Texas Tech Football Team Dismisses Freshman DB for Reported Altercation

The Texas Tech football program has dismissed freshman defensive back Nigel Bethel II after the reports of an altercation between him and Lady Raider basketball star Amber Battle.  Battle (pictured on the right) was Texas Tech's leading scorer and rebounder last season as she averaged 16.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.  She will now need surgery to repair the damage done and the report did not indicate how long she is expected to be sidelined due to said facial surgery.

Details are still emerging, but Texas Tech has dismissed Bethel, with a statement from the school (via associate athletics director Blayne Beal): "Nigel Bethel II, a Texas Tech football student-athlete, has been dismissed from the team due to his role in an incident at the Texas Tech Student Recreation Center on Saturday, June 28. Texas Tech Athletics has a zero tolerance policy on this type of behavior."

Bethel was a three star recruit out of Booker T. Washington high school in Miami, Florida.  Listed at 5'9" and 173 pounds, Bethel's quickness and agility off the ball made him one of the Red Raiders' most highly touted acquisitions for this season.  He had previously committed to the University of Miami before deciding to go play for Kliff Kingsbury in Lubbock.

The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal's Sarah Rafique and Don Williams' report alleges that Bethel punched Battle in the face while playing basketball at the rec center.  No other specifics of the events that transpired were made available at this time.  Neither Lady Raider head coach Candice Whitaker nor football coach Kliff Kingsbury (pictured on the left) have commented on the incident.