LSU senior wide receiver Terrence Toliver broke his left hand after the altercation he was involved in early Sunday morning in a parking lot at Reggie’s in Tigerland, and Toliver did not practice Tuesday.LSU coach Les Miles said he does not anticipate “any lasting issues” from Toliver’s injury, and he said Toliver will continue to practice.”It will probably be casted and taped and rubber-casted for the rest of spring,” Miles said. “It’s a simple fracture, not something that’s not stable, so we feel like there’s less risk to practice.”Miles said Toliver’s hand will not be an excuse for any poor practices.”We’ll throw him balls when the read dictates, and he’ll have to catch it,” Miles said. “If he doesn’t catch it, we’re going to bark at him. He’s going to have to block with it. I didn’t break it. He did.”Toliver made a public apology at an impromptu media session Tuesday night, claiming his behavior in the altercation was “out of my character.””It was an embarrassment to the team, the coaching staff, to the players and my family,” Toliver said. “It was also embarrassing to me. I want to tell everybody I’m sorry and tell the fans I’m sorry and forgive me for what happened.”Cpl. L’Jean McKneely, Baton Rouge Police Department spokesman, said Toliver and another person, Timothy Moran, were involved in a “fisted altercation,” and Toliver was tased twice after refusing to follow police orders. Toliver was arrested and charged with three misdemeanors of disturbing the peace, public intoxication and resisting an officer. Moran received summons for disturbing the peace and public intoxication.”The first time [Toliver] was tased, he was engaged in fighting and wouldn’t stop,” McKneely said. “After he was tased, he was on the ground, and an officer asked him to stay on the ground and not to move. Toliver got up and began to try and walk away. From there he was tased a second time, and an officer was able to place the handcuffs on him.”Miles said Toliver will have to be accountable for his actions and “pay a tremendous price.””Certainly he’s responsible to not be involved. He’s responsible to not be there,” Miles said. “It’s a tremendous opportunity to play and be on a very large stage in Tiger Stadium. He needs not to be in the public view as he was Saturday night.”Miles said Toliver apologized to the team as well on Tuesday. “It’s interesting that a guy who is a pretty good egg, a good student, and does the right things can make mistakes,” Miles said. “His personal embarrassment will be ongoing. But Terrence Toliver is a good person, and I suspect we’ll get by this.”LSU redshirt freshman forward Dennis Harris was also involved in the incident and cited for interfering with a police officer and entering or remaining after being forbidden. LSU men’s basketball coach Trent Johnson said he will not suspend Harris from Thursday’s Southeastern Conference tournament game against Tennessee.–Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]
Football: Toliver misses practice Tuesday with broken left hand
March 10, 2010