Mayfield pleads not guilty in Arkansas

Mayfield pleads not guilty in Arkansas

fayetteville, ark.

Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield has pleaded not guilty to public intoxication, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Mayfield, a Heisman Trophy finalist last year, was accused of running away and being tackled by an officer following an altercation near a popular downtown area in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in February. Mayfield’s attorney, Woody Bassett, entered a not guilty plea for Mayfield on Friday in district court in Fayetteville. Mayfield was not present.

Mayfield has apologized and says his arrest was the “biggest mistake” of his life. Coach Bob Stoops hasn’t punished the senior and says he will wait for the legal process to conclude.

Cheer team suspended over escort allegations

conway, s.c.

A South Carolina college cheerleading team has been suspended during an investigation into allegations its members worked as strippers and escorts.

Local news outlets report Friday an investigatory report obtained under an open records request includes text messages in which current and former members of the Coastal Carolina University cheer team discuss jobs as strippers.

The investigator also wrote that the cheerleaders were paid up to $1,500 for escorting men to events and were also paid in gifts including clothes and designer handbags.

The report noted the cheerleaders did not have sex with clients.

The entire team has been suspended from cheering during the investigation into its activities.

Ball blames white players for UCLA loss

los angeles

The father of UCLA star Lonzo Ball says the Bruins lost in the NCAA Tournament because “three white guys” couldn’t pick up the slack after his son injured his hamstring.

LaVar Ball tells Southern California News Group that “realistically you can’t win no championship with three white guys because the foot speed is too slow.” The comment appears to be a reference to UCLA starters T.J. Leaf, Bryce Alford and Thomas Welsh.

Ball says his son “popped his hamstring” during the loss to Kentucky in the round of 16. Lonzo Ball never mentioned the injury publicly, but his father says “he’s never going to make excuses.”

Wichita State set to join American

Wichita State accepted an invitation Friday to join the American Athletic Conference, ending a relationship with the Missouri Valley Conference that dated back 72 years.

The presidents of the AAC’s 12 member schools voted unanimously to admit the school in all sports but football. The school, which has been a member of the MVC since 1945, does not have a football program but it is a powerhouse in men’s basketball.

It will officially join the league on July 1.

The AAC currently has 12 members for football: UCF, Cincinnati, UConn, East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, Navy, SMU, South Florida, Temple, Tulane and Tulsa. Navy is a football-only school, so the Shockers would give the conference 12 members in both football and basketball.

Judge rules suit against Baylor can go to trial

waco, texas

A federal judge has cleared the way for a lawsuit filed by a woman who was sexually assaulted by a former Baylor University football player to go to trial.

The lawsuit filed by Jasmin Hernandez alleges the largest Baptist school in the country was “deliberately indifferent” to rape allegations levied at Tevin Elliott. He is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting the California woman.

U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman of Waco ruled Friday that the allegations of Baylor negligence and Title IX violations may proceed to trial.

Hernandez’s lawsuit claims Baylor failed to act against Elliott despite six complaints from women claiming he assaulted them.

Wire Reports