The Shiloah Te'o saga

BYU defensive back Shiloah Te’o has withdrawn from school, coach Bronco Mendenhall said after practice Wednesday night. Mendenhall had already dismissed Te’o from the team. Today we learned that Te’o was involved in an arrest in August for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Mendenhall said he had heard something about a month ago about “an altercation” taking place, but it wasn’t until late Saturday night that Mendenhall received the news that Te’o had been arrested.

“Along the way, simply, I wasn’t told the truth by one of my players. And that is probably what is most disturbing to me,” Mendenhall said. “But he has been held accountable now, and from the minute I found out (Tuesday night) after practice, and it was confirmed, we acted consistently and quickly with what I have done before … Unfortunately, what weighed more heavily on my decision, it would be not being told the truth.”
Mendenhall said no other players were involved in the incident.

Charges were filed against Te’o on Sept. 18. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 22 in Provo in the courtroom of Judge Vernon F. Romney.

The Cougars, who visit UNLV Saturday night, have had to do some shuffling in Te’o's absence. Sophomore Travis Uale has taken Te’o's spot as Andrew Rich’s backup at kat safety. Free safety Scott Johnson is backed up by true freshman Craig Bills.
The biggest change will take place on special teams, on which Te’o played. BYU has lost four other special teams players due to injury this week — McKay Jacobson (hamstring), Tucker Lamb (concussion), Steven Thomas (concussion) and Brandon Ogletree (groin).

As far as other injuries go, defensive lineman Russell Tialavea (knee) won’t make the trip this week to Las Vegas. Defensive lineman Vic So’oto (hand) is listed as probable.