2 NC State football players dismissed, 3 suspended for on-campus party
Posted August 22, 2017 1:11 p.m. EDT
Updated July 13, 2018 2:05 p.m. EDT
Raleigh, N.C. — Five North Carolina State University football players have been disciplined for violating the university's code of conduct for an on-campus gathering involving alcohol and marijuana, officials said Tuesday.
Investigators determined the five freshmen participated in a July 21 gathering in a student's room at Wolf Village apartment complex, at 2610 Wolf Village Way. All five players were on campus for summer classes.
The investigation began after three sexual assault allegations were lodged following the party. University police turned over the evidence collected to the Wake County District Attorney's Office.
N.C. State Police Chief Jack Moorman said that the investigation into the alleged assaults is ongoing, but his investigators reached a point where they could turn some findings over to the university's Title IX Office and the Athletics Department.
Football Coach Dave Doeren then took preliminary disciplinary action for the violations of the student-athlete code of conduct and football team rules.
Doeren said Antoine Thompson and Kevince Brown have been dismissed for the team, while Isaiah Moore, Erin Collins and Xavier Lyas have been suspended.
“We have a locker room full of young men committed to representing our University with integrity and respect, and have created a strong culture for NC State Football through our leadership program," Doeren said in a statement. "We had five freshmen, two of whom have been dismissed, who made poor decisions that don’t align with the values of our program and each has been handled accordingly.
"Although I’ve disciplined these players for violations of the Student Athlete Code of Conduct, I want to make it clear that I respect due process in the University and legal proceedings," he continued. "Our players understand that I’m going be firm but fair when it comes to discipline."
Moorman said the July 21 party took place in one of the player's rooms and involved only a dozen or so people. Underage drinking and illegal drug use occurred, he said, but there is no evidence that anyone else at the party was involved with drugs or alcohol.
"It was a small event. It was in a room in the university hall. It was not a university sanctioned event. It was not a large-scale event," he said.
He declined to provide specific details of the ongoing sex assault investigation and said he couldn't speculate on when any criminal charges involving drugs, alcohol and the alleged assaults might be filed.
"You don't want to rush to make a decision at the expense of the completeness or the thoroughness of the investigation or to deny anyone their due process rights," he said.
Attorney Jonathan Trapp also cautioned jumping ahead in the case.
"We definitely cannot assume there's any guilt at this point but the school has to take special precaution that they're protecting their students," he said.
Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said her office is "still in the process of reviewing the case."
Athletics Director Debbie Yow said further discipline could be warranted, pending criminal charges.
"Should any student-athlete be charged with sexual misconduct by legal authorities, he will immediately be suspended from the team," Yow said in a statement. "That said, it is extremely important to respect due process for the student-athletes."
In addition to the criminal investigation, N.C. State administrators are conducting a Title IX investigation to determine if the players violated the school's code of student conduct.
