Pelini: Huskers Now Under Zero-Tolerance Policy - Sports News Story - KETV Omaha Pelini: Huskers Now Under Zero-Tolerance Policy Andy Christensen Arraigned
POSTED: 2:49 pm CDT March 11, 2008
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Court records detail the sexual assault accusations against Nebraska football player Andy Christensen, and on Tuesday the team's coach said changes are afoot in the program as a result.
Christensen was expected to be arraigned on Tuesday on a first-degree sexual assault charge, in which he is accused of attacking a 23-year-old woman at a downtown Lincoln bar. He's being held on $500,000 bail.
Former Nebraska football players Maurice Purify and Carl Nicks and two current squad members, defensive lineman Ben Martin and offensive lineman Mike Smith, were ticketed when Lincoln police broke up a weekend party. Police said they were called to a residence shortly before midnight Saturday. Officer Katie Flood said police heard music coming from the house that was audible from the sidewalk. There were about 75 people inside, and empty beer cans were strewn about the home.
Football coach Bo Pelini said in a statement on Tuesday that he has met with his players.
"Every young man involved in an incident over the weekend is being dealt with on an individual basis. A few players have been indefinitely suspended from the team, while others have been disciplined internally," Pelini said. "I talked with the entire team last night and clearly explained to them that from this point forward, we will have a zero-tolerance policy regarding alcohol and social responsibility. Our players understand the intent of this rule and what we are trying to accomplish. Therefore, any violation will be handled individually as it pertains to the specific circumstance.
"Our players also understand that certain establishments are off limits, and that the policy also pertains to their behavior in other social settings. I made it clear to them that our policy will be strictly enforced.
"Coach Osborne, myself, and our staff are all in agreement that the culture of this program will be one centered on respect, integrity and discipline. We all agree that culture must extend well beyond the football field."
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Athletic Director Tom Osborne said it is a message he wants to deliver to all student athletes.
"Alcohol abuse and binge drinking continue to be the No. 1 problem affecting college students today. Educating our student-athletes regarding these issues is a priority for our athletic department. Last week, we had a mandatory student-athlete meeting where alcohol abuse was the primary topic. We expect our student-athletes to go beyond the education process and to be good role models acting appropriately at all times. We do not take these recent violations of alcohol abuse lightly," Osborne said in the statement.
In Christensen's case, court records show that the woman was approached at the bar by Christensen, whom she knows. Documents show that when she turned away from Christensen, he reached under her skirt and penetrated her.
Christensen was arrested by Lincoln police outside the bar and aggressively resisted efforts to handcuff him, officers said. Court documents also say he kicked a police vehicle, denting it. He was placed in a security chair at the jail to control his behavior.
