ETTRICK, Va. (WTVR) – Virginia State University (VSU) officials will hold a news conference Monday morning to address the alleged attack involving a football player at a sports banquet in North Carolina last week.
VSU backup running back Lamont Darnell Britt, 22, of Portsmouth, Va., was charged with assault and inflicting serious injury in an attack on Winston-Salem State quarterback Rudy Johnson on Friday afternoon. Johnson was suspended indefinitely following the reported attack.
Earlier reports had claimed as many as 5 Virginia State players assaulted Johnson. But VSU head coach Latrell Scott told CBS 6 Sports anchor Sean Robertson that Britt was the only player involved in the fight, and that other players were trying to break up the scuffle.
The team's CIAA title game against Winston-Salem State was cancelled because of the melee.
The school will hold a news conference at 10 a.m. on Monday with VSU President Keith T. Miller, Head Football Coach Latrell Scott and Athletic Director Peggy Davis.
The president also released the following statement Sunday night:
"Today, the CIAA declared VSU ineligible for further football postseason participation. We abide by the decision and agree that the conduct of our player(s) was inexcusable and indefensible. Student-athletes, coaches, administrators and alumni must all understand that such behavior has no place in intercollegiate athletics, or university life in general. We expect the representatives of our school to comport themselves with dignity, with pride and with respect for themselves, their teammates and their opponents.
We will continue to investigate this incident and will respond quickly and decisively. We will use this incident to galvanize support from our students, alumni and entire campus to convey a message of respect and civility that serve as the cornerstones of Virginia State University.
Finally, we offer our full support to Winston Salem State University as they advance in the NCAA Division II postseason."
Stay with WTVR.com and CBS 6 News for the most complete coverage of this developing story.
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