Nov. 18, 2009

DENVER - Western Athletic Conference Commissioner Karl Benson today handed down a half-game suspension to a Louisiana Tech football player Chad Boyd as a result of a foul deemed flagrant by the WAC Office following Louisiana Tech's game at LSU last Saturday in Baton Rouge, La.

Boyd allegedly committed a flagrant foul that was not called by the game officials at the 13-minute mark of the third quarter.

"I am disappointed in the decision and have voiced my respectful disagreement on the rule interpretation and penalty enforcement to the commissioner," said Louisiana Tech athletics director and head football coach Derek Dooley. "In the end, the decision is out of our control and our focus is entirely on the challenge that awaits us at Fresno State."

Benson and the WAC Office announced the suspension on Wednesday.

"A flagrant personal foul should have been called by the game officials, and Boyd should have been ejected from the game at that time," said Benson. "By NCAA rules, I am required to review these types of situations and it was determined that the player clearly committed a flagrant foul, and thus will be suspended."

Boyd will be suspended for the first half of Louisiana Tech's game at Fresno State this Saturday, Nov. 21.