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Ohio State lineman sues teammate
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- An Ohio State lineman has filed a civil lawsuit charging a teammate with assault and battery in connection with an incident that occurred after winter conditioning drills. Senior offensive tackle Tyson Walter, who was sidelined this season with a hip infection, said he was injured by punch thrown by junior center LeCharles Bentley on Feb. 17. Walter is asking a Franklin County (Ohio) Common Pleas Court for more than $50,000 in damages for injuries that included a fractured nose, a fractured cheekbone and broken teeth. The lawsuit was filed Thursday on behalf of Walter by attorney Todd Neuman, who refused comment when contacted Friday by The Columbus Dispatch for a story the newspaper published Saturday. University officials did not allow reporters to talk to Walter and Bentley in Tampa, where the Buckeyes play South Carolina on Monday in the Outback Bowl. Inquiries were referred to athletics director Andy Geiger. "I can't react, really, other than to say I have no comment about it at this time," Geiger told the Dispatch. "Obviously this is a legal procedure and I wouldn't want to prejudice it by anything that I might say." "We knew it was coming and we prepared people for it," Geiger said when asked if the lawsuit might have an impact on the team's bowl game preparations. "I don't think it will be disruptive." Walter participated in spring drills and played in Ohio State's spring game. He has petitioned the Big Ten Conference and the NCAA for another season of eligibility, citing a rule related to catastrophic injury or illness that allows in some cases a sixth year. Geiger said he expects the petition to be approved. "I don't anticipate problems with that petition," he said. "I would be surprised [if] it was denied, just on the medical ground." That would put Walter, previously a three-year starter at left tackle, on the same line next season with Bentley, who was selected on the All-Big Ten second team at the end of the season.
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