Dvoracek removed from team
After Oklahoma earlier released a statement confirming Bob Stoops indefinitely suspended Dusty Dvoracek, the Sooners' senior defensive tackle and All-American from the football team, Stoops announced late Friday night the senior from Lake Dallas, Texas, is no longer part of the team.
“I now believe there is a sufficient pattern of behavior to merit Dusty’s removal from the team,” Stoops said in a statement released by the school.
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“That is the step we are taking.”
The Associated Press reported late Friday that Norman police have contacted the family of Matt Wilde, one of Dvoracek's teammates at Lake Dallas. Wilde suffered a head injury either late Saturday or early Sunday. His condition was upgraded from fair to good according to Paula Price, a spokeswoman for Norman Regional Hospital said Friday. Circumstances of how Wilde was injured are under investigation.
Police said Wilde's family did not want to pursue charges at this time. No arrests have been made and no charges have been filed.
The Sooners began to take action on the incident on Friday afternoon when Oklahoma's associate athletics director of media relations Kenny Mossman announced in a release that Dvoracek was to be suspended indefinitely and was not going to play in the Sooners game Saturday against Oregon.
“As always, the university takes matters of this nature very seriously and is cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities in their investigation,” Mossman said. “Standards for personal conduct have been set at the highest level within the athletics program and inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.
It's unclear whether or not Dvoracek will get an opportunity to return to the team in the future, but Stoops said the school will offer him all the support they can.
“We will continue to offer to Dusty all of the services that are available through our department and the university,” Stoops said in the statement.
Dvoracek, a 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive tackle, was considered to be one of the Sooners’ team leaders on defense. He had a breakout junior season in which he was a consensus All-Big 12 first team selection and had 16 tackles for a loss and seven sacks.
Dvoracek had already made an impact on the 2004 season. Last week against Houston, he recovered a Cougar fumble with OU leading 14-7. The Sooners then opened things up with a 51-yard reverse to Mark Clayton and quickly pulled away to a 63-13 domination over the Cougars.
SoonerScoop.com will continue to monitor this breaking news situation. For a breakdown of what the Sooners will do without Dvoracek Saturday against the Oregon Ducks, please check out SoonerScoop.com editor Carey Murdock's feature Five Questions heading into Oregon.