The fall semester is the time for football, but due to a violation of NCAA regulations Middle Tennessee State U. senior quarterback Dwight Dasher will be placed on the bench leaving junior quarterback Logan Kilgore to fill his shoes.
Dasher was declared ineligible for competition and suspended indefinitely until the NCAA finishes its investigation of reports that he accepted a $1,500 loan, putting him in violation of NCAA regulations.
Investigators have yet to determine what the exact conditions were surrounding the transfer of funds. However, Oliver Donnell, an 80-year-old patient at the Alvin C. York VA Medical Center, said the loan was for gambling purposes. Donnell, who loaned the money to Dasher, “ran a sports book during the ‘80s” according to a report by The Daily News Journal.
“While there are a lot of sides to the story involving student-athlete Dwight Dasher, all parties agree that there was a $1,500 loan,” Chris Massaro, director of Athletics, said during a press conference Friday. “Therefore, due to a violation of the NCAA amateurism legislation, we are declaring Dwight Dasher ineligible for competition but will be allowed to practice.”
President Sidney McPhee, who was recently appointed to serve on the NCAA Division I Board of Directors in July, said MTSU is investigating the matter.
“When you are a student athlete or in any leadership role, there are responsibilities that come along with it,” MTSU President Sidney McPhee said in an interview Thursday. “With Dasher, we are reviewing that information, and we are trying to investigate exactly what happened, and as an organization we will take the necessary action.”
Head Coach Rick Stockstill said the team remains confident in its abilities to perform well during the upcoming season.
“I’m confident that the Dasher situation will not effect the progress of the football team this season,” Stockstill said during a press conference Friday.
Stockstill told Sidelines Sunday that while no one could replace Dasher, that junior college transfer quarterback, Logan Kilgore will be competing as starting quarterback in Dasher’s absence.
While Stockstill was unsure of whom would replace Dasher on Friday, he said both Kilgore and Jeff Murphy could both handle the position. However, on Sunday Stockstill was confident in Kilgore’s ability.
“Logan was named over (junior quarterback) Jeff Murphy because he simply has had more practice time and was able to go through spring ball,” Stockstill said. “I have a lot of confidence in both guys, but Logan has about 40 practices under his belt compared to 25 for Jeff.”
Kilgore threw 2,512 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2009 at Bakersfield College before transferring to MTSU. He has earned National Northern Conference Offensive MVP honors and is the third quarterback in Bakersfield history to exceed 2,000 yards in a single-season.
McPhee said the Office of Judicial Affairs will also be reviewing facts of the Dasher investigation, adding that all students are required to follow the Student Rights and Responsibilities’ handbook– athlete or not.
“We are not every going to be able to stop people from getting into trouble,” McPhee said. “The question is, when it’s brought to our attention, are we dealing with it?”
Stockstill said Dasher was unlikely to suffer an institutional penalty, and that the university is seeking reinstatement, but the star quarterback is expected to miss the first few games of the season.
Stockstill said MTSU officials are planning to send a reinstatement letter Monday. Once the letter has been sent to the NCAA, he said there was no timetable in which the verdict had to be reached.
According to NCAA regulations, the prescribed penalty on this type of violation is a 30 percent reduction in the number of games in a season, however, that number can be extended or shortened depending on the outcome of the investigation.
Stockstill stood behind his player on Friday, saying Dasher made mistakes but is a talented young man. He said Dasher is confident about the investigation and trying to stay positive.
“[Dwight Dasher] is doing really good – he’s disappointed obviously,” Stockstill said. “His teammates have rallied behind him, and his coaches have rallied behind him. He is humbled in this situation, and he knows he made a mistake.”
Officials with the university said no further comments will be made until the NCAA investigation is completed and resolved.
Dasher earned MVP honors in the 2009 New Orleans Bowl victory and set an NCAA record for rushing yards. He also became the fourth player in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards and throw for 2,500 yards in one season.