SAGINAW COUNTY, MI (WNEM) -
A number of football players at a local university are involved in a criminal investigation, and they're sitting out the first game of the season because of it.
One of the suspended players is from mid-Michigan, and now the Saginaw County prosecutor is trying to figure out exactly what happened.
Saginaw Valley State University is experiencing a very big distraction, the kind no team wants just days before the season opener.
The Cardinals are dealing with the loss of five of their players, who remain suspended from the squad for Saturday's game against Valdosta State. Head coach Jim Collins removed the players after concluding that they violated team rules.
The five players are Tevon Conrad, Kaleb Forr, of Davison, Nate Snyder, Jack Raymond and Jesse Somsel.
Here's what the university confirmed for TV5 on Thursday. On August 13, during training camp, the suspended players, and the victim - a freshman teammate - were involved in an incident characterized as hazing or bullying. Later that day, the victim's family notified the coach. On Aug. 14, Collins removed the players from practice and university police began an investigation.
On Aug. 16, the university's investigation wrapped up and the county prosecutor's office was notified. Then on Aug. 20 the players returned to practice after being told by the university more disciplinary action is likely. Which takes us to Wednesday, when Coach Collins announced the suspension of the five players for Saturday's game. They are still allowed to practice.
"The action we took from a football standpoint was the action that needed to be taken and we're all going to learn from it. No doubt about it," said Collins.
University officials also told TV5 that the victim wasn't hurt but he decided to quit the team and left the school.
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The five suspended players.
