![Ernest Suttles was kicked off the Memphis football team after being charged with rape. [Image credit: University of Memphis]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2017/10/13/660x290/b_502x220x82/ernest-suttles-was-kicked-off-the-memphis-football-team-after-being-charged-with-rape-image-credit-university-of-memphis_1632891.jpg "Ernest Suttles was kicked off the Memphis football team after being charged with rape. [Image credit: University of Memphis]")
The University of Memphis defeated 24th ranked Navy 30-27 Saturday, but a shadow was cast over the celebration with the news that defensive end Ernest Suttles had been kicked off the team after being charged with Rape.The Memphis Police Department announced the arrest with a tweet shortly before the game.
According to the probable cause statement, a woman who had been in a relationship with Suttles for the past couple of months claimed he had sexually assaulted her. The attack allegedly took place in housing near the university campus. Suttles denies assaulting the woman.
The university issued a statement saying that Suttles, who was released from the Shelby County, Tennessee jail after posting $7,500 bond, had been removed from the football team for a "violation of team rules" and had also been removed from the university campus while the allegation is investigated by the University of Memphis Office of Student Accountability.
Rape arrest occurred after campus protests
The timing of Suttles' arrest could not have been worse for University of Memphis officials. The campus has been the scene of protests this week against rape and sexual assault. Driving those protests was the arrest of another university student, a fraternity member, on rape and sexual battery charges.
Those allegations and the protests led university officials to schedule a two-hour forum planned for Wednesday, October 18, on sexual assault and rape on college campuses. The plan is for University President M. David Rudd to meet with students that evening.
Suttles kicked off Nebraska football team earlier
The dismissal of Suttles from the University of Memphis football team was not a new experience for the defensive back.
Suttles signed with the University of Nebraska's gridiron squad, a highly touted member of the school's 2013 recruiting class. He did not even make it through one season with the Cornhuskers.
After winning a recruiting war for Suttles' services with Tennessee, Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky and West Virginia, Nebraska Coach Bo Pelini kicked Suttles off the team before the Tampa, Florida standout even played one game.
The decision came following an incident in which Suttles and a teammate got into an argument at a party. A third teammate attempted to break up the fight and Suttles hit him over the head with a bottle, according to the probable cause statement. Lincoln, Nebraska Police charged Suttles with misdemeanor assault.
