Running back arrested on domestic violence charge reportedly left off Bahamas Bowl trip
Wednesday’s arrest on a domestic violence warrant from August got FIU junior running back Shawndarrius Phillips left home when the team traveled Monday for Friday’s Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl, according to a report from the Associated Press.
After landing in the Bahamas, FIU athletic department spokesman Tyson Rodgers wrote in an e-mail to the Miami Herald, ““As a policy, we do not comment on travel parties.”
As of Monday morning, Phillips remained on the bowl roster at FIUsports.com. FIU plays Toledo at 12:30 p.m. Friday.
He remained on the regular-season roster, playing 11 games and starting five after a Broward County Circuit Court issued an arrest warrant in August stemming from an ex-girlfriend’s June accusation. FIU’s athletic department has not commented on whether the department or program knew of the arrest warrant. BSO hasn’t answered a Friday e-mail asking why it took three and a half months to arrest Phillips. A Google search of his name reveals that he’s an FIU student-athlete.
The woman told Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies that Phillips choked her and threatened her on June 18 at what court records list as Phillips’ Pompano Beach home.
A restraining order against Phillips was issued June 18 and extended July 27 and Aug. 27 before being dismissed Aug. 28. Four days earlier, the arrest warrant had been issued.
BOWL BONUSES
According to their contracts, making a bowl game earned FIU head football coach Butch Davis a $35,000 bonus and FIU executive director of sports and entertainment Pete Garcia a bonus of $13,042.38.
Florida Atlantic head coach Lane Kiffin would have earned a $30,000 bonus for making a bowl game had the 5-7 been bowl eligible and received a bowl bid.
