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Tennessee suspends quarterback, receiver after arrest

By wire services
Published April 12, 2005

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee quarterback Brent Schaeffer and receiver Bret Smith were suspended indefinitely from the football team Monday a day after being arrested.

Police said Schaeffer and Smith hit a student who was arguing with Schaeffer's girlfriend in a campus dormitory early Sunday. Part of Schaeffer's involvement was caught on tape by a video camera in the dorm lobby, university police said. The two have been charged with a misdemeanor.

According to police, Quantavios Emerson was arguing with Schaeffer's girlfriend about her cell phone when Schaeffer hit Emerson in the neck. Schaeffer and Emerson grabbed bats but dropped them before hitting anyone. Schaeffer then picked up Emerson from behind, threw him down and hit him again.

Emerson went to a nearby hospital and received four staples to close a cut on his head, authorities said.

Last season, Schaeffer, of Deerfield Beach, became the first true freshman to start at quarterback in an SEC opener since Georgia's John Rauch in 1945. Schaeffer and fellow freshman Erik Ainge were considered co-starters until both were injured.

Smith led Tennessee receivers last season with five touchdowns.

They will miss the last two spring practices and Saturday's spring game.

GEORGIA: Defensive tackle Kedric Golston and linebacker Derrick White were arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct for their roles in a bar fight early Sunday. Coach Mark Richt is investigating the matter, the school said.

Golston, who will be a senior next season, started every game last season, recording 23 tackles and 11/2 sacks.

White, who also will be a senior, started seven games last season and had 38 tackles.

Men's basketball: Gators sign state tourney MVP

GAINESVILLE - Florida coach Billy Donovan picked up a late commitment this past weekend.

Walter Hodge, a 6-foot guard from Florida Air Academy in Melbourne, is expected to sign with the Gators later this week.

Hodge led his high school team to the Class 3A state championship and was named the tournament MVP, scoring 59 in two games, 33 in the championship.

He averaged 25.4 points, 5.4 steals, 4.2 assists and made 84 3-pointers during his senior season.

BYU: Assistant Dave Rose was promoted to coach. He replaces Steve Cleveland, who left to take over Fresno State. Rose, who has been at BYU for eight seasons, has never been a Division I coach and went 167-57 in seven seasons at Dixie State, a junior college in Utah.

EASTERN KENTUCKY: West Virginia assistant Jeff Neubauer was hired as coach. He replaces Travis Ford, who left to take over UMass. Neubauer, who spent the past three seasons with the Mountaineers, also was an assistant at the Citadel for three seasons and Richmond for five.

LA.-MONROE: Alabama assistant Orlando Early was named coach. He replaces Mike Vining, who was fired at the end of the season. Early, at Alabama for four seasons, also has been an assistant at Gardner-Webb and Western Carolina.

Women's basketball

ALABAMA: Middle Tennessee coach Stephany Smith was hired for the same position. She replaces Rick Moody, who retired after 16 seasons. Smith went 153-88 and earned three NCAA berths in eight seasons for the Raiders, who upset No.5 seed N.C. State in the first round of the tournament this season.

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