Purdue heavyweight Robinson faces penalty from football coach

Gelen Robinson, Purdue University heavyweight wrestler who is also on the school's football and track teams who was arrested in June for operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of 0.15 percent or more and illegal possession of an alcoholic beverage -- his second such offense -- will soon learn his punishment from the head football coach, the Indianapolis Star reported Friday.

Although Purdue football coach Darrell Hazell didn't offer specifics Friday, he hinted that a penalty is in the offing for Robinson, a sophomore rush end.

Gelen Robinson (Photo/Purdue Sports Information)

"We'll let him know shortly and the rest of the team know exactly what we'll do with him," Hazell said. "There's a penalty to be paid. He's owned up to his mistake and now he has to do some things to put himself back in the graces of the program. That's where we are right now. Without giving out what it may or may not be, he knows he has to do some things and there will still be a penalty come down."

This is the second incident involving alcohol for Gelen Robinson, son of Glenn Robinson, legendary Purdue basketball star. Last August, the 20-year-old Robinson entered a diversion agreement after being cited for minor consumption by Purdue University Police Department in June 2014. A diversion agreement allows a defendant to have the charges dismissed if he or she abides by formal terms and conditions over a set period of time. According to the terms of that agreement, Robinson made a commitment to, among other things, not to "consume alcohol or alcoholic beverages" and not to "enter any bar, tavern or liquor store" for the duration of the agreement, which lasts until Aug. 3, 2015.

Violating the terms of this diversion agreement means Robinson could now be subject to prosecution on the original misdemeanor charge ... and could result in a greater penalty regarding his eligibility to play sports at the Big Ten school located in West Lafayette, Ind.

When asked if Robinson's situation is different because this is his second offense, Hazell said yes, adding, "He understands the severity of it."

Hazell said Robinson has been participating in summer workouts and will practice with the team when training camp begins Aug. 7. However, the Indianapolis Star pointed out that last season, Hazell suspended another player for two games because of an alcohol-related arrest ... and that Hazell has other players who can step into Robinson's position as rush end if the multi-sport star is not allowed to play.

A product of Schererville, Ind., Robinson was a four-year letterwinner in wrestling, football and track at Lake Central High School in northwest Indiana. He was a two-time Indiana state wrestling champ at 220 pounds. This past season, the 6'1" Robinson compiled a 3-4 overall record for the Purdue wrestling squad as a freshman, and was 1-3 in Big Ten dual meets, according to his official Boilermaker wrestling bio. One of his wins was by pin, scoring a 56-second fall against a Wabash College wrestler at the Greyhound Open. After wrestling season, Robinson joined the Purdue track team, where he throws the shot put, weight throw and discus.

Back in February, the Boilermaker was the subject of a USA Today profile titled "Purdue's Gelen Robinson juggles three sports", which quoted coach Hazell said, "He came to me and presented one sport and all of sudden he came back -- everybody wants him. Right now, he's handling it pretty well."

At least one website which covers Purdue sports disagrees. Earlier this week, HammerAndRails.com posted an article titled "The Gelen Robinson Conundrum" which described the sophomore sports star's situation. "He entered Purdue with a ton of hype," wrote Travis Miller. "He is the son of possibly our greatest basketball player ever. He was the highest rated player in the 2014 recruiting class and was expected to be an instant impact player if not start immediately. Tons of hype was put on him as the next great defensive end.

"So what have we gotten so far? 20 tackles in a reserve role, two sacks, and now two arrests. He enters the 2015 season likely facing a lengthy suspension and he is damn lucky to still be on the team at all."

Miller goes on to say, "I am betting that one of his conditions to returning to football will be cutting track and wrestling (in addition to a lengthy suspension)."
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Purdue heavyweight Robinson faces penalty from football coach

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