Idaho State football coach Mike Kramer has been suspended for his team’s game at Montana on Saturday for violating the university’s conduct policy, athletic director Jeff Tingey said Tuesday.
The suspension came as Kramer, a former coach at Stadium High and Eastern Washington, was being investigated by the university and Pocatello, Idaho, police after wide receiver Derek Graves reported that Kramer shoved him to the ground during practice on Oct. 3.
Video obtained by ESPN shows Kramer running toward a player on the field, putting his face close to the player’s helmet and shoving him with two hands. The player falls to the turf.
Graves’ attorney, Don Jackson, said his client suffered neck and back spasms after the fall.
Graves reported the incident to Pocatello police on Oct. 14, saying he missed two games and hadn’t been cleared by doctors to play yet. He missed his third game Saturday as the Bengals lost at Northern Colorado, 52-14.
Idaho State associate head coach Don Bailey will serve as the acting head coach on Saturday as Idaho State (1-6, 0-4 Big Sky) takes on Montana (3-5, 1-4) in Missoula.
Pocatello City Attorney Dan Tranmer said the police investigation is wrapping up, but the city legal department hasn’t determined whether any charge will be filed against Kramer, who is in his second season at Idaho State.
UCF GIVEN REPRIEVE
Central Florida will be eligible to compete for both the Conference USA championship and a bowl game this season with its appeal of a one-year postseason ban not scheduled to be heard until late January.
The ban was the only penalty UCF challenged as part of sanctions levied in July for major recruiting violations in football and basketball. UCF also received a one-year postseason ban in basketball, $50,000 fine, five years’ probation, reduction of basketball scholarships, and limits on football recruiting.
Should UCF (5-2, 3-0 C-USA) lose its appeal, it would serve its football ban in 2013 when it enters the Big East.
EXTRA POINTS
Ohio State and Oregon have agreed to a home-and-home series with games to be played at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Sept. 12, 2020, and at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, on Sept. 11, 2021. … The 2014 BCS championship game, the last one before the postseason goes to a four-team playoff, has been moved up a day to Monday, Jan. 6. … Oregon lifted the suspension for senior defensive tackle Isaac Remington it was reported that Eugene prosecutors had decided not to pursue an Oct. 12 driving under the influence charge against Remington. … Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said quarterback Everett Golson (concussion) did well during a full workout and will start at No. 8 Oklahoma on Saturday.
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