http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-coach-newspaperflap&prov=ap&type=lgnsA college football coach in Texas is backing players accused of removing every copy of a student newspaper from racks around campus because of a front-page article about teammates being arrested on drug charges, according to a police report.
The incident happened at Division II Texas A&M-Commerce. The coach is Guy Morriss, who also coached at Kentucky and Baylor and played 15 seasons in the NFL with the Patriots and Eagles.
“I’m proud of my players for doing that,” Morriss said, according to an incident report. “This was the best team building exercise we have ever done.”
No one has been arrested over the removal of 2,000 copies of The East Texan on Feb. 25. Editor James Bright estimated the loss at about $1,100.
Campus police are investigating, school spokesman Randy Jolly said. Morriss has been disciplined, but Jolly declined to discuss details.
Also disciplined are the “football players involved in the East Texan thefts,” school officials said in a statement. Athletic director Carlton Cooper apologized, saying players made “an error in judgment.”
“A&M-Commerce does not stand back idly when crimes like these are committed,” said Dr. Dan Jones, the school’s president.
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Bright, a senior journalism major, said Morriss’ reaction is “appalling.”
“He is condoning criminal activity,” Bright said. “And to me, that is unacceptable.”
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Texas again and again