Nebraska player surrenders on Oklahoma charge
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BY RON JENKINS / The Associated Press
NORMAN, Okla. — Nebraska football player Darren DeLone was released to return to class Monday after appearing in court on an assault charge for injuring a member of a University of Oklahoma spirit squad.
Cleveland County Judge Reginald Gaston ordered DeLone, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound senior offensive lineman, to return to Oklahoma for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 10. He was released on his own recognizance.
DeLone is charged with aggravated assault and battery for allegedly running off the field during the Nov. 13 Oklahoma-Nebraska football game and intentionally driving his helmet into Adam Merritt, 19, a member of the Ruff/Nek spirit group.
The felony charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Merritt lost some front teeth and suffered other injuries after he was knocked eight feet by the force of the blow from DeLone, according to an affidavit filed in the case.
Attorney Garvin Isaacs said DeLone is innocent.
"It was an accident," Isaacs said. "I don't have any other comment at this time. We'll do our talking in court."
District Attorney Tim Kuykendall said he filed the charge after witnesses said DeLone swept his hand across his throat in a threatening manner, then ran off the field, appearing to speed up just before he crashed into Merritt.
Kuykendall said there is some disagreement from witnesses on exactly what happened, but most were "pretty adamant" that Merritt was assaulted.
He said recent violence at professional basketball and college football games send "a bad message" from athletes, who are expected to act in a proper manner on and off the field.
Kuykendall said Nebraska coach Bill Callahan is on the witness list, but he did not know if Callahan would be called to testify.
Merritt was treated at Norman Regional Hospital and released. He underwent oral surgery last week.
The University of Oklahoma Police Department recommended prosecution of DeLone and a second Nebraska player, Wali Muhammad, but Kuykendall said there was not enough evidence to file charges against Muhammad.
The prosecutor said the case against Muhammad could be revisited if more facts are turned up in a continuing investigation.
The alleged assault occurred as Ruf/Neks were in their usual position near the north end zone of Owen Field. Students in the group typically shoot pop guns and heckle opposing teams.
Callahan has said he feels "really, really terrible" about Merritt's injuries, but the Ruf/Nek's position near the end zone made an incident almost inevitable.
Last year, Nebraska player Kellen Houston served a one-game suspension and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor disturbance of the peace after hitting Missouri fan Matthew Scott after a game at Faurot Field in Columbia.
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