Irish sophomore Will Yeatman has suited up for the Irish football team for the final time in 2008.
According to the South Bend Tribune, which verified the story Tuesday with Yeatman's father, Dennis, Yeatman was told by the Office of Residence Life and Housing that he would not be allowed to play or practice with his team for at least the remainder of this season. The decision was made following Yeatman's arrest on Sept. 21 at 702 Colfax Ave, where he was one of 37 students arrested at a party.
The South Bend Tribune also reported that Yeatman will stay at Notre Dame and will not transfer.
He was charged with minor in consumption of alcohol, resisting arrest and false informing. The 36 other Notre Dame students, 21 of them varsity athletes, were also charged at the party. All but three were allowed to choose a voluntary diversion program to avoid the formal charges.
Yeatman was skating on thin ice after his Feb. 25 arrest for operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and reckless driving. He was placed on one-year probation, provided that he committed no further criminal offenses.
The false informing and resisting arrest charges were dropped two weeks ago, but his consumption charge was not. Any punishment Yeatman has received at this point is from the University but not from the legal system. Charges are still pending on all students.
Yeatman continued to practice with the team during the three weeks before a ruling came from ResLife. The tight end had two catches for six total yards in Notre Dame's first three games of the season. His final appearance was the 23-7 loss to Michigan State the afternoon before his arrest.
Because he has only played three games and sustained an injury in his final game - a broken nose - Yeatman is technically eligible for a medical red-shirt that would give him one extra year of eligibility. It is up to the University whether or not to grant him a fifth year.
Yeatman will be eligible to play lacrosse for the Irish this spring. Last season, he led the team in points (46) and assists (25).
Neither Yeatman, football media relations director Brian Hardin, nor Irish coach Charlie Weis were available for comment following the University's ruling. University spokesman Dennis Brown could not be reached for comment regarding possible punishments for other students involved.
