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Bethel II dismissed from football team after incident with Battle
Lady Raider expected to have surgery
Posted: June 28, 2014 - 10:59pm | Updated: June 29, 2014 - 12:39am
Stephen Spillman / A-J Media, file
Texas Tech's Amber Battle shoots over West Virginia's Taylor Palmer during a game in January. Battle is expected to have surgery after she was hit in the face by an incoming Tech football player following an incident Saturday at Texas Tech’s recreation center.
Nigel Bethel II, a Texas Tech football player, has been dismissed from the team due to his role in an incident at the Texas Tech Student Recreation Center on Saturday. Texas Tech Athletics said in a press release that it "has a zero tolerance policy on this type of behavior."
Lady Raider star Amber Battle is expected to have surgery after she was hit in the face by Bethel at Texas Tech’s recreation center, the Avalanche-Journal has learned.
During a basketball game, Bethel, a freshman cornerback reportedly punched Battle in the face, breaking a bone, the A-J has learned.
Blayne Beal, a Tech spokesman, confirmed there was an incident between two student athletes Saturday afternoon at the recreation center. Beal said campus officials are gathering information from both parties.
Tech women’s basketball coach Candi Whitaker said she was unable to comment Saturday evening.
Following the incident, Battle posted to Twitter, “Pray for me y’all.” She later posted, “Thank y’all for the calls, texts and visits.”
From a Lubbock location Saturday evening, a Twitter account under the name Nigel Bethel II had a post that said, “Trouble always seems to find me ... ”
Tech spokesman Chris Cook said a police report was not complete as of Saturday evening as the investigation is still ongoing.
“(It) likely won’t be ready before Monday,” he said.
Battle was the Lady Raiders’ leading scorer last season, averaging 16.4 points per game. She also averaged a team-high 7.4 rebounds. She’s a 5 foot, 9 inch guard from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and has one year of eligibility remaining.
Bethel is a 5-9 cornerback from Miami, Florida, Booker T. Washington High School. He signed with Tech in February and is one of the team’s more highly regarded freshmen.
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