(Getty)
Oklahoma’s leading returning tackler was suspended from school for one year Monday by the school’s president following an internal investigation into allegations of sexual assault.
Linebacker Frank Shannon was accused of sexually assaulting a female student in an off-campus apartment in January, though he was never charged in the case.
Here’s what you need to know about the suspension:
1. Oklahoma Is Unable to Enforce the Suspension Right Now
OU President David L. Boren's statement on 1-year suspension of #Sooners LB Frank Shannon. pic.twitter.com/b4k7qomy7C
— Sam Gannon (@SamGannon87) August 11, 2014
University president David Boren announced the suspension in a statement Monday afternoon. But Boren said the university is “unable to enforce its process at this time.”
“The University has and is taking every legal step possible to move this process forward,” Boren said. “The University is currently seeking to enforce its decision so taht it may be in compliance with federal law requiring responses by institutions to such matters in a timely manner.”
The fall semester begins August 18, so Boren said “time is of the essence” in being able to enforce the decision.
2. Shannon Was Accused of Sexually Assaulting a Female Student in January
The Oklahoman first reported in April that a female student reported being sexually assaulted by Shannon in his off-campus apartment on January 20.
The paper, citing a Title IX complaint it obtained about the incident, reported at the time:
According to the report, the woman alleges that after a party, she intended to walk home. Shannon offered her a ride, but said he first needed to drop off friends near his apartment.
Shannon allegedly took the woman into his bedroom. According to the complaint, he came up behind her, pulled down her pants and attempted to have sex with her.
3. The District Attorney Declined to Prosecute the Case
District Attorney Greg Mashburn announced in April that his office would not prosecute the case because the victim didn’t wish to press charges.
Mashburn also said at the time that it wasn’t clear after talking to the woman making the allegations or Shannon “what had actually taken place,” according to the Oklahoman.
4. Shannon Made 92 Tackles Last Year
Shannon intercepts a pass last year against Notre Dame. (Getty)
Shannon, a 6-foot-1, 238-pound junior from Dallas, made a team-high 92 tackles last year, including a team-high-tying 7 in the Sooners’ Sugar Bowl win over two-time defending national champion Alabama.
He also made a team-high 8 tackles and intercepted the first pass of his career in a 35-21 win at Notre Dame on September 28.
He was named a second-team All Big 12 performer by Phil Steele and got a Big 12 honorable mention from the league’s coaches.
He was considered one of the keys to Oklahoma’s defense this coming year.
Shannon was rated a four-star recruit out of Skyline High School in Dallas.
5. The Suspension Includes Academics & Athletics
OU president David Boren and coach Bob Stoops. (Getty)
If the university is able to enforce the suspension, Shannon will be banned from all academic and athletic activities for the entire academic year, meaning he’d miss the Sooners’ entire season.
Another would-be Oklahoma player, star running back recruit Joe Mixon, was accused of assaulting a female OU student and breaking four bones in her face.
