By Dallas Oler
BYU football player Teag Whiting was arrested and charged with assault for his role in a fight outside a Salt Lake City nightclub.
According to police, the 6-foot-3, 300-pound senior lineman knocked another man to the ground unconscious when he punched him in the face just outside Port O”Call after the bar closed on June 9.
Whiting initially ran when first confronted by police. He stopped on an officer”s orders, then ran again before eventually stopping for good and being handcuffed, police said.
Whiting is the fifth Cougar football player to be charged with a crime since Gary Crowton took over as coach in December.
The other four Cougars who were arrested were charged with alcohol-related offenses. Running back Brian McDonald is still on the team, running back Marcus Whalen withdrew from school, wide receiver Jonathan Pittman completed his eligibility, and defensive lineman Brent Pollock was dismissed from the team.
According to police, there was no indication that alcohol was involved in the fight. Whiting was cited rather than booked into jail. He is to appear in Third District Court.
Regarding Whiting”s current status with the team, football sports information director Jeff Reynolds said it is up to head coach Gary Crowton to decide. “Coach Crowton is very aware of the situation and will take the necessary disciplinary action,” Reynolds said.
Ryan Gunderson, a sophomore defensive lineman, was also involved in a fight across the street from Port O”Call about a half-hour after Whiting was arrested. Police, however, did not arrest Gunderson.
The man Whiting allegedly punched was taken to LDS Hospital, where he was treated and released.
Whiting graduated from Brighton High before playing at Ricks College where he was an All-American. He transferred to BYU in 1999, red-shirting his first season as a Cougar. Last season, Whiting started all 12 games.
In other Cougar football news, two criminal charges against Whalen were dropped Monday. Whalen was arrested April 29 and was charged with underage alcohol consumption, possession of an open container of alcohol and driving an improperly registered vehicle.
The charges of alcohol consumption and possessing an open container of alcohol were dropped prior to the case going to trial.
This is good news for Whalen, who plans on reapplying to school. The earliest he can apply for readmission to BYU is spring 2002, according to Carri P. Jenkins, assistant to the president, BYU communications.
