner-up for the 2000 Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma, was hired as tight ends coach.

MISSISSIPPI STATE: Offensive tackle Richard Burch was suspended after he was charged with selling marijuana. Two other men were arrested with Burch, released Monday on $5,000 bond.

CLARETT IN ACTION: Former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett joins seven other NFL prospects in the College Football All-Star Challenge. Others include 2003 Heisman winner Jason White of Oklahoma and Michigan receiver Braylon Edwards. The eight players will go through tests measuring agility, accuracy, speed and strength. The event is Jan. 31 at Dolphins Stadium in Miami and will air Feb. 5 on Ch. 13.

[Last modified January 26, 2005, 00:14:07]