Tyreek Hill’s 92-yard punt return for a touchdown made him the hero of Oklahoma State’s comeback victory over Oklahoma and earned him a spot on highlight shows nationwide.
Less than a week later, he was in jail after being arrested and charged with punching and choking his pregnant girlfriend. On Friday, he was dismissed from the football and track teams.
“Oklahoma State University does not tolerate domestic abuse or violence,” the university said in a statement. “Based on the evidence and the serious allegations that have been made, head football coach Mike Gundy has announced that Tyreek Hill has been dismissed from the OSU football team. He also has been dismissed from the track team.”
According to a report from the Stillwater Police Department, the woman said she and the All-Big 12 player had an argument that escalated into physical violence Thursday night. The woman said she was eight weeks pregnant with Hill’s child, and was concerned about the fetus because she was in pain after he punched her in the stomach. She said she also was punched in the face, had a busted lip and was choked.
Hill, a 20-year-old junior, was arrested on a charge of domestic abuse by strangulation and he allegedly told officers he was being arrested “for being black and she was white.” Hill spent the night in jail and was charged Friday with domestic assault and battery by strangulation, according to a Payne County Court clerk. Hill did not enter a plea. Bond was set at $15,000, and a court date was set for Jan. 13.
The woman said Hill “has a volatile temper and that he thought it was OK to punch and shake her,” police said. She said he had been physical with her before, but it had been mostly manhandling and had never been this bad.
Last Saturday, Hill’s big return against Oklahoma tied the game and the Cowboys went on to win 38-35 in overtime. He finished the regular season with 1,811 all-purpose yards, including 534 rushing, 281 receiving, 256 on punt returns and 740 on punt returns. He had 996 combined kick return yards to rank second in the nation this year, and was 11th in all-purpose yards per game at 150.9.
Andersen introduced as Beavers coach
CORVALLIS, Ore. — Gary Andersen said his decision to leave Wisconsin after just two seasons for the job at Oregon State came down to fit.
He was introduced as the Beavers’ head coach on Friday, telling the crowd that there’s no doubt in his mind that he’s where he’s supposed to be.
“It’s a great move for my family for a lot of reasons. It gets us in a position where we’re very comfortable. It goes back to fit,” Andersen said. “I was at a great institution. I had an opportunity to coach some unbelievable young men the last two years, and the last four years prior to that. But I know, as I’ve gone through this for many years, that when you sit back and see from afar a program — the coaching world is not as big as you’d think it is — this was always a place where I thought, ‘This fits us.’”
Andersen replaces Mike Riley, who surprisingly left Oregon State last week after 14 seasons in Corvallis. It was equally surprising when Andersen announced he was leaving Wisconsin.
Alvarez: No offer of Badgers job yet
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez says he hasn’t offered the Badgers’ football coaching job to anyone, including current Pittsburgh coach and apparent front-runner Paul Chryst.
Alvarez said Friday that Wisconsin state law prevents the university from making an offer to anyone before Wednesday, the date given in a job posting that went up after Gary Andersen’s departure this week for Oregon State.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Alvarez met with Chryst in Florida, where Alvarez was attending an Outback Bowl promotion. The newspaper cited an anonymous source. Pittsburgh officials said Chryst was in Florida recruiting earlier in the week.
Alvarez will coach the Badgers in the bowl against Auburn on Jan. 1.
Wyoming safety suffers stroke
LARAMIE, Wyo. — Relatives of a Wyoming football player say he is recovering after he suffered a stroke.
A roommate of 19-year-old Xavier Lewis noticed Lewis was having difficulty speaking Wednesday night. The roommate took Lewis to the hospital in Laramie.
From there, Lewis was life-flighted to Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colo.
Lewis’ father, Quentin Lewis, told the Casper Star-Tribune on Friday his son is resting and recovering. Quentin Lewis says there is no history of stroke in their family and his son hasn’t had health issues in the past.
Lewis is a 6-foot, 195-pound sophomore safety from Aurora, Colo. He has made 27 tackles in two seasons at Wyoming.
By wire sources