Syracuse Players Stabbed in Melee

Three Syracuse players were stabbed early Sunday during a melee outside a bar on the city’s south side that sent at least four people to area hospitals, police said.

Most seriously injured was senior defensive back David Byrd, who was listed Sunday night in stable condition in the intensive care unit at University Hospital with chest wounds near his heart.

Byrd, 21, of Schenectady, underwent two operations that lasted five hours, Syracuse Mayor Roy Bernardi said.

Also hurt were junior defensive end Duke Pettijohn, 22, of Mattapan, Mass., and sophomore offensive tackle Giovanni DeLoatch, 20, of Teaneck, N.J.

A fourth person, Miles Thomas, a friend of Byrd, was listed in critical condition at University Hospital.

The incident, involving 60-75 people, occurred around 1 a.m. at Sadie’s Place, according to police, who still don’t know what caused the altercation. The mayor said several people had been arrested but he was unsure how many.

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Mike Scarborough caught two second-half touchdown passes led Texas Christian, 4-4 overall and 3-2 in the Western Athletic Conference, to a 34-14 victory over Hawaii (5-3, 3-2) late Saturday at Honolulu.