February 7, 2012 in Sports

Mizell dismissed from Washington State football team

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Associated Press photo

Washington State’s C.J. Mizell, right, attempting to tackle San Diego State running back Ronnie Hillman, has been dismissed from the WSU football team.
(Full-size photo)

PULLMAN – Linebacker C.J. Mizell has been dismissed from the Washington State football team for a violation of team policy, the school announced Tuesday.

Mizell was arrested Sunday night on allegations of fourth-degree assault and second-degree criminal trespassing stemming from a fight at a fraternity party early Sunday morning, according to Pullman Police.

A statement from WSU said that Mizell is “not being retained.”

Pullman Police Sergeant Dan Dornes said police were called at approximately 12:24 a.m. after Mizell allegedly tried to enter a party at the Delta Tau Delta fraternity house. When Mizell was denied entry, he allegedly “punched one of the guys several times,” Dornes said.

Mizell fled the scene but was arrested Sunday, cited, booked and released. Fourth-degree assault and second-degree criminal trespassing are both misdemeanors. He is scheduled to be arraigned on both charges Feb. 21 in Whitman County District Court.

Mizell, who came to WSU from Tallahassee, Fla., recorded 56 tackles in nine starts as a sophomore last season. He started 15 games in his WSU career.

His dismissal follows a WSU career marked by turmoil. Perhaps the most athletically gifted member of the Cougars defense, Mizell frustrated coaches with his lacking work ethic during his freshman year, but appeared to be turning things around last season until injuries slowed him.

Then, after WSU lost 38-21 to Washington to end the season, coach Paul Wulff said that at halftime, Mizell “chose to put his sweats on,” an indication that his future with the program may have been in jeopardy had Wulff been retained.

The Cougars’ current roster lists nine linebackers, not including the five players listed as linebackers who signed national letters of intent last week.

Nine comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  DonJulio on February 07 at 12:21 p.m.

  I thought Paul wulff ran a clean ship? That makes the second wulff guy leach has removed from the team even before spring ball.

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  WHS on February 07 at 12:36 p.m.

  Dumba$$

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  Cougzz on February 07 at 12:48 p.m.

  If Wulff had stayed, Mizell would have not enrolled for this term. His time was up, regardless. Good riddance.

• 

  drwonderful on February 07 at 12:56 p.m.

  Zero tolerance; i like it!

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  jddavis on February 07 at 1:30 p.m.

  Fo’ shizzle Mizell, DONE!

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  horse_feathers on February 07 at 1:58 p.m.

  The Athletic Director over-ruled one of Ken Bones policies last year so a player could continue to play. Wonder if he will do the same here.

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  Al_Loysius on February 07 at 2:07 p.m.

  It pretty much sets up as a test case for Coach Leach. Mizell is unlucky to be the first one. If this had happened later he might have skated by with a lesser suspension.

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  hillyard on February 07 at 3:03 p.m.

  He was already in hot water with Leach for returning late from Christmas break. This was just the icing on the cake.

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  greenlibertarian on February 07 at 8:00 p.m.

  I guess they thought him being one of the most “athletically talented” on the team would outweigh his STUPIDITY. He’s lucky the Delta boys didn’t retaliate as they sure had reason to, but refrained and remained gentlemen.

  I remember when I was in college and some of these steroid driven BMOCs would try to come in one of our fraternity’s parties and make a stink, maybe even throw some punches around. More often than not, the chumps left in an ambulance with EVERY witness swearing the guy did EVERYTHING wrong and was violent after numerous attempts to restrain/remove the poor schmo who’d been hit too many times on the gridiron, and was only in college on athletic scholarship, couldn’t pass a real class if you paid them, and we did.