((HT: SD Union-Tribune/Schrotenboer))
Former San Diego State offensive lineman Lance Louis is facing a possible felony battery charge in a case that has raised questions about the way former coach Chuck Long handled the incident.
Louis is being investigated for allegedly battering SDSU starting safety Nick Sandford in a team meeting room Nov. 5, who suffered a concussion, broken eardrum and fractured cheekbone. The San Diego County District Attorney's Office said the case is under review after SDSU police investigated the incident and determined it merited consideration for a felony charge.
Sandford's father, Paul, said Long refused to discipline Louis, who started the season's final three games. Nick Sandford missed the final three games because of his injuries. Paul Sandford said the District Attorney's Office around May asked him several questions about Long's role in the aftermath of the incident.
The incident wasn't reported to police until Nov. 20 – more than two weeks after it happened and two days before Long was fired as head coach.
Paul Sandford said Long later told him he was
“concerned about his quarterback” if Louis, one of the team's key blockers, were suspended. Sandford also said Long told him he
“didn't want to upset” Louis' chances in pro football. Louis was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round in April.
“The head coach of a Division I university did absolutely nothing about it, nothing,” said Sandford, who lives in Orange County.
“I'm still angry about it.” Long didn't return calls seeking a comment. His agent, Jack Mills, said Long would have no comment. Louis, reached by phone yesterday at the Bears' training camp, said he was told by his agent not to talk about the incident. SDSU spokesman Mike May said per university policy, the school would have no comment because of the ongoing investigation.
SDSU police said the case was investigated as a battery with serious bodily injury, but said they could not provide additional details because the district attorney is investigating. Police said six witnesses gave statements.
Accounts of the incident beyond that provided by Paul Sandford were unavailable because many individuals either would not or could not comment. Sandford said his son was instructed by SDSU not to talk to the media about the incident. SDSU spokesman May said it is team policy for players not to talk to the media about “team business.” SDSU Director of Athletic Medicine Greg Gastaldo, who helped care for Nick Sandford, said he could not talk about it.
Paul Sandford said the altercation was precipitated by an incident earlier in the day. Nick Sandford had been playing a game in the locker room with another player, hitting a wadded-up cloth ball with a stick. Paul Sandford said Louis got in the way and his son poked Louis with the stick, which he didn't like.
Louis, who weighed about 300 pounds, later sought Sandford, who weighed 210, and found him in a meeting room watching film. Louis came from behind, punched him in the side of the head, knocked him to the ground and kicked him, Paul Sandford said.
Corey Boudreaux, a senior safety on last year's team, said he walked in as the altercation was ending.
“There was a miscommunication in the locker room (where it originated). One of them got (ticked) off to the point where he did something about it.”
“The trainers couldn't tell us anything and the coaches kind of didn't tell us anything,” Boudreaux said.
“Coaches told us not to worry about what was going on and not to listen to all the rumors and stuff. They said they were going to take care of it because they didn't want us to get involved.” Paul Sandford said he learned of the incident the night it happened, which was the Wednesday before the team was to play at Brigham Young University. He said he couldn't reach Long before the team left for the game.
Sandford said the day after the BYU game, he told Long he thought the incident was a criminal assault and was concerned about his son's safety. He said Long told him he wanted to keep it
“in the Aztecs family.” Sandford said he expected Long to handle it after that because it was Long's responsibility as head coach. He also said it wasn't a good idea at that time for anybody associated with the team to go against the coach's wishes to keep the matter quiet. A few weeks earlier, Long had been assured by Athletic Director Jeff Schemmel of remaining as Aztecs coach through 2009.
“It's not likely anybody was going to rock the boat from Nick's particular end,” Paul Sandford said.
“It would have put Nick at huge risk, plus there was potential for retaliation because Chuck was assured of coming back (through 2009).” It's unclear who contacted SDSU police. They list Paul Sandford as the reporting party, but Sandford said he believes others told police first.
“Nick was called and I went down there with Nick and met with them,” he said.
Sandford said many of those who knew what happened, including his son's doctors, were surprised when Louis started the Nov. 8 game at BYU.
“Every game we went to, quite a few people asked why (Louis) was still playing,” Sandford said.
When Louis played again the next week against Utah, Sandford said it prompted a doctor to ask Nick Sandford's permission to tell the SDSU administration.
The incident was reported to police that week, before the season's final game against UNLV on Nov. 22. Long was informed he was fired the morning of that game. In an interview with reporters Nov. 26, Schemmel said he made up his mind to fire Long on Nov. 20, which is the day the incident was reported to university police.
Nick Sandford, who will be a senior this season, started seven games before the incident. Louis started all but one of SDSU's 12 games last year.
Long still works at SDSU earning his $715,900 annual salary because his contract called for him to be assigned to another job on campus, doing various projects, through 2010. His contract says he can be terminated for statutory cause, such as material dishonesty, or prejudicial misconduct, such as violations of the university's policies.
Adrienne Moore has reaction from Paul Sandford and the university
Thanks to our friends at KFMB-TV/CBS 8 San Diego
