July 13, 2012
ALBUQUERQUE – University of New Mexico soccer players Victor Rodriguez and James Rogers have received suspensions and public reprimands from the NCAA after appeals made on their behalf were denied. The suspensions stem from red card incidents that took place after New Mexico’s NCAA Tournament game against the University of South Florida on November 27th, 2011.
Rodriguez will be suspended for the first two games of the upcoming regular season and the first game of the NCAA tournament that the program may qualify for. Rogers’s punishment was partially overturned after the appeal process. He will be suspended for the first three games of the 2012 regular season.
Both student-athletes will have their transportation expenses and championship per diems from the 2011 NCAA Tournament withheld as well.
“I do not condone the misconduct of our student-athletes. It is the biggest disappointment of our tremendous 2011 season. This isolated case of misconduct does not represent the values of the Lobo men’s soccer program nor James Rogers and Victor Rodriguez as student-athletes. James and Victor are both outstanding, model student-athletes at the University of New Mexico whose characters reflect the true mission of this program and this athletic department,” said Head Coach Jeremy Fishbein. “I am appreciative of the committee’s decision to overturn part of James’s suspension based on the evidence we submitted. At this point, we will continue to prepare for the upcoming season and continue this program’s effort to be a proud and integral part of this community.”