The owner of the uptown bar where an Ohio quarterback was knocked unconscious Friday night spoke yesterday about the fight between his employees and members of the football team.
David Cornwell, owner of Courtside Pizza and Bar, said the skirmish began after a group of people, which included starting quarterback Boo Jackson, tried to sneak a supposed underage person into the parking lot entrance of the bar. The employees were led to believe the underage person was a recruit, Cornwell added.
After being denied access, the group proceeded toward the sidewalk entrance to enter, where the individuals were stopped again.
Confrontation broke out between the doorman and one of the members of the group. The employee, whose name Cornwell chose to withhold to avoid retaliation, was pulled outside. Two Courtside bartenders joined to intervene with the incident.
While they were outside, a member of the group with Jackson threw and connected a punch with one of the employees, Cornwell said.
When my guys were pulled outside
they stared at a group of at least 10 people Cornwell said. It was three on 10. They were just defending themselves after that.
Jackson could not be reached for comment, and no members of the football team are allowed to speak to the media until practice on Wednesday.
Jason Corriher, Ohio's assistant athletics director for Media Relations, declined to comment on Courtside's allegations, saying the program is focused on its preparation for next Tuesday's nationally televised contest at Temple.
Cornwell wasn't sure who else was involved in the altercation besides Jackson but was led to believe some were football players. The altercation lasted a few minutes before the police arrived on scene.
Although Cornwell was present at Courtside, he didn't see the fight. He gathered background from the employees involved and spoke with them throughout the weekend.
I got a bunch of calls Saturday but I didn't want to say anything until I found out all the details from our guys
Cornwell said. I wanted to wait until I felt confident.
As players stood around the outside of the bar following the incident, Cornwell advised his employees to stay in the establishment until the fighting calmed down. About a dozen players waited outside the bar until coach Frank Solich arrived.
I basically told them to stay inside
Cornwell said. They were nervous about leaving
and I told them to wait inside the rest of the night.
During yesterday's Mid-American Conference teleconference, Solich said Jackson is listed as questionable for the team's game against Temple Nov. 16.
Quarterback Phil Bates will start if Jackson cannot play. Bates has dealt with numerous injuries throughout the year, and Solich said he didn't know if freshman Kyle Snyder or sophomore Tyler Tettleton would serve as backup.
Solich said no suspensions have been issued to any member of the team stemming from the incident.
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Will Frasure
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