Eteuati back in the game

Bryant Eteuati, the Weber State University Football Team wide receiver who has been suspended since October, was back on the field Saturday for the football game against Eastern Washington. WSU officially lifted the suspension on Eteuati, who pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors in two separate cases in a plea deal on Thursday afternoon. A committee with representatives from WSU faculty, student affairs and the athletic department met Friday to discuss the possibility of Eteuati coming on the field on Friday, and decided the player has paid his dues. WSU released this statement Saturday: "Based on the information gathered and reviewed, the committee decided that Bryant Eteuati is eligible to play Saturday versus Eastern Washington. In reaching this decision, the committee determined that being withheld from three games is sufficient penalty given the severity of the crimes." The statement continued to say that academic and community service stipulations would be put on Eteuati for him to remain in good standing. John Kowalewski, media director for WSU, said it is not certain yet what those stipulations will be. Eteuati, 21, pleaded guilty Thursday in 2nd District Court to reckless endangerment and leaving the scene of an accident. He originally was charged with aggravated assault, a felony charge, after a July 1 incident where, after a fight in Barnes Park in Kaysville, Eteuati ran into a group of people with his vehicle. Prosecutors said Eteuati was part of a large group watching a fight and was attacked. They said he then swerved his car into a group of people while leaving the scene, and injured one. Eteuati's attorney, Deven Coggins, said the reckless endangerment misdemeanor charge was more appropriate for what he did, saying that there was no evidence that Eteuati hit anyone with his car intentionally. "He was trying to get out of a situation," Coggins said. "He had to be told by others later that he hit somebody … it was a panicked situation. He was afraid for his safety." In a separate case, Eteuati also pleaded guilty to a lesser severe charge of communications fraud, rather than the original felony charge. Layton City Police said Eteuati would help his friends shoplift from the store he worked at in the Layton Hills Mall. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 8. Eteuati spoke for the media for the first time on Thursday, and said he was sorry for what he had done. "I wish I could take everything back I've done," he said. Eteuati played the entire game on Saturday, which WSU lost 33-26. Coach Ron McBride said he thought Eteuati played "all right" in the game, where he ran a total of 137 yards, with 20 receiving yards and 117 with combined punt/kick returns. "He did a good job of fielding the punts," McBride said. "But he hasn't been in a game in almost a month. He's not going to be as good as he has been because he hasn't been on the field."