Richard Goodman suspended indefinitely
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL PLAYER SUSPENDED IN UNION FIGHT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State University football coach Bobby Bowden today announced the suspension of senior wide receiver Richard Goodman following his arrest in connection with a fight that took place last fall at the university's Oglesby Union.
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"We're suspending Richard Goodman, indefinitely, beginning today until the matter has been resolved," Bowden said.
Goodman, 22, turned himself in to the Leon County Jail on Tuesday, May 26, on a warrant for his arrest obtained by Florida State University police. He was charged with one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon causing great bodily harm, a second-degree felony. Goodman later posted bond and was released.
Goodman is accused of throwing a chair that struck a female bystander in the face during a fight that broke out between Florida State football players and members of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity on Nov. 12, 2008. The woman struck with the chair suffered extensive injuries.
"With all of the information about this case, we knew it was extremely important to be thorough — and we have been," said Maj. Jim Russell of the Florida State University Police Department. "This arrest concludes our investigation."
Goodman is the third football player to be charged in the fight. Two others were charged with one count each of misdemeanor battery in November 2008.
Under Florida State Athletics Department policy, "a student-athlete charged with a felony, absent extraordinary circumstances as determined by the administration, is not permitted to represent Florida State Athletics in game competition until such time as the charge is resolved and all court, university and athletics department conditions for reinstatement have been met."
In addition, Florida State's Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities will follow its policy of reviewing police reports involving students for violations of the Student Code of Conduct.
Goodman, from Fort Lauderdale, did not play in 2008 while recovering from a broken leg suffered late in the 2007 football season.