Georgia Tech outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu will sit out the first half of the Yellow Jackets' game against Duke on Saturday as punishment for throwing a punch at Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas in last Thursday night's game.
Tech coach Paul Johnson made the decision after reviewing the game video while saying this of Attaochu's explanation that he was going for the ball, "It didn't look that way to me."
Johnson decided on a half-game suspension because it would have been the ACC's punishment had Attaochu been thrown out of the game and the punch was not characteristic of Attaochu. (NCAA rules dictate that a player thrown out for fighting in the second half of a game will be disqualified for the remainder of that game and the first half of the next game.) Johnson said he added disciplinary measures that are between him and Attaochu.
"It's out of character for him," Johnson said. "Certainly, that's not his M.O., and that's why it's not more. But I think that, certainly, we don’t condone that and I know he's learned his lesson, but there still needs to be something. You have to pay a price when you mess up."
Johnson said Attaochu was embarrassed and sorry for the punch, which drew a personal-foul penalty and was a momentum-changing play in the Hokies' 37-26 victory that dropped the Jackets out of ACC title contention.
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