Three Elon University football players were injured in a fight which occurred just hours after Elon’s spring game last weekend. Early in the morning of Sunday, April 27, senior quarterback Mike Quinn, senior linebacker Jonathan Spain and junior defensive back Hatchel Linens sustained injuries from an altercation at 203 W. College Ave. in Elon.
According to a police report filed by officer James Turney, “a group of black males who did not attend Elon” arrived at a party being hosted by Quinn and Spain. A fight ensued. Quinn suffered a triangular-shaped laceration to his upper right thigh and Spain had bloody knees and an imprint of a glass bottle on his back when the police arrived. Linens suffered a broken right pinky finger and a “box fracture” to his hand while trying to strike one of the suspects. Several vehicles behind the residence were damaged. Per another report, Spain was also the victim of robbery at the scene.
Quinn was transported to Alamance Regional Medical Center by his parents and received seven stiches on his leg.
The police report stipulates that all three players were victims in the incident.
Quinn, from Wayne, N.J., is competing with current redshirt freshman John Loughery for the starting quarterback position for the Phoenix this fall. In 2013, Quinn started all 12 games for Elon and completed 275-of-442 passes for 2,618 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Spain, from Greensboro, has appeared in all 34 Elon games over the past three seasons and has recorded 241 tackles from the linebacker position. Linens, from Morganton, N.C., has yet to appear in a game for the Phoenix.
Elon head football coach Rich Skrosky indicated to the Burlington Times-News that the matter was handled internally and would not comment further.
The investigation is ongoing.
Later in the night, an Elon man, 31-year old Anthony “Gus” Giannola, was arrested for felony second degree rape and burglary on an Elon student at the house. He was held on $500,000 bail. Giannola is an employee of West End Terrace.
The incidents took place about eight hours after the conclusion of the annual spring game, the wrap-up of spring practice for Elon football. Elon opens its 2014 season at Duke University Aug. 30.
Tommy Hamzik contributed to this report.