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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas coach Charlie Strong has suspended senior guard Kent Perkins for Saturday's game at Oklahoma State following his arrest last week for allegedly driving while intoxicated.
Perkins, the most experienced offensive lineman on the team, was arrested early Friday and the team had the weekend off.
"I don't drink, so I have a pretty hard stance on alcohol," Strong said Monday. "He's a senior. He's old enough (21) to drink. I tell them all the time, if you are intoxicated, and you get behind a wheel, not only are you risking your life, but you are risking the lives of others. I was really upset about it. There is going to be counseling, community service and punishment within our program."
With Perkins out, next in line at right guard are sophomores Alex Anderson and Jake McMillon. Strong also has the option of shifting other players who have trained at multiple positions.
Perkins said he was "terrified" while sitting in jail wearing handcuffs.
"I'm thankful to God nothing physical happened to me or anybody else," Perkins said.
"It was a stupid mistake. It's not who I am. I apologize for that," he added. "That's not me, that's not my character, that's not what I'm about. This will never happen again. I know I disappointed a lot of people. I let people down. I think that hurts the most."
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