JaWand Blue, Alex Figueroa Dismissed by Miami After Admitting to Sexual Assault

Two members of the Miami Hurricanes football program have been dismissed after both admitted to sexually assaulting a 17-year old girl on campus this past weekend.   

JaWand Blue and Alexander Figueroa, two outside linebackers and both 20 years old, were kicked off the team, per a release from Miami athletic director Blake James, via Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald:

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Earlier today, I permanently dismissed Jawand Blue and Alexander Figueroa from the UM football team. The University has also suspended the students from school and barred them from all campus facilities while the University conducts an internal investigation and continues to cooperate with local law enforcement.

Any allegation of a sexual assault is extremely serious, and the University will not tolerate conduct that threatens the sanctity and safety of our students and our campus. We hold all of our students -- especially student athletes -- to the highest standards of moral conduct. The University is committed to maintaining a safe campus environment for all.

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The players were arrested on Tuesday, according to ESPN:

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Two University of Miami football players arrested on sexual battery charges against a "physically helpless" 17-year-old girl were dismissed from the team and suspended Tuesday.

Court and jail records show JaWand Blue and Alexander Figueroa were booked on the charges Tuesday. Both are 20-year-old linebackers for the Hurricanes.

According to the police report, obtained by The Palm Beach Post, both players admitted to buying drinks for the victim, bringing her back to Figueroa's dorm room in the early morning hours of July 5 and performing sexual acts, including intercourse, without her consent while she was "physically helpless to resist."

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Navarro notes that the assault took place in the early morning of July 5 at Pearson Hall, according to police reports. The players "administered or had knowledge of someone else administering to the victim a narcotic, anesthetic or other intoxicating substance that mentally or physically incapacitated the victim without her prior knowledge or consent."

Matt Porter of the Palm Beach Post provides more details on the situation for Blue:

Both Blue and Figueroa were scarcely used last year, combining for two starts during the 2013-14 season. Figueroa finished with 17 tackles during the nine games in which he appeared.

In addition to dismissing them from the program, James stated both players are also suspended from the University and "all campus facilities" during an internal investigation.

The crime has clearly ruined what might have been a great career for Figueroa and Blue in the future, but was dealt with swiftly by the Miami program. With both now off the team, Miami can potentially avoid any distraction as the season approaches.

The Hurricanes open the 2014 season on the road against the Louisville Cardinals on Sept. 1.

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