Simmons suspends four players

Monday, November 22nd 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Stillwater-AP) -- Oklahoma State coach Bob Simmons suspended four of his players today for violating team policy. Simmons said he understood that an investigation of an alleged incident might happen, but said he had not been notified of one.

The suspensions came amid reports of an investigation of an alleged sexual assault at a private residence in Stillwater. Stillwater police Lieutenant Ron Thrasher said a 22-year-old Oklahoma State student reported she was sexually assaulted yesterday morning at a private party. Thrasher says the student identified two and possibly three Oklahoma State students as her assailants. Thrasher wouldn't release the names or say whether the students were football players. He said he couldn't comment at this stage of the investigation whether the suspensions are related to the police investigation.

Simmons suspended Marcellus Rivers, Evan Howell, J-B Flowers and Alvin Porter. Flowers is the strong safety, Howell is a cornerback who shared starting time, Porter was the starting cornerback and Rivers saw extensive playing time at tight end.