A more detailed report has been posted on the Herald Dispatch website: http://www.herald-dispatch.com/homepage/x1790492632/Holliday-dismisses-3-incoming-true-freshmen-from-team
*Report below is an earlier version from the Herald Dispatch*
HUNTINGTON — Three incoming freshmen were dismissed from Marshall University’s football team Wednesday, hours before one of the three was arrested and charged with felony first-degree robbery.
Court documents filed in Cabell County Magistrate Court link running back Antwon Chisholm and defensive tackle Mike Fleurizard to the robbery of a Papa John’s pizza delivery man. The robbery charge then links Fleurizard to the robbery of a Z Brick Pizza delivery man.
Both incidents took place Saturday, July 31.
Fleurizard was the only one facing charges as of 1 p.m. No other arrests have been reported.
Marshall football coach Doc Holliday announced the dismissals at 9:45 a.m. The first-year head coach did not make direct mention of the alleged robberies. He had no further comment when asked following Fleurizard’s arrest.
Holliday said Chisholm, Fleurizard and wide receiver Fred Pickett were sent home to Florida. The Sunshine State natives were to report for the first newcomers practice at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday.
“We have high expectations of our players and these three have not lived up to what we require of a Marshall University football player,” Holliday said in a prepared statement. “They have lost the privilege of playing football at Marshall and have been dismissed from our football team.”
Pickett has not been named in any court documents, although Fleurizard’s criminal complaint and search warrants state three men were involved in the thefts.
Chisholm, 5-9, 175-pound native of Belle Glade, Fla., was expected to compete for immediate playing time at running back. The same was true for Pickett, a 5-9, 165-pound native of Pahokee, Fla., who was expected to be in the rotation at slot receiver.
Pickett was one of the more high-profile recruits since he originally had given a verbal commitment to West Virginia University. But Holliday was able to get him to renege and eventually sign with Marshall.
Fluerizard, 6-4, 285-pound native of West Palm Beach, Fla., was expected to be redshirted. He was arraigned by Cabell County Magistrate Mike Woelfel and jailed on a $50,000 bond. His pliminary hearing is set for Aug. 13.
The criminal complaint charges Fluerizard threw the Z Brick delivery man to the ground, kicked him in the face and held him down while two other men grabbed the food and $290 in cash. All three fled the scene.
The Z Brick victim identified Fluerizard in a photo lineup.
The departures reduce Marshall’s incoming recruiting class to 22 players.
The case is being investigated by Huntington and Marshall University police departments.
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