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Miami finds no mistreatment of Appalachian State color guard

College Football, Appalachian State Mountaineers, Miami Hurricanes

The University of Miami could not confirm allegations made by a member of the Appalachian State color guard that Miami football players made inappropriate physical contact with several members of her group when they ran onto the field for their game against the Mountaineers last Saturday.

Miami athletic director Blake James said the school reviewed videos and conducted interviews but found no evidence of misconduct.

Color guard member Sophie Randleman wrote in a post Saturday that:

"Miami's football team decided to blindside one of our members on the corner of the field. She was shoved by several very large, intentionally aggressive, football players. No apologies were made regarding this incident, and the member who was hit had severe pain and had to sit for most of the game. ...

"Leaving the field, I thought that this was the only incident that occurred. It turns out that several other members were groped, sworn at, taunted, and touched in ways that were definitely not asked for."

Mariah Martin, a member of the color guard, told WSOC-TV in Charlotte that she was shoved to the ground by Miami players, felt pain and had to sit out the game. She said the group received a letter of apology from James.

"We got a written apology from the athletic director in Miami, so I think that's all we really needed," Martin said, according to the TV station.

According to the Miami Herald, James did not say the letter was an apology.

Randleman wrote in her post that the Appalachian State color guard stands in front of and along the sideline, and the opposing team usually makes an effort to avoid them.

Appalachian State issued a statement on Monday: "Members of the university's staff are looking into information sent via email, as well as discussions on social media that surfaced over the weekend regarding the color guard at Saturday's game."

Information from ESPN's Andrea Adelson was used in this report.

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