Believe it or not, there’s news happening in the world of college football that doesn’t involve Penn State today.
Unfortunately, it’s more bad news for yet another Big Ten school.
In a statement released Monday afternoon, Michigan head coach Brady Hoke confirmed that running back Fitz Toussaint has been indefinitely suspended after making a “poor decision.” That poor decision apparently stemmed from a drunk-driving charge over the weekend.
“Fitz made a poor decision and has been suspended indefinitely because of that action,” Hoke said in a statement. “There are expectations that come with being a football student-athlete at the University of Michigan and those responsibilities were not met in this instance.
“We will use this as an opportunity to educate Fitz and make sure he understands the high standards that we have established within our program.”
It’s unclear if the suspension will bleed into the season opener against defending national champ Alabama, although that’s a very realistic possibility.
According to SalinePatch.com, Toussaint was arrested late Saturday night in downtown Ann Arbor and charged with operating a vehicle while impaired. The initial stop, part of a joint drunk driving detail, was due to a traffic violation, with a subsequent breathalyzer revealing the back was over the .08 legal limit.
How far over the limit was not divulged.
In starting 11 games last season, Toussaint led all UM running backs in rushing yards (1,041) and rushing touchdowns (nine).