Miami official apologizes to App State color guard after alleged assault

Some members of the Appalachian State University color guard are meeting with police after allegations of inappropriate contact with Miami Football players over the weekend.

The students claim it happened when the team came onto the field before the nationally-televised game in Boone.

Reporter Dave Faherty talked with several members of the color guard about what happened prior to kickoff.

App State stormed the field Saturday afternoon, and then about one minute later, the University of Miami players ran out.

Along the sideline were members of the App State color guard.

"I don't think groups should be protected because they can play sports,” color guard member Sophie Randleman said. “I'm not a fan of having groups be protected."

Randleman posted on Facebook that members were "taunted and touched in ways that were definitely not asked for" by Miami football players.

Color guard member Mariah Martin said she was performing when she was knocked to the ground by the players.

"All I felt was a Miami football player shove into me and the rest of them surround me, and I felt pain and was out for the rest of the game," Martin said.
 
App State officials confirmed to Channel 9 that they are looking into the matter. 
 
The students who said they plan on meeting with police don't want the Miami players charged, but want to prevent what they say happened to them happening to someone else.
 
Martin was satisfied when the head of University of Miami athletics sent a letter to the group. 
"We got a written apology from the athletic director in Miami, so I think that's all we really needed," Martin said.
 
"I don't want to hurt their future," Randleman said. "I don't want to do anything. I just want them to know that everybody deserves to be respected, regardless of your affiliation. That's not something you should be able to get away with."

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