ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, September 11, 1996 TAG: 9609130094
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
Coach Frank Beamer said Tuesday he has taken punitive action against some members of his Virginia Tech football team for their part in an alleged brawl Aug. 31 on College Avenue.
Beamer, in his first public comments on the incident that left a Tech track and field athlete with a broken collarbone, would not reveal the names of the players he disciplined nor their penalties.
Hilliard Sumner III, a member of the Hokies' track and field team, alleges he was attacked and beaten by a group of football players. No charges have been filed.
``I looked into this thing very closely,'' Beamer said while opening his weekly news conference. ``I took action on what I knew for sure took place. If there should be charges, we'll let those things play out in court.''
A Tech athletic department source who declined to be identified said Beamer has disciplined three players because of the incident. Brian Edmonds was suspended from the team for Saturday's 21-18 season-opening victory at Akron, but Beamer would not confirm the senior fullback's penalty stemmed from the melee. A source close to the squad who also declined to be identified, however, said Tuesday that was the case.
Beamer, after saying he would have nothing further to say about the situation, then added there appears to be ``more anger today'' on college campuses across the country.
``I agree with Joe Paterno [Penn State's football coach], when he said, `I don't think kids are any different.' I think there are a lot more things involved. It's a different world today than it was 10 years ago, 15 years ago. How [the media] reports things has probably changed. I think all those things enter into it.''
Meanwhile, Blacksburg Police Lt. B.E. Bradbery said Tuesday his department is investigating the incident. Because of the large number of people involved - an estimated 200 were on hand at the back-to-school party where the altercation began - Bradbery said it will take some time to interview potential witnesses.
When the investigation is complete, police can present the facts to a magistrate to obtain warrants against any suspects. Another option is to present the case to the Commonwealth Attorney, who may choose to present the case to a grand jury for direct indictments.
The next Montgomery County grand jury convenes Oct. 8.
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