Former Streak Dixon Kicked Off Cornhuskers

Nebraska senior defensive linemen Kevin Dixon was kicked off the football team on Monday for an undisclosed violation of team rules.

The dismissal was announced by Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini during an afternoon press conference.

"I'm not getting into it," Pelini said, when asked what Dixon had done during the press conference. "We want guys who do things the right way."

Dixon, a former Blue Streak defensive specialist who transferred into the Nebraska program last season from Garden City (Kan.) Community College, produced 19 tackles and three tackles for losses last season. He appeared in 12 games, starting four. The senior defensive tackle was listed as the Cornhuskers No. 1 backup behind Ty Steinkuhler.

No specific violations were mentioned by Pelini during the press conference, but Dixon has had recent run ins with the law over the summer.

According to the Journal Star, Dixon was cited twice for various infractions in July.

At 12:30 a.m. on July 13, a UNL Police officer stopped a green Buick for improper license plates. A small bag of marijuana allegedly was found in the car. The driver, Lisa Iznaga, 25, and Dixon, who was a passenger, were cited on suspicion of possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.

Dixon pleaded not guilty to the charge and prosecutors later dismissed the case.

On July 4, UNL police allegedly caught Dixon urinating in public on campus and he was charged with littering for it, but the case was dismissed to pre-trial diversion.

This is the second time in a week that the Big 12 has had star players dismissed.

Oklahoma freshman receiver Josh Jarboe was kicked off the Sooners on Aug. 1, just before fall training camp started, after a video of the frosh rapping about shooting people and carrying guns surfaced on YouTube.

Combined with a weapons possession charge from an arrest last March and the decision was clear for Oklahoma Bob Stoops, who dismissed the troubled Jarboe, which could hurt the Sooners, who are not deep at the receiver position.

Several attempts were made to reach Dixon on his cell phone, but messages were not returned.

Dixon was looking to see major playing time on a thin defensive line under Pelini and already had numerous NFL scouts keeping an eye on the senior.

Current Sebring coach Princeton Harris said that the news came as quite a shock to him.

"I haven't had a chance to talk to Kevin so I don't know all the details," Harris said. "But Kevin had a golden opportunity to make it in the NFL and who knows if he'll get that chance again.

"I hope this is an example to kids that no matter how talented you are, you're not exempt from taking responsibility for yourself and your actions. The kids need to learn from Kevin's experience."

Pelini seems to be sending a message to his team that he intends to hold each player accountable for his actions on and off the field.

"We move on, we move forward," said Pelini to end the discussion on the Dixon matter.