Oregon football player Kiko Alonso has been suspended for the entire 2010 season, head coach Chip Kelly announced Monday.
Alonso, 19, was cited for DUII early Saturday morning. At approximately 2:19 a.m., the linebacker from Los Gatos, Calif., was seen driving with two passengers on East 7th Avenue in downtown Eugene.
According to police, Alonso was driving in an erratic nature, which led to them pulling him over at a 7-Eleven on Broadway.
He was cited for DUII, failure to maintain a lane, driving without insurance and minor in possession.
Kelly stated that the specific details of Alonso’s suspension and his involvement within the program are still being formulated, but he was adamant the redshirt freshman would not play in 2010. After the 2010 season, he will have two years of eligibility.
Alonso was a backup at linebacker for starter Casey Matthews. During the 2009 season, he had 16 tackles in 12 games, including one tackle for a loss and a forced fumble. He also played a role in kickoff coverage.
His first appearance in court is set for Thursday, March 4 at 8 a.m.
Alonso’s citation came less than 24 hours after Kelly addressed the media concerning recent transgressions by some of the players on his team.
The football team has now seen four of its members run into legal trouble within the last month. Running back LaMichael James was arrested last Tuesday on charges of domestic violence, while kicker Rob Beard was charged with assault for his role in a fight on Jan. 24. Matt Simms, a walk-on defensive end, was also charged with assault on the weekend of Jan. 31. Simms has since been removed from the team.
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