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Gino guilty, preseason drills in jeopardy
[ Originally posted 06.28.03 ]
From The Associated Press with staff contributions
CINCINNATI — John Thompson knows which team he'll
oppose when he makes his Labor Day debut as East Carolina's head football
coach in a national TV game, but the Cincinnati quarterback he's been
preparing defensive game plans to counter is suddenly in question.
Bearcats junior Gino Guidugli was convicted of misdemeanor
assault Friday for punching an opposing player during a brawl in an
intramural basketball game in March. The Fort Thomas, Ky., native was
sentenced to 60 days of house arrest and one year of probation for his part
in the fight that broke out after a hard foul.
The sentence could keep Cincy's starting quarterback from
participating in practices that start Aug. 7. Guidugli, 20, could ask
Hamilton Country Municipal Judge David Stockton to allow him to practice,
said Mike Walton, the county's chief probation officer.
Cincinnati will open its season at home on Monday, Sept. 1,
against the Pirates. The game will be televised on ESPN or ESPN2.
Bearcats coach Rick Minter said Guidugli will remain on the
team.
``He'll be paying his own price due to the judicial
process,'' Minter said. ``We'll have some things internally. This won't go
unnoticed.''
Guidugli said he was trying to break up the brawl and acted
in self-defense. But he testified that he ``turned around and retaliated,''
which the judge said in his ruling was different from self-defense.
Two Cincinnati students testified they saw Guidugli punch
Levi Harris.
Football players Doug Monaghan and Justin Laforgia testified
in Guidugli's defense, but admitted they did not watch him during the fight.
The fight resulted in Guidugli's second arrest since
November. He was cited then on a charge of underage drinking. Municipal
Judge Ralph E. Winkler dismissed the charge on Jan. 14 for lack of evidence.
Copyright 2003 The Associated
Press. Bonesville.net contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
02/23/2007 10:48:09 AM
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