NIU Player Indicted for Assault During Game

[TXMike]

If this had been seen by officials, could it have also have been penalized there at that time?

Story  http://www.suntimes.com/sports/colleges/11424986-419/niu-linebacker-jamaal-bass-indicted-on-assault-charge-in-ohio.html

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAzVDDfB7qA

[TxKeith]

I will say yes an official that witnessed the act could have penalized the player.  From what I have seen in the rules, the span of control by officials starts 60 minutes before scheduled kickoff and ends when the referee declares the game over.  The problem is how much flack do you want to take for calling the foul?  In my eye it was an act of unsportmanship, and if happened between players of opposite team a flagrant act.

The whole incident could have been avoided if team administrators (coaches) could have kept the team back until the band cleared the field.  To me the whole thing is a case of being "stupid" in a "no stupid zone". 

[El Macman]

I know it exists in hockey, but I simply do not understand the concept of a greater penalty if there is an injury. Better put, there is a lesser penalty if there is no injury. BS. This moron had no business getting anywhere close to these kids - even if the kids were trash talkin' (which I highly doubt). This is clearly an act of beligerance and intimidation, and it is that act that deserves punishment, not the fact that it caused injury. If it is worth a three game suspension, then it should have been levied immediately, not after the concussions were diagnosed. What's the message? "Well, go ahead - take a chance - it won't cost much if you don't hurt anybody." Instead, the message should be, "Pull a stupid stunt like that and you lose your scholarship."