Bryant Eteuati jailed, may not play in crucial conference matchup. By Jessica Schreifels
****UPDATE 4 p.m. October 24, 2008***
Statement from John Kowalewski, campus spokesperson, regarding Bryant Eteuati:
"We have a long standing practice in the Wildcat athletic department with regards to student athlete discipline. Based on that long standing practice and the current circumstances, Bryant Eteuati has been suspended from the football team indefinitely for disciplinary reasons."
***END STATEMENT***
The Weber State University Football Team will be taking on Northern Arizona University in a potential history-making game this Saturday perhaps without their star wide receiver and kick return specialist Bryant Eteuati. Eteuati was arrested on Wednesday evening in Ogden.
Ogden Police Lt. Mike Ashment said Eteuati was pulled over for a minor traffic violation on 26th Street and Harrison Boulevard, where the arresting officer discovered that he not only had no insurance on his 2000 Lexus, but also had three outstanding warrants.
http://media.www.wsusignpost.com/me...u-Star.Football.Player.Arrested-3506066.shtml
"The officer stopped a 2000 Lexus being driven by Bryant," Ashment said. "He stopped him because there was another officer on a (different) traffic stop, and (Eteuati) failed to go to the other lane."
Once the officer got Eteuati's information, he realized he didn't have insurance on the Lexus, and had warrants for his arrest for communication fraud, aggravated assault, and retail theft.
Ashment said Eteuati was arrested for the warrants, failure to change lanes, and no insurance. He was booked in the Weber County Jail and his vehicle was impounded.
Ashment said the communications fraud charge held bail of $5000. The aggravated assault charge another $5000. The third charge of retail theft had another $300 bail.
According to bookings at the Weber County Jail, Eteuati was still in custody on Thursday night, and could be there at least five days for failure to appear in court on the retail theft charge. He will be meeting with a judge today, who will decide whether the All-American return specialist will serve his five days in jail, or be released.
This means Eteuati could be stuck in jail for the biggest game of the season, and possibly his college career.
For both NAU and WSU, with perfect records in the Big Sky Conference (4-0), Saturday's game will be huge. If the Wildcats do beat the Lumberjacks, it will be the first time in WSU history that the football team has a 5-0 record in the conference.
WSU athletic administration would not comment Thursday evening on whether Eteauti will play in Saturday's game.
"We're not going to deal with this until tomorrow, so nobody will be making any comments," said Brad Larsen, WSU assistant athletic director for media relations.
The Signpost was unable to find any code of conduct for football players relating to consequences for being jailed.
Eteauti led the nation in all-purpose yards last season. He also broke the WSU record and is the current record holder for punts taken and return yards.
If Eteauti does not play in Saturday's game, it is unclear who would replace him as kickoff and punt return specialist.
Eteauti has returned 14 kickoffs and 18 punts this season, the next closest Wildcat is senior cornerback Jon Carraway, with two kick returns and two punt returns this season.
****UPDATE 4 p.m. October 24, 2008***
Statement from John Kowalewski, campus spokesperson, regarding Bryant Eteuati:
"We have a long standing practice in the Wildcat athletic department with regards to student athlete discipline. Based on that long standing practice and the current circumstances, Bryant Eteuati has been suspended from the football team indefinitely for disciplinary reasons."
***END STATEMENT***
The Weber State University Football Team will be taking on Northern Arizona University in a potential history-making game this Saturday perhaps without their star wide receiver and kick return specialist Bryant Eteuati. Eteuati was arrested on Wednesday evening in Ogden.
Ogden Police Lt. Mike Ashment said Eteuati was pulled over for a minor traffic violation on 26th Street and Harrison Boulevard, where the arresting officer discovered that he not only had no insurance on his 2000 Lexus, but also had three outstanding warrants.
http://media.www.wsusignpost.com/me...u-Star.Football.Player.Arrested-3506066.shtml
"The officer stopped a 2000 Lexus being driven by Bryant," Ashment said. "He stopped him because there was another officer on a (different) traffic stop, and (Eteuati) failed to go to the other lane."
Once the officer got Eteuati's information, he realized he didn't have insurance on the Lexus, and had warrants for his arrest for communication fraud, aggravated assault, and retail theft.
Ashment said Eteuati was arrested for the warrants, failure to change lanes, and no insurance. He was booked in the Weber County Jail and his vehicle was impounded.
Ashment said the communications fraud charge held bail of $5000. The aggravated assault charge another $5000. The third charge of retail theft had another $300 bail.
According to bookings at the Weber County Jail, Eteuati was still in custody on Thursday night, and could be there at least five days for failure to appear in court on the retail theft charge. He will be meeting with a judge today, who will decide whether the All-American return specialist will serve his five days in jail, or be released.
This means Eteuati could be stuck in jail for the biggest game of the season, and possibly his college career.
For both NAU and WSU, with perfect records in the Big Sky Conference (4-0), Saturday's game will be huge. If the Wildcats do beat the Lumberjacks, it will be the first time in WSU history that the football team has a 5-0 record in the conference.
WSU athletic administration would not comment Thursday evening on whether Eteauti will play in Saturday's game.
"We're not going to deal with this until tomorrow, so nobody will be making any comments," said Brad Larsen, WSU assistant athletic director for media relations.
The Signpost was unable to find any code of conduct for football players relating to consequences for being jailed.
Eteauti led the nation in all-purpose yards last season. He also broke the WSU record and is the current record holder for punts taken and return yards.
If Eteauti does not play in Saturday's game, it is unclear who would replace him as kickoff and punt return specialist.
Eteauti has returned 14 kickoffs and 18 punts this season, the next closest Wildcat is senior cornerback Jon Carraway, with two kick returns and two punt returns this season.
