Louisville Football Players Arrested

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) _ Five Louisville football players were arrested early Wednesday in connection with a fight at a night spot in the city. <br><br>The five players are Justin Thomas, B.J. Steele, Jason

Wednesday, December 6th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) _ Five Louisville football players were arrested early Wednesday in connection with a fight at a night spot in the city.

The five players are Justin Thomas, B.J. Steele, Jason Hilliard, Michael Brown and Antoine Sims, police said.

Thomas, a 20-year-old junior, was charged with third-degree assault on a police officer, a felony. He also was charged with fourth-degree assault, resisting arrest, failure to disperse, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct, all misdemeanors.

The four others were charged with misdemeanors.

Team spokesman Ken Horn said coach John L. Smith was in Alabama on a recruiting trip.

``Coach Smith is aware of the situation,'' Horn said. ``He will deal with it when he returns late Thursday or early Friday. Any type of discipline taken against the players will remain private.''

An off-duty police officer reported a fight at the Atlas club in the basement of the Jillian's night club at 1:30 a.m. EST and called for backup, police spokesman Bill Keeling. Several officers responded and the large crowd became disorderly, he added.

Thomas, a starter for the Cardinals, is accused of striking one officer with his fist and elbowing another, Keeling said.

Brown, 20, Louisville's star linebacker, was charged with alcohol intoxication, disorderly conduct and failure to disperse.

Steele, 19, Hilliard, 19, and Sims, 20, were charged with failure to disperse. Hilliard and Sims were also charged with interfering with a police officer and disorderly conduct.

A former player, Xavier Burrell, 21, was charged with alcohol intoxication and disorderly conduct.