EDMONTON – Upon request, the Canada West football Complaint Review Committee has reviewed a play from the Calgary at Regina game on Friday, September 16 and decided that a suspension to Rams linebacker Austin Bates is warranted.
Bates, in his third year of CIS eligibility, delivered a late hit to the knee area of U of Calgary’s quarterback, Eric Dzwilewski. While Bates was penalized by game officials for unnecessary roughness on the play, the committee deemed the hit to be reckless, dangerous and a complete disregard for the safety of Dzwilewski, who was in a vulnerable position.
Bates will serve his one-game suspension when the University of Regina plays at Alberta, in Edmonton, on Saturday, Sept. 24 and is eligible to return to action the following week.
Canada West Football Convenor, Jim Donlevy, commented: “At a football coaches meeting, and a joint meeting with football officials, it was determined that safety of players must be a primary objective. Incidents such as this will be evaluated consistently and dealt with in a consistent manner. Respect for opponents must be understood and practiced at all times.”
Height: 6-2
Weight: 210
Year: 3rd
Hometown: Regina, Sask.
Previous Team: Sheldon-Williams Collegiate
About Canada West Universities Athletic Association
Canada West is consistently the most decorated of the four conferences in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), winning at least 10 CIS national titles every year, 1997 to 2010. Comprised of 16 schools, from the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, Canada West produces numerous major award winners and Academic All-Canadian student-athletes each year, with many going on to athletic success around the globe in pro leagues or events such as the Olympics, Paralympics or Universiade Games. “cwuaa” on Twitter.
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