Purify Reinstated To Football Team; Suspended From Season Opener

Friday, July 20th 2007, 6:18 pm

By: News On 6

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) _ Nebraska wide receiver Maurice Purify was reinstated Friday to the football team after pleading no contest earlier this week to criminal charges including assault.

Coach Bill Callahan said Purify will participate in workouts next week and will report to training camp Aug. 5.

But he'll be suspended for the season opener against Nevada, and will face ``continued additional discipline within our football program,'' according to a news release.

``I met with Maurice Purify this afternoon and I believe that he has made a sincere effort to redeem himself and move forward in a positive direction,'' Callahan said. ``During his suspension from our program these past six weeks he has complied with all the requirements imposed upon him by the legal system, the general expectations of a student-athlete in our program, and the specific additional conditions demanded of him as a result of his actions.''

Purify was found guilty of driving while intoxicated, assault, disturbing the peace and hindering arrest. All those charges stem from two incidents earlier this year. Callahan suspended him from the team in June.

A Lancaster County judge on Wednesday sentenced Purify to a year of probation and fined him $1,250.

If Purify follows terms of his probation and other stipulations set by the football staff, Callahan said, he'll be allowed to play.

During probation, Purify won't be allowed to enter a bar or any other business that primarily sells alcohol, and he'll have to attend drug and alcohol counseling.

And for 60 days, Purify will have the choice of either not driving or having a device attached to his car ignition that will make sure he is sober before he can start the car.

Purify also could face judicial action by the university, ``but those actions remain a private matter,'' Callahan said.

Purify was arrested May 5 and charged with two counts of assault, among other things, in connection with an altercation at a Lincoln bar. Last month he was cited on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

As part of the agreement with prosecutors, one of the assault charges and a charge of refusing to obey a police order were dropped. Also, a trespassing charge was reduced to disturbing the peace.

Purify played at City College of San Francisco before joining Nebraska.