Two college football players in Fayette, Missouri, have been arrested and charged after allegedly beating a teammate as punishment for showing up late to practice, under what players reportedly called a team “fight rule.”
Kamarrion Ferguson, 20, and Michael Hourel Jr., 22, both players at Central Methodist University, face third-degree assault charges, according to court documents obtained by KOMU-TV in nearby Columbia. Four other players were suspended alongside them, bringing the total number of players banned indefinitely from the NAIA program to six. The school has not named those four.
A probable cause statement cited by KOMU says the alleged victim told Fayette police he was beaten because of “a rule in place that when a football player is late for practice, you have to fight someone for repercussions of being late.” The victim was taken to an urgent-care facility and referred to a concussion specialist over concerns about a possible brain bleed, according to the court filing.
Hourel, a senior linebacker and one of the team’s captains, told police the arrangement began during a team meeting meant “to address the lack of accountability for being late to practice,” the probable cause statement says. He reportedly told officers the victim had been late to practice on Oct. 9. According to the filing, Hourel struck the victim in the face first, and other players joined in once the victim tried to fight back.
School Response
Central Methodist University, a United Methodist-affiliated school in Fayette, said it is investigating the so-called fight rule.
“The safety and well-being of this student is our highest priority. This behavior is unacceptable and inconsistent with our United Methodist heritage and a campus culture grounded in respect and care for others.”
The university also said its early understanding is that the arrangement was not an official team policy.
“Based on what we currently know, this was an informal ‘accountability’ arrangement among a small group of players, rather than an official team rule. The investigation will establish how it originated and who knew about it.”
The investigation into how the arrangement started, and who among coaches or staff may have known about it, is ongoing.
