Coach punishes eight brawling UNLV players

Steve Guiremand

Friday, March 1, 2002 | 11 a.m.

UNLV head football coach/athletic director John Robinson said eight players involved either in a brawl or vandalism with a school fraternity last weekend will each have to perform 15 hours of community service before being allowed to participate in spring drills, which are scheduled to begin on April 2.

Robinson declined to name the eight individuals. Two players, wide receiver Troy Mason and tight end DeJhown Mandley, were arrested Saturday for being among a half-dozen individuals who broke several windows at the house in North Las Vegas where the fight had taken place a night earlier. Charges of destruction of private property were later dropped when the pair made restitution of $1,080.

Another player, wide receiver Michael Johnson, suffered cuts and bruises in a Friday night fight at the party.

"This incident has had a negative impact on the university, the football program and all individuals involved," Robinson said in a prepared statement released Thursday. "All of their actions are completely unacceptable. ... I will require all individuals involved to perform community service for a minimum of 15 hours. When the community service is completed, those involved will be able to practice in the spring workouts."