Dodd-Masters gets one-game suspension

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Nov. 11, 2004 | 8:52 a.m.

UNLV will be without starting cornerback Ruschard Dodd-Masters for Saturday morning's game at Colorado State after he received a one-game suspension from the Mountain West Conference on Wednesday for a violation of the league's sportsmanship policy.

Dodd-Masters was cited for throwing a punch at a Wyoming player in the third quarter of the Rebels' 53-45 triple-overtime loss Saturday to the Cowboys. Because Dodd-Masters had previously served a half-game suspension in 2003 for unsportsmanlike conduct, he received a full-game suspension this time.

"He hit the kid with a forearm," UNLV coach John Robinson said. "I have no complaint about (the suspension). That's just the way it is. We'll still play the game."

The league didn't issue an official release on the suspension Wednesday until about 7 p.m., but Robinson said he learned of the suspension a few hours earlier before the team's practice in time to allow Dodd-Master's backup, Ernest Gordon, to work with the first unit.

"This type of action has no place in sport and simply will not be tolerated in the Mountain West Conference," said commissioner Craig Thompson. "The MWC will continue to aggressively enforce its sportsmanship policy in an effort to create a culture of spirited competition coupled with exemplary conduct."

Gordon started the season opener at Tennessee and also replaced Dodd-Master last season against BYU when he was suspended.