NIU football coach Jerry Pettibone has decided on a one-game suspension for Huskie cornerback Brett Tucker who was arrested Saturday for charges of battery.

Tucker was arrested following a fistfight at McCabe’s with Thomas Lee. Tucker will practice with the team all week but will not travel or play with the squad for the Toledo match Saturday Oct. 8.

“I think I’ve got a clear picture as to what happened (Saturday night),” Pettibone said, “and I think this is a fair decision as far as the consequences are concerned.

“Brett admits he made a mistake, and he understood that this was not an incident against him as an individual but as a member of the team. A rule is a rule, and a rule has to be enforced.”

While Tucker said he understands the necessary disciplinary measures, he will miss participating in Saturday’s contest.

“I regret missing the game—that’s the most important part,” Tucker said. “I’ll just have to put it behind me and get ready for the next (game).”

Pettibone said the suspension was not a routine decision, as he “thought long and hard about it.”

“I look at each case individually, and I talk to the coaching staff,” Pettibone said, “but I make the final decision. I spent a lot of time thinking about the right thing to do.”

Pettibone seemed to be understanding of Tucker’s incident, taking into consideration there have been no previous problems.

“This is the first incident that Brett Tucker has ever been involved in all of the four years he’s been here,” Pettibone said. “He started as a walk-on from Sycamore (High School), has earned a scholarship and has worked his way to be an excellent student (3.0 grade point average). He’s a first class young man.”

Pettibone said Tucker will be eligible to play in the Southwest Louisiana match Oct. 15.