For the first time since their arrests for assault on Nov. 2, Bowling Green State University (BGSU) football players Brennan Ridley, 20, and Leone “Leo” Kemp, 21, returned to the field during Tuesday’s game against the Akron Zips.
Ridley, a sophomore wide receiver and punt returner and Kemp, a junior fullback, were both dressed for the Falcons’ final home game of the season and received playing time. Prior to Tuesday’s game, Ridley had three receptions for 23 yards and averaged 5.1 yards per punt return, and Kemp had one rush for one yard this season.
Caleb Goodloe, 19, the third BGSU football player who was arrested in the incident, was not observed by BG Falcon Media at Tuesday’s game, nor did he receive playing time. He has appeared in four games this season for the Falcons.
The three players are charged with first-degree misdemeanor assault, which stems from an incident on Nov. 2 at 300 E. Wooster St. (Ziggy’s) at just before 2 a.m.
Ridley and Goodloe allegedly assaulted a bouncer at the bar, and when another person attempted to break up the fight, Kemp allegedly placed the person in a chokehold, according to a Bowling Green Police Department incident report.
When asked about the incident at a weekly press conference on Thursday, Nov. 13, Falcons coach Eddie George said, “It’s been handled at the university level, and they’re going to be back with the team. They learned a valuable lesson.”
BGSU’s student code of conduct states, “After a hearing prescribed by Ohio Revised Code 3345.22, students who are arrested for an offense of violence may be immediately suspended from the University. Further, in accordance with Ohio Revised Code 3345.23, students are subject to dismissal if they are criminally convicted, of an offense of violence.”
When previously asked by BG Falcon Media if disciplinary action was taken against the three, BGSU Manager of Media Relations Michael Bratton was unable to confirm what actions were taken by the university, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
For the three players, their criminal case continues in Bowling Green Municipal Court. Kemp appeared in court for a pretrial conference on Monday morning and is set to return on Monday, Dec. 1 at 10 a.m. Goodloe has a pretrial conference on Wednesday at 10 a.m., and Ridley has his pretrial set for Friday at 10 a.m.
This article includes information reported by Falcon Media Sports Production Director Tyler Kavalecz. His reporting can be found here.
