Following Auburn's 31-10 win over Memphis in the Birmingham Bowl on Wednesday, a Memphis player appeared to be involved in an altercation involving an Auburn equipment manager.
Memphis' Reggis Ball reportedly ran over to an Auburn equipment manager and attempted to take a game ball. A video, posted by Auburn fan Russell Smith, shows Ball shoving the equipment manager to the ground, taking a football, and running to the locker room.
Memphis #38 tackles auburn ball boy , steals ball and runs off the field!
Posted by Russell Smith on Wednesday, December 30, 2015
"We will certainly look into what went on, what happened and get the facts squared away," Memphis interim head coach Darrell Dickey said following the game. "That's not us. If in fact, somebody on our team did something like that, then we'll certainly address it."
Ball, a redshirt senior, recorded two interceptions during the game.
A few hours after the incident, Memphis released a statement regarding the incident, saying that Ball has been removed from the team.
"I want to personally apologize to Jay Jacobs, Gus Malzahn, the Auburn Football team, its fans and the Birmingham Bowl for the highly-inappropriate actions of one of my student-athletes regarding a game ball at the end of game,” said Tom Bowen, Director of Athletics at the University of Memphis. “This player’s actions are totally unacceptable. He has been immediately removed from the team and we will continue to move swiftly in addressing what occurred. I consulted with University of Memphis President M. David Rudd and have spoken to both incoming head coach Mike Norvell and interim head coach Darrell Dickey and they completely support my decision,” Bowen said.
Norvell also released a statement.
"We’re embarrassed about the actions that occurred after the game and that is definitely not the standards or expectations the Memphis football program stands for. Even though Mr. Ball’s football career has ended, he will no longer be a part of the Memphis program because of these actions.”
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