Youngstown State has banned director of player personnel Tim Johnson from the team’s sidelines after he initiated contact with an opposing team’s player on Saturday.
The school and the Missouri Valley Conference — the conference in which the Penguins compete — released a joint statement Monday saying Johnson wouldn’t be allowed on the sidelines for the remainder of the spring season. Johnson is a former Youngstown State All-American linebacker who racked up 401 career tackles and advanced to the NFL, spending six seasons in the league with the Bears, Raiders and Ravens.
He is in his first year in the role under first-year head coach Doug Phillips.
“I apologize to (the University of Northern Iowa), Youngstown State, the Missouri Valley Football Conference and our community for what occurred on Saturday,” Johnson’s statement read. “As a member of the YSU Football staff, my actions are held in high regard and that should have never occurred. Again, I deeply apologize to all who have been impacted by my actions.”
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The incident occurred after Northern Iowa’s Quan Hampton (five receptions, 74 yards) caught a pass and advanced the ball past midfield; at the end of the clip, Johnson is seen bracing and leaning into Hampton, knocking the Panthers receiver to the ground. No penalty was called and Johnson stayed on the sidelines.
Here’s another angle of the contact, courtesy of Yahoo! Sports:
Northern Iowa won the game 21-0, advancing to 1-1 on the season; Youngstown State is now 0-2 after previously losing to North Dakota State.