Sept. 15, 2009

Pocatello, ID --- Idaho State University head men's basketball coach Joe O'Brien has announced that Eric Segert, a freshman from Oldsmar Christian Academy in Tampa, Florida has been suspended for the fall semester of the 2009-10 for a violation of team rules. Segert will be allowed to practice with the team, and will probably have to utilize the year as a redshirt season.

Along with the suspension, O'Brien announced that Segert will have to perform 50 hours of community service, and will also have to conduct extra conditioning drills. Those drills will amount to 45 miles of running, in three mile increments. He will still be allowed to practice with the team and go to conditioning drills and study table, but by missing the first two months of the season, Segert will almost assuredly have to use the year as a redshirt. Segert is one of three freshmen on the roster but the only scholarship freshman in the group.

"I am very disappointed that Eric has started his college career in such a negative manner. His family is also very disappointed and had a difficult weekend trying to understand his actions," said O'Brien. "But, we are not going to throw him under the bus. I have informed Eric of my disciplinary actions, and now he needs to work through his legal problems. He is a good kid that made a couple of very poor decisions."

Idaho State opens their season with a pair of exhibition games on November 3 and November 9 against UC-Colorado Springs and Rocky Mountain before opening the season officially on the road on Friday, November 13 at Iowa State. The game on November 3 against UC-Colorado Springs has been changed to 8:05 pm.

Also, the January 22 game against Eastern Washington and the January 23 game against Portland State have been moved to Reed Gym due to the University of Idaho Ag Show and Potato Expo, which is taking place in Holt Arena during the week. The team will have to practice in Reed that week, and O'Brien opted to play the two weekend games there as well, instead of practicing in Reed all week and then playing in Holt.