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The Oklahoman
NORMAN - A member of the Ruf/Neks, a University of Oklahoma spirit group, was hospitalized Saturday after a reported sideline altercation with a Nebraska football player during pregame activities.
Adam Merritt was transported from the field on a medical cart and taken to Norman Regional Hospital after having several teeth knocked out and suffering facial lacerations in what was described by witnesses as an assault by Nebraska offensive lineman Darren DeLone.
DeLone, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound senior, reportedly attacked Merritt in the northeast corner of Owen Field during pregame warmups after being heckled by members of the Ruf/Neks. Witnesses in the student section and on the sideline said DeLone head-butted Merritt in the face with his helmet and shoved him into the 3-foot brick wall.
Moments after the altercation, a stadium security worker said DeLone would be arrested, perhaps before the start of the game. However, DeLone played in the game and was not detained afterward.
When asked about DeLone and the reported assault after the game, Nebraska sports information director Chris Anderson replied, "I don't know anything about that."
A source with the OU police department confirmed that there is an investigation into the incident, but DeLone was not arrested and was allowed to leave on the team bus.
Several Nebraska players outside the team buses said DeLone was not aboard the buses and had already departed. Rumors of the incident had reached the bus area and several players were saying Merritt had suffered a broken neck.
However, the rumors were false, as Merritt was treated and released from the hospital before the game concluded.
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