It wasn’t a good weekend on or off the field for the Washington State football program.
Roughly 24 hours after the Cougars lost to Nevada this past Friday night, the Moscow-Pullman Daily News reported, three players -- defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale, running back Theron West, and an unnamed 17-year-old on the team -- were arrested in two separate incidents that occurred late Saturday night/early Sunday morning. Police officials wouldn’t identify the juvenile because he’s currently under the age of 18.
Ekuale and the 17-year-old were arrested for minors frequenting a tavern. West, meanwhile, was charged with reckless driving after speeding away from the scene of a domestic dispute and nearly hitting a police officer with his vehicle in the process. He was not, however, “involved in the domestic,” a Pullman police official said.
West was, though, ticketed for no driver’s license and no car insurance after being pulled over.
The incident involving Ekuale and the unnamed player was described thusly by Pullman police commander Chris Tenant.
“Management was complaining they had a couple people that had snuck in through the back door and they believed they were underage. Officers responded and contacted the two people identified by management, which was Ekuale - he is 20 years of age - and also a 17-year-old,” Tenant said. “Both identified themselves as being on the football team. Both indicated they had been let in the back door. They were cooperative but the license liquor establishment - you can’t be in there unless you’re 21, so they were arrested but released at their own recognizance at the scene.”
West is currently second on the team with a miniscule 27 yards, although he is averaging a healthy 6.8 yards on his four carries. The Daily News writes that “Ekuale practiced with the first-team defense Sunday,” although he’s officially listed No. 2 on the depth chart.
There’s no word on what if any punishment the trio may be facing from head coach Mike Leach.