DEKALB, Ill. -- A Northern Illinois assistant football coach
who ordered members of the team to run through a drum corps that
was practicing at Huskie Stadium was fired Monday.
School officials said strength and conditioning coach John
Binkowski, who came to Northern Illinois from UNLV in 1999, was
angry over a stadium scheduling conflict with the practicing
Capitol Regiment drum corps.
The school said Binkowski ordered about 20 players to run
directly through the band, injuring two, on Thursday.
Anthony Falbo, 20, was charged with battery and suspended
indefinitely from the team, according to university spokesman Mike
Korcek.
The drum corps, from Columbus, Ohio, was practicing for Drum Corps
Midwest. The annual event draws 25 drum corps from the United
States, Canada and China.
The university described Binkowski's conduct as hostile and
unprofessional. A telephone call to Binkowski's home Monday night
was not immediately returned.
Two players, including Falbo, who caused injuries to corps
members, were identified by the victims.
A second player also was identified and will be suspended once
charges are filed against him, Korcek said.
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