Judge lifts suspension of WSU defensive tackle Robert Barber

The Washington State University football team received good news on their defensive front Wednesday after a Whitman County judge granted a motion to stay the suspension on defensive tackle Robert Barber. The fifth-year senior will be allowed to return to the team, but whether he will return to his starting spot for the Cougars is unknown.

Barber was initially expelled from school following a University Conduct Board investigation into a fight at an off-campus fight in July. The fight involved dozens of students and left one student unconscious and another hospitalized with a fractured jaw. Barber appealed the expulsion and it was reduced to a suspension in October.

The Seattle Times reported that the argument from Barber’s attorney, Stephen Graham, centered on WSU’s conduct board destroying any record of questions Barber and his adviser proposed during Barber’s conduct board hearing on Sept. 13. Graham alleged that destroying the questions was a violation of administrative procedures, meaning the University Appeals Board did not have a complete record to rule on Barber’s appeal, according to the Times.

ESPN reports that the terms of the stay prevent Barber from contacting the student he injured, consuming alcohol, using drugs or attending alcohol-related functions.

“We certainly respect today’s decision by the Whitman County Superior Court,” said Washington State University Director of Athletics Bill Moos in a statement. “With Robert being reinstated as a student in good standing, he will be afforded all the privileges as his fellow students, including the opportunity to complete his degree and participate with the Cougar football team. As for his playing status, that will be determined by Coach Leach.”

Barber has missed the last three games but tallied 11 tackles and two sacks in the first seven games of the season.

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