OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Frank Shannon's lawyer says the Oklahoma linebacker is innocent of sexual assault, and she believes coach Bob Stoops should allow her client to play in Saturday's opener against Louisiana Tech.
No charges were filed against Shannon, but the university decided to suspend him for a year after a Title Nine investigation. A district court judge court blocked the school's decision, and the school has appealed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Shannon is eligible to play while the court waits to make a decision, but Stoops said this week that Jordan Evans would start in his place.
Lawyer Aletia Timmons says she believes Stoops and the school are going overboard to punish Shannon because they are concerned about losing Title IX funding.
An Oklahoma spokesman said Friday that the university had no comment on Timmons' statements.