NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Vanderbilt center Festus Ezeli has been suspended for the first six games of the season for accepting a meal and hotel room from an alumnus of the university.
School officials learned of the incident and self-reported the violation to the Southeastern Conference and NCAA in early August. The NCAA ruled Monday.
Ezeli was visiting friends on a trip this summer when he ran into the alumnus, who was not identified by Vanderbilt. Ezeli can practice with the team during his suspension before returning to play on Nov. 28 against Xavier.
The senior says in a statement through the school he never would jeopardize his career over something as petty as a meal or hotel room when he could have paid for those things himself.
