Tanard Jackson, the Syracuse football team’s starting cornerback, was stabbed in the upper left side of his chest at about 2 a.m. Sunday, according to a police report.

Syracuse head coach Paul Pasqualoni said Jackson will likely miss Saturday’s game against Rutgers. Jackson was released from the hospital yesterday, said Sgt. Tom Connellan of the Syracuse Police Department.

‘It’s unfortunate,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘He tried to avoid what happened. In the end, he couldn’t.’

Police reports said Jackson was stabbed after attending a party at Schine Student Center. The party was co-hosted by Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and Zeta Phi Beta sorority, said George Brobbey, president of Phi Beta Sigma. Alexis Stanley, a sophomore who attended the party, said a small scuffle broke out in Schine earlier in the night, but security stopped that altercation.

Later, at 2 a.m., a fight broke out in a nearby parking lot that included 15 people, according to a police report. Pasqualoni said Jackson and three to four other men attempted to break up the fight. The men were later confronted, he said, at which point Jackson was stabbed.

‘After the party we were leaving and we saw a mob of people running toward Marion parking lot,’ Stanley said.

‘No one from Phi Beta Sigma was involved at all,’ Brobbey said. ‘Not one single person.’

Pasqualoni said the men drove Jackson to nearby Crouse Hospital, though he said he didn’t recall who was involved.

Police reports listed Jackson’s injuries as ‘non-life threatening.’ Calls to Jackson’s apartment were unanswered.

‘I’m not a doctor,’ Pasqualoni said, ‘but you have to give him a couple of days to just rest up. From a gameplan standpoint, you can’t miss a lot of practice and expect to play.’

Earlier that afternoon, Syracuse lost to Virginia, 31-10. Jackson recorded four solo tackles. This season, Jackson has 16 tackles and is tied for the team lead with two interceptions.

Pasqualoni said that although there is no curfew after games, he urges his players to use good judgment.

‘I wish he was in bed (at 2 a.m.),’ Pasqualoni said. ‘No question about it.

‘We encourage them to do the right thing. They’re college students. It’s part of growing up.’

Pasqualoni said he was informed of the incident early Sunday morning.

Connellan said police are still searching for leads.

‘Unfortunately, a limited amount of information is available,’ Connellan said. ‘There were no eyewitnesses to the stabbing. (Jackson’s) not quite sure who stabbed him.’

Connellan said anyone with knowledge of the incident should call 315-442-5222.

Published on September 27, 2004 at 12:00 pm