SJSU football player suspended for attacking teammate

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- A San Jose State University football player has been suspended after an on-campus altercation. ABC7 News spoke to parents who say their son was attacked by a teammate.

A frustrated Vallejo mother is trying to make sense of it.

"My concern was getting hit at practice, even at practice, or even getting hit during a game, but not off the field, in that type of situation," Belinda Miller, the parent of s SJSU football player, said.

Her son, sophomore Chad Miller, says he was struck in the head with a skateboard on Tuesday by a fellow SJSU football teammate.

"The way it happened, it shouldn't have happened like that," Belinda said.

Chad said he was just trying to motivate incoming freshmen to finish their reps during an afternoon workout, but one of them allegedly took offense with his tone and attacked him later that night at his dormitory on campus.

His father, Brad Miller, was stunned. He told ABC7 News, "When he told me the news, I almost... I just couldn't take it, I couldn't take it, to hear something like that could happen."

Two of the bones in Chad's face were fractured. Doctors say he'll make a full recovery and will be back on the field in a month.

"The brain was not damaged, the spine or the neck was not damaged, so that was good," Belinda said.

The SJSU Athletics Department declined our request for an on-camera interview. They have not released the name of the alleged attacker, but told us he has since been suspended from team activities. Campus police say he faces potential charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, causing great bodily injury.

Chad's parents hopes this serves as a learning experience.

"When I was growing up playing sports -- and I think it still stays the same now -- what happens on the field, stays on the field. Whether you fight, argue, push each other, that stays on the field," Brad said.

The family is keeping their spirits up for the sake of the team.

"We're going to stay positive. We're Christians. We're going to put it in God's hands, we'll pray on it," Brad said.

The case remains under investigation. Campus police will forward it to the district attorney's office sometime next week.