Trial date set for Nebraska player accused of assault in Norman

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ An April 25th trial date was set today for a former Nebraska football player accused of assaulting a University of Oklahoma spirit squad member before the Cornhuskers' game at

Monday, April 4th 2005, 11:00 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ An April 25th trial date was set today for a former Nebraska football player accused of assaulting a University of Oklahoma spirit squad member before the Cornhuskers' game at Oklahoma in November.

Offensive lineman Darren DeLone is charged with one count of aggravated assault on Adam Merritt of OU's Ruf-Neks spirit group. DeLone did not appear at today's hearing in Norman. He's pleaded innocent and faces up to five years in prison if convicted.

Merritt testified during a hearing in February that DeLone slammed him into a brick wall at Memorial Stadium before the November 13th game. Merritt was knocked out, lost a tooth and another tooth was broken.

Defense attorney Garvin Isaacs says the incident could have been accidental because the players were practicing at a high speed on grass dampened by rain.