Ohio State coach Ryan Day announced Sunday that senior linebacker K’Vaughan Pope has been dismissed from the team after he stormed off the field during the No. 11 Buckeyes’ 59-7 win over Akron on Saturday.
Pope, who was considered a potential starter for OSU entering the season, played mostly as a reserve in the team’s first four games. Pope tried to enter the game in the second quarter but was waved off by linebacker Teradja Mitchell. He walked toward the locker room, but an Ohio State staffer brought him back to the sideline.
Footage has since been released of the linebacker running to the back after his tantrum.
“Senior linebacker K’Vaughan Pope has been dismissed from the Ohio State football team,” Day said. “K’Vaughan will continue to have the use of programs that benefit our student-athletes, such as our Student-Athlete Support Services Office, and we will support him with his progress toward graduation. He will remain on scholarship through the duration of the semester.”
The veteran linebacker then threw his gloves into the crowd at Ohio Stadium and attempted to take off his jersey on the sideline.
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Pope also posted a tweet directed at Ohio State: “f— ohio state.” That has since been deleted.
“Last night I let my emotions get the best of me,” Pope wrote on Twitter. “For that I want to apologize to my teammates, coaches and Buckeye Nation. I made a mistake and know that I need to be better and do better. I’m going to take this time to reflect and work on my mental well-being.”
Pope has played in 33 career games and has three tackles this season.
