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发帖数: 764 | 1 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Oregon coach Chip Kelly has suspended Cliff Harris
indefinitely after the cornerback was cited for speeding while driving with
a suspended license.
Harris, 20, was cited Sunday morning after police said they clocked him
driving 118 mph on a suspended license in a rental car.
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Kelley announced the suspension Wednesday after the school said its
compliance office was looking into the matter because the car Harris was
driving had been rented by a university employee.
Kelly announced in a statement that at the very least, Harris will sit out
Oregon's season opener against LSU at Cowboys Stadium in Texas on Sept. 3.
After that, Harris' status would be dependent on his adherence to the
football program's rules.
"Cliff's future clearly is in Cliff's hands," Kelly said. "Earning an
opportunity to represent the University of Oregon and this football program
certainly rests far beyond a player's ability on the field of play. Our
behavior out of the spotlight often is more important and will be held to a
higher standard. Until Cliff is able to conform to the same standards all of
us must comply with, his status will remain unchanged."
Harris was pulled over about 4:35 a.m. PT Sunday south of Albany, Ore., to
the north of Eugene. Two other Oregon football players were passengers in
the car. Police did not identify them and they were not cited.
Oregon State Police said Harris was cited for driving with a suspended
license and exceeding the speed limit in excess of 100 mph.
The fine for driving a vehicle faster than 100 mph is $1,148. The fine for
driving on a suspended license is $427. In addition, Harris has 11 other
unpaid fines in both Oregon and his hometown of Fresno, Calif., dating to
December 2008 totaling at least $8,527.50, KEZI-TV reported on its website.
It was unclear why Harris' license was suspended. He had been cited at least
once before for speeding in Eugene, also with a suspended license.
The employee who rented the car for her personal use does not work in the
athletic department, Oregon spokesman Dave Williford said.
According to an email exchange between the employee and The Register-Guard
newspaper, Harris and an unidentified football player asked her to extend
the rental and compensated her for use of the car. She was told that another
player -- not Harris -- would be driving, she told the newspaper.
Attempts by The Associated Press to reach the employee, identified in news
reports as Mindy Schmidling, were unsuccessful Wednesday.
The school's compliance office is looking into the matter to determine if
any NCAA rules were violated. The university has had preliminary discussions
with both the Pac-10 and NCAA about the investigation, Williford said.
Harris excelled as a sophomore last season at cornerback and on special
teams. He had six interceptions and set an Oregon record with four punt
returns for touchdowns.
Kelly said in a statement after the incident became public that the team was
disappointed by Harris' lack of judgment, which he called unacceptable.
The Ducks are currently the subject of an inquiry by the NCAA over the team'
s use of a pair of recruiting services. In March, the university was asked
to provide documentation in the matter.
Oregon does not dispute that it paid two companies for information about
potential recruits but denies wrongdoing. |
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