Should assault allegations keep UW QB Cyler Miles from starting?

University of Washington coach Chris Petersen said Monday quarterback Cyler Miles will start Washington’s home opener against Eastern Washington on Saturday, but not everyone is happy about the decision.

Ron & Don Show host Don O’Neill doesn’t think Petersen should recognize Miles with the starting position for the Huskies after reports of the quarterback’s alleged involvement in two assault incidents last February.

“I had a lot of respect for Coach Petersen and I don’t anymore,” said Don. “Wins to him are more important than this young man’s integrity and the integrity of the University of Washington program. I think it’s horrible. I think it sends a horrible message.”

Miles and former teammate Demore’ea Stringfellow had been suspended since Feb. 6 for a violation of team rules, following the incidents. Stringfellow was charged with two counts of fourth-degree assault and one count of malicious mischief. Miles was never charged.

Miles, a redshirt sophomore, had been reinstated to the program by Petersen in May. But he was forced to serve a one-game suspension during Washington’s 17-16 win over Hawaii last Saturday.

“Even though he was never charged, it doesn’t mean that he didn’t do it,” Don said. “He had to do something or I don’t think he would have been suspended for this particular game.”

With the NFL taking a stronger stance on players involved in domestic violence cases, Don wondered if college teams shouldn’t be stricter with players facing allegations of violence.

“You’ve got a football player who was allegedly involved in a situation where a woman got knocked out cold and you’re not going to fire him from the University of Washington?”

Co-host Ron Upshaw said if they were going to give Miles a more severe punishment it needed to be back when the offense allegedly occurred.

“If they were going to do anything, they needed to do it last year. I don’t think you wait all the way until school starts again and then fire Cyler Miles. I think if you were going to discipline him, it needed to be right then.”

Don said the one-game suspension seems to point to Miles being involved in the assaults somehow, and if that’s true, he should have a more severe punishment. He suggested sitting Miles out for a year and using another quarterback.

“You know what QB Jeff Lindquist was doing while Cyler Miles and his buddy Stringfellow were allegedly involved in this altercation?” said Don. “Jeff Lindquist was overseas helping feed kids and making sure they got clean water. That kid is a good kid, he’s a good cat. He should be the face of the University of Washington.”