Fairchild Kicked Off Arkansas Football Team

The University Arkansas dismissed linebacker Freddie Fairchild from the football team on Wednesday, putting an end to a career that began with much promise but was derailed by his arrest in late March on battery charges.

Fairchild’s dismissal didn’t come as a surprise. He was suspended indefinitely on March 25 for violation of team rules, and Arkansas’ coaches didn’t sound optimistic about his chances of returning to the team.

“Since (Fairchild’s) suspension last March, he has not participated in team activities,” Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said Wednesday in a statement released through the university. “As his status with our team has been resolved, we will make no further comment regarding this matter.”

According to a Fayetteville police report, Fairchild was arrested March 24 after he allegedly attacked a woman he was involved with for more than a year. The report said Fairchild caused injuries to the woman’s head, face and extremities, leading to him being arrested on misdemeanor charges of battery and false imprisonment.

Fairchild pleaded not guilty to the charges. Fayetteville prosecutor Casey Jones said Wednesday that the linebacker’s trial has been postponed until June 18.

Meanwhile, it’s uncertain if Fairchild will transfer to another school to try to resume his football career. Little Rock Central coach Bernie Cox, who coached Fairchild in high school, said he hasn’t spoken to the linebacker recently.

“I may try to get a hold of him, I just don’t know,” Cox said. “I can’t comment about anything, but I mean, I am disappointed about everything that’s happened with Freddie.”

Fairchild’s dismissal leaves the Razorbacks even more short-handed at the linebacker position. Junior Wendel Davis missed all of spring practices after suffering a serious knee injury in the offseason, and sophomore Chip Gregory was moved from linebacker to running back as an experiment by Arkansas’ coaches.

Fairchild started the final nine games of his freshman season at strongside linebacker in 2005. The Sporting News named the Little Rock native as its Southeastern Conference defensive freshman of the year after he recorded 59 tackles, including seven tackles for loss.

Fairchild missed all but two games of the 2006 season after tearing the anterior cruiciate ligament in his right knee. He returned last season to finish third on the Razorbacks with 92 tackles. He also recorded a team-high 4 1/2 sacks in 11 starts.

Morning News Sports Writer Nathan Allen contributed to this report.

By The Numbers

Fairchild’s Statistics At Arkansas

Year Games Tackles TFL Sacks

2005 11 59 6 2

2006 2 12 0

2007 13 92 9.5 4.5