Tennessee's McDaniel indicted on felony assault charge

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Tennessee defensive tackle Tony McDaniel was indicted on a felony charge of aggravated assault for allegedly hitting a student in the face during a pickup basketball game on campus in January.<br> <br> A Knox County grand jury handed down the indictment Tuesday, according to court documents obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday. McDaniel could face up to six years in prison if convicted, prosecutors said. No trial date has been scheduled.<br> <br> McDaniel was suspended from the team after the incident, and he will remain suspended until the case is resolved, athletic department spokeswoman Tiffany Carpenter said.<br> <br> McDaniel could not be reached for comment.<br> <br> Coach Phillip Fulmer said he will keep an eye on the situation.<br> <br> ``Tony remains suspended, and we will watch closely as the legal process runs its course,&#39;&#39; Fulmer said in a statement. ``We will be fair to Tony, the university and our team.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> McDaniel is one of 11 Tennessee players who have been either arrested or cited for crimes ranging from aggravated assault to underage drinking since February 2004. Five have remained at the school, while the other six left because they either graduated, transferred or were kicked off the team.<br> <br> McDaniel, who will be a junior this fall, made his first career start for Tennessee in the Volunteers&#39; 38-7 win over Texas A in the Cotton Bowl.<br> <br> The 6-foot-7, 295-pound McDaniel is accused of hitting Edward Goodrich, a 26-year-old student. Goodrich testified during a hearing in April that his face was broken in four places and doctors had to insert a metal plate to treat his injuries.<br> <br> Some of the incident was caught on tape by a video camera at the university recreation center.<br> <br> Goodrich said during the hearing he didn&#39;t know what happened to him until he watched the tape at the campus police department. He said the tape showed him trying to block McDaniel&#39;s shot and then McDaniel hitting Goodrich on the right side of his face after the play was over. He did not return a phone call Wednesday seeking comment.<br> <br> The people playing basketball were disputing many of the fouls called, and McDaniel had said something like, ``The next person who fouls me, I&#39;m going to lay them out,&#39;&#39; Goodrich said.<br> <br> McDaniel&#39;s attorney Don Bosch argued in April the charge against his client should be reduced to a misdemeanor because Goodrich&#39;s injuries were not serious enough to warrant a felony charge.<br> <br> McDaniel could be punished by the university, but his case with student affairs was still pending, Carpenter said.<br> <br> Four players were arrested for allegedly fighting with fellow students in two separate incidents on campus since McDaniel was charged.<br> <br> Quarterback Brent Schaeffer and receiver Bret Smith were charged with misdemeanor assault in April and accused of hitting a student who police said was arguing with Schaeffer&#39;s girlfriend about a cell phone. Both players were suspended and Fulmer announced last month Schaeffer was transferring.<br> <br> Defensive end Robert Ayers and linebacker Jerod Mayo, who redshirted last year as freshmen, were charged with aggravated assault for their alleged involvement in a fight between football players and Omega Psi Phi fraternity members at a party. Ayers was suspended, but Mayo was not because Fulmer believed Mayo was misidentified.<br> <br> Three other players who got in trouble last fall were dismissed from the team.<br> <br> Receiver James Banks was suspended at least three times, cited last summer for underage drinking and failed a drug test before he was dismissed. Defensive backs Brandon Johnson and Chris Heath were charged after Johnson was accused of firing a gun in the air outside an apartment near campus.<br> <br> (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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