Virginia Tech defensive end Dadi Nicolas has been suspended for the first half of the UVA game for making contact with official Ron Cherry during Saturday’s loss to North Carolina.
Nicolas, who knocked down the left arm of Cherry as he was being called for an offsides penalty, is being disciplined by Frank Beamer, not the ACC.
“I’m convinced having talked with Dadi that it was not intentional,” Beamer said. “But he did hit the referee…and that can’t happen.”
After further questioning, Beamer remained adamant that the incident was unintentional.
“He did not mean to hit Ron,” Beamer said.
Nevertheless, Nicolas miss the first half of the game against UVA. Either Seth Dooley (r-So.) or Vinny Mihota (r-Fr.) will take his place in the starting lineup.
Print
I told my wife when it happened, he’s gone for the rest of this game and maybe the season. It did not look accidental to me at all, just a pissed off young man that I’m sure regrets his actions. Move on and trounce the Hoos!
Nicholas deserves to be suspended. You cant tell me he didn’t mean to hit that ref. I think Ron Cherry is one of the worst ACC officials in the league but Nicholas needs to control his emotions, get more sacks, and play the game. I am pleased with the discipline and the message from Coach but I raise an eyebrow that Coach is convinced it was nothing but an accident. NIce Jedi mind trick.
I’m thinking it was one of those “subconsciously intentional” actions. Kind of like being overcome with anger that you don’t really think about what you’re doing in the split second. Kind of like throwing an object out of rage and then realizing you could have really hurt someone.
I think the punishment fits the crime. Dadi got lucky Cherry didn’t eject him.
Frank is the real deal.