Ohio State senior linebacker K’Vaughan Pope was escorted back to the locker room after an outburst on the sideline during Saturday night’s game against Akron at Ohio Stadium.
Austin Ward of Lettermen Row tweeted, “I think K’Vaughan Pope just quit the team in the middle of the game.”
I think K'Vaughan Pope just quit the team in the middle of the game.
— Austin Ward (@AWardSports) September 26, 2021
In follow-up tweets, Ward explained that Pope tried to run onto the field for a play, but was waved off by linebacker Teradja Mitchell.
Pope proceeded to throw his gloves into the crowd and take off his jersey while walking toward the tunnel. He was initially stopped by Ohio State staffers, but after heated exchanges, he was escorted to the locker room by Ohio State Director of Player Development C.J. Barnett.
Pope tried to run out on the field in a sub package. Teradja Mitchell waved him off, and Pope stormed down the sideline, started walking to the tunnel and then had to be coaxed back by an Ohio State staffer. He tossed his gloves into the stands and took off his jersey.
— Austin Ward (@AWardSports) September 26, 2021
He has now been told to leave the Ohio State sideline and C.J. Barnett is taking him to the locker room. This is absolutely wild.
— Austin Ward (@AWardSports) September 26, 2021
And Bill Landis of The Athletic provides more clarity on the situation, adding that Pope had exchanges with head coach Ryan Day and linebackers coach Al Washington, before being “seemingly told to leave the sideline by general manager for football operations Brian Voltolini.”
Then a visibly frustrated Pope tried to leave the field on his own before being chased down by director of player development CJ Barnett. Pope had brief exchanges with linebackers coach Al Washington and head coach Ryan Day, took off his helmet and threw his gloves into the stands. He was then seemingly told to leave the sideline by general manager for football operations Brian Voltolini.
And the drama even went to Twitter moments after the sideline incident.
Pope tweeted, “fucc Ohio State.”
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 26, 2021
After deleting that tweet, Pope followed up with “good lucc to my teammates.”
good lucc to my teammates 💯
— K’Vaughan Pope (@VonP04) September 26, 2021
Pope is clearly frustrated with his role on the team after being a four-star recruit in the class of 2018. He entered this game with three tackles and 31 total snaps played this season. His biggest impact on the field came in the 2019 season, when he had 13 tackles and two interceptions.
UPDATE: Ohio State has dismissed Pope from the program, though his scholarship will remain in place for the rest of the semester.
