STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Penn State linebacker Dan Connor was
suspended indefinitely Friday by coach Joe Paterno after he and two
other players were cited by police for allegedly placing harassing
phone calls.
Connor and two backups, receiver Jim Kanuch and safety Nolan
McCready, were issued summary offenses earlier this week in
connection with the calls, which "escalated to the point of
harassment" over the course of several months, the school said in
a statement.
The school said the person who received the phone calls
requested to remain anonymous.
All three players had been placed on probation Thursday.
"Based upon a clearer understanding of the facts, coach Joe
Paterno has placed sophomore Dan Connor on indefinite suspension
for his participation in recent harassment calls," the statement
said Friday.
Connor appeared in 10 games as a freshman last year, recording
85 tackles, second on the team, with one sack and one interception
for a Nittany Lions' defense that surrendered just 15.3 points per
game.
A heavily recruited high schooler, Connor was expected to anchor
the defense this season along with fellow linebacker Paul
Posluszny.
Connor remains "with the team" but the extent of his
suspension has yet to be determined by Paterno, Penn State athletic
department spokesman Jeff Nelson said.
"As far as what might happen, and when, that's for [Paterno] to
determine," he said.
The calls began following the spring semester and continued into
the early summer, Nelson said.
Nelson said Kanuch and McCready could also face suspensions
pending further investigation. He said the coaching staff will
continue to look into the matter, and other players could be
involved.
"The football staff is still just trying to make sure they have
all the information, so that's not outside the realm of
possibilities," he said.
Connor's suspension came less than a week after Paterno publicly
scolded two players for firing arrows through the wall of an
on-campus apartment. They were fined $100 each after pleading
guilty to misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief. The university
expelled them for two semesters.