Michael Floyd returned to Notre Dame this winter after lukewarm NFL evaluations, vowing to prove himself the best receiver in the country. The senior-to-be and former Cretin-Derham Hall standout had every school record in sight, a team MVP award and a celebrated work ethic that led to an appointment as a team captain for the 2011 season.
Monday, Floyd eyes a future far more ominously clouded. The Fighting Irish's leading receiver is suspended indefinitely from football-related activities after a weekend arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, an incident that could mean the end of his college career.
Prosecutors charged Floyd with OWI, a Class A misdemeanor, following an arrest early Sunday. Floyd, 21, allegedly ran a stop sign while driving a white Cadillac and then registered a blood-alcohol content of 0.19, according to documents released Monday.
This follows Floyd's January 2010 citation in lieu of arrest for underage drinking in Minneapolis. And that means his fate likely rests with Notre Dame's disciplinary arm, the Office of Residence Life, which could issue a penalty such as a semester dismissal -- ending the receiver's senior season before it starts.
"Football needs to take a back seat at the moment while Michael gets his life in order," Irish coach Brian Kelly said in a statement. "While I don't know when Michael will be reinstated, it will not happen until Michael demonstrates he has successfully modified his behavior and the legal and university disciplinary matters have run their respective courses."
Floyd also issued a statement, apologizing and accepting Kelly's suspension.
"I understand the gravity of the decision I made and how it could have had catastrophic effects on myself and others," Floyd said. "I absolutely recognize that I have many things to work on to become a better person and will need to regain the trust of all whom I have hurt."
Floyd was driving at 3:18 a.m. Sunday when he ran a stop sign about a block from the school's main entrance, according to a probable cause affidavit from St. Joseph (Ind.) County deputy prosecutor Chris Daniels filed Monday.
Floyd failed three sobriety tests, Daniels said. The breathalyzer test showed he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.19, well above Indiana's legal limit for driving of 0.08 percent.
Floyd was booked into county jail in South Bend at 4:06 a.m. Sunday and was released about seven hours later on $500 bond, Sheriff's Sgt. William Redman said.
According to a Hennepin County District Court spokeswoman, Floyd was cited for underage consumption on May 15, 2009, and pleaded guilty through a hearing officer on June 15 of that year.
Floyd also was cited for underage drinking in Minneapolis on Jan. 8, 2010. Floyd and Gophers defensive back Shady Salamon, who were Cretin-Derham Hall teammates, were cited after police were called to a fight involving six to 10 people.
A month later, Kelly said the team had decided how it would handle the incident, but said he couldn't say anything further because of privacy laws. The citation is still pending, the Hennepin County spokeswoman said.
Precedents for Irish players with two alcohol-related run-ins do not bode well for Floyd. Tight end Will Yeatman transferred to Maryland after two 2008 suspensions -- one after an underage consumption arrest and one following an OWI arrest, the same infractions Floyd committed.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
