ASU beat Central Florida 46-13 on Saturday night, but after the game head coach Dirk Koetter found himself apologizing for the conduct of senior defensive tackle Danny Masaniai.
With 3:15 left in the third quarter, UCF senior quarterback Ryan Schneider was sandwiched by senior defensive tackle Phil Howard and junior defensive end Terrell Suggs while releasing a ball that was intercepted by senior linebacker Josh Amobi and returned 21 yards for a touchdown.
As Schneider lay on the ground in pain with his potential NFL career in doubt, Masaniai danced over him. Never mind the fact that Masaniai had nothing to do with the big play, and in fact failed to register a single tackle in the game.
"That's just something that's not a part of our program," Koetter said. "I want to apologize to anybody who was offended by that because that's just not us."
Masaniai was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and Koetter benched him for the remainder of the game. Koetter later announced that no further disciplinary actions would be taken against him.
Masaniai's showboating wouldn't have been as big of a deal if the game against the Golden Knights hadn't marked the senior's return from a two-game suspension. Masaniai was suspended for firing a handgun into the air several times when he was denied entrance into a Tempe nightclub (Message to Masaniai: bullets fall back to Earth after they are fired).
So, let's get this straight.
ASASU Executive Vice President Brian Buck gets a little loving in a pornographic video last fall, and an impeachment drive ensues. But Masaniai shoots a gun in the air and then embarrasses the University by dancing over a seriously injured player, and he sits out two games and a quarter.
Masaniai is playing on borrowed time. He should have run out of eligibility last year, but the NCAA granted him another season on a medical redshirt.
Yet Masaniai has twice embarrassed ASU and endangered the lives of Tempe residents.
Maybe it's time for Koetter to stop apologizing for Masaniai's behavior. Maybe it's time for Koetter to yank Masaniai's scholarship and kick him out of the program.
Either that or apologize to ASU students every time Masaniai embarrasses us and to Tempe residents every time Masaniai's stray bullets fall on their houses.
Reach the reporter at hhshawk97@aol.com.
