Trinity University has suspended All-America quarterback Roy Hampton for the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl that will determine the Division III football champion.
"He is no longer with the team in any way," Trinity Athletics Director Bob King said. "We have determined that Mr. Hampton's actions were not consistent with the standards for a student-athlete leader on the Trinity campus."Hampton's previous legal troubles also factored into the decision, King said.
Hampton, who's from Burleson, and three other students were accused in October 2001 of breaking into a student's off-campus apartment.
Trinity officials initially suspended the students for one year, but after reviewing the case allowed those involved the option to resume classes in August.
The other three students transferred.
Hampton "agreed to a number of things (to be reinstated) and we feel that has been violated with the second incident," King said. "The culmination of the two led us to where we are. There was really no other decision to make."
This in a nutshell is the difference between D3 and D1 athletics:
Trinity Coach Steve Mohr, while disappointed, understands the university's decision."It's a matter of he's a student here first, a high-profile student-athlete, and he stepped out of bounds and now he has to face the consequences," Mohr said.
There was a bit more to the story, as I found out talking to players and friends at the game, but it is a sign that the athletics at Trinity get very little support from the administration. There were enough mitigating circumstances that if the University didn't want to sacrifice the team's chances at a win, they didn't have to. Like, oh, maybe waiting for a verdict on the case. Note also that the other case never resulted in criminal charges. Not the Roy is a victim, he did some stupid stuff, but there ya go.
BTW, Desplaines first pass was intercepted and Trinity (the nation's leading offense at that point) was hamstrung and the game ended in a route 48-7. But they got their kudos, so I guess the school is still happy. However, everyone who worked their asses off to get there isn't. I guess that's what happens when you try and live be ideals....
Posted by: wah on December 28, 2002 6:38 PMWell, unless they could get a verdict by Thursday it wasn't going to help. Hampton was a senior, so either he was about to play his last game or he already had played it.
Like I said, I'm sad for Hampton's teammates. They deserved better.
Posted by: Charles Kuffner on December 28, 2002 7:44 PM