NCAA rejects Middle Tennessee appeal, quarterback Dwight Dasher’s 4-game suspension upheld

NCAA rejects appeal, QB Dasher to sit out 4 games

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The NCAA has rejected Middle Tennessee’s appeal, forcing quarterback Dwight Dasher to sit out his full four-game suspension for accepting a $1,500 loan.

The NCAA student-athlete reinstatement committee heard Middle Tennessee’s appeal in a conference call Thursday afternoon, and the university was informed Thursday night the suspension had been upheld.

The Blue Raiders (1-2) had hoped to trim Dasher’s suspension to three games, allowing him to play Saturday in a visit to Louisiana-Lafayette. His first game now will be against Troy on Oct. 5.

School officials suspended the preseason Sun Belt Conference offensive player of the year Aug. 27 for accepting the loan from an 80-year-old patient at a Veteran’s Administration Hospital.