LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -Two Nebraska wrestlers, including one who won an NCAA championship in 2007, have been dismissed from the team after posing naked for videos and photographs on an Internet pornography site.
Paul Donahoe and Kenny Jordan were let go Tuesday, three days after a blog posted images of them taken from Fratmentv.com, a Web site featuring naked or partially clothed male athletes.
“The history of behavior of these men, including the current matter, does not reflect the standard of excellence we aspire to on and off the mat, “coach Mark Manning said in a statement. “We have outstanding student-athletes in our program and we will move forward in a positive manner toward our goals.
“I want to personally apologize for any embarrassment that may have been caused for our athletic department, the university and our fans.”
Manning didn’t address the nature of the wrestlers’ past transgressions, and didn’t immediately return a message left on his cell phone seeking comment.
Donahoe did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment. The Associated Press has requested interviews with the men through the athletic department. Personal phone numbers couldn’t be found.
The athletic department became aware of the images on the Internet late last week, assistant athletic director for compliance Josh White said. Donahoe and Jordan were declared ineligible because they violated an NCAA rule that prohibits athletes from appearing in pictures for commercial use, White said.
Donahoe and Jordan would have to apply to the NCAA for reinstatement if they choose to wrestle for another school, White said.
Donahoe, who would be a senior, won the Big 12 championship at 125 pounds in 2008 and placed third in the NCAA tournament after winning the title the year before.
Jordan, a junior 133-pounder, was fourth in the Big 12 and failed to place at nationals this past season.
The Scarlet Project, a blog that touts itself for reporting “news, scandal and gossip “at the university, posted the pictures online but altered them so that they didn’t show full nudity. The blog reported that they were obtained from an anonymous person.
John Marsh, who operates Fratmentv.com and two related Web sites catering to gay men, said he’s spoken with Donahoe and Jordan and that both indicated they want to continue as college wrestlers. He said Donahoe was a “dynamite “wrestler.
“If Nebraska is going to be pigheaded and kick him off unreasonably, “Marsh said, “there has to be another wrestling program that’s going to want him.”
Marsh said most photo and video shoots are done in Los Angeles, where Fratmentv.com is based, but that some are done at other locations. Members of Fratmentv.com pay $24.99 for access to hundreds of images and videos.
Marsh wouldn’t say how much he pays models or how he hires them.
“It’s not money that they would be making working as a waiter, “he said. “They get well-compensated. It’s better than beer money.”
Marsh said his models typically don’t care about videos and pictures of them being seen on the Web.
“I’m in my mid 40s, and my generation has a stigma about porn, “he said. “The kids, the generation of the student-athletes, don’t have that stigma. They really don’t care.
“They’ve come from a Paris Hilton, Tommy Lee-Pamela Anderson sex tape generation, Myspace pages. The shame and stigma aren’t there for them. They’re mostly worried about what their parents are going to think, because their parents think it’s horrifying.”
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