Former Washington State walk-on quarterback Domenic Rockey has filed a lawsuit against the University claiming that Washington State University football coaches' demand for player accountability led to a locker room assault.
According to the KXLY report,
which can be found here, the legal action stems from an assault that occurred in the locker room in October of 2013 in which Rockey was assaulted by former Washington State defensive lineman Emmitt Su'a-Kalio.
"Court documents show it started when another player was late for a morning team workout," the report says. "Coaches then made the team do 75 up downs as punishment. Rockey was unable to do the exercise correctly because of an ankle injury.
"The Cougar coaching staff then told the players they would start over with the up downs unless Rockey got them right at which time he left. After the workout Cougar defensive lineman Emmitt Su'a-Kalio punched Rockey breaking his jaw in two places, shattering a wisdom tooth, and chipping a molar."
The report says Rockey had surgery in Spokane to have his jaw wired shut and as a result of the injury his college football career was over.
"The suit argues that Su'a-Kalio assaulted Rockey because of the Cougar coaches' constant demands that players keep each other accountable," the report states. "Court documents cite head coach Mike Leach specifically, referring to a letter he sent to the WSU Student Conduct Board in support of Su'a-Kalio. The letter stated Su'a-Kalio misinterpreted the accountability preaching and took it literally."
While the report says the suit is seeking unspecified damages against the University, Rockey's surgery cost $10,000, in which his insurance covered two thousand and WSU Athletics paying about $3,600.
Su'a-Kalio left the football program last spring after pleading guilty misdemeanor assault stemming from the incident and Rockey is still a student at Washington State.
