Notre Dame TE Yeatman suspended for season

Oct 15, 2008 - 10:41 PM SOUTH BEND, Indiana (Ticker) -- Notre Dame sophomore tight end Will Yeatman has been suspended for the remainder of the season after being arrested for underage drinking at a house party last month.

On Tuesday, the university suspended Yeatman, 20, from all football activities, including practice. The ban includes a potential bowl game.

Notre Dame (4-2) is off until visiting Washington (0-5) and former coach Tyrone Willingham on October 25.

Yeatman, who also plays lacrosse for the Fighting Irish, was not suspended from school and will be allowed to continue attending classes at Notre Dame.

This is the second brush with the law for Yeatman, who in February pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.

Under an agreement, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the drunken driving charge if Yeatman stayed out of trouble for a period of one year. However, because of the latest arrest, he is now facing up to 180 days in jail.

On September 21, Yeatman and 36 other Notre Dame students were arrested during an early-morning raid by the Indiana state police at an off-campus party.

Yeatman was charged with minor consumption of alcohol, resisting arrest and false informing.

Yeatman's father, Dennis, told the South Bend Tribune that the suspension from the team is a "disproportionate" punishment.

"Will had a .02 (blood-alcohol content) at the party," Dennis Yeatman said. "The other charges were dropped. There's never been a police report filed. And Will is an exceptionally good kid, admired by everybody, gets along with everybody. He's being suspended for a .02 BAC. After all he's been through, it appears to be a disproportionate penalty for college student."

Yeatman suffered a broken nose and shoulder strain in a 23-7 loss at Michigan State on September 20, his last game.