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Hokies Football: Shai McKenzie Reinstated but Suspended Vs. Ohio State

Over the last few months, Shai McKenzie has been in the news beginning when he was charged with two misdemeanors and almost immediately suspended indefinitely from the Virginia Tech football team. The court case did not happen for a couple months after the trial date was delayed multiple times. In July, we learned that McKenzie was found guilty for one of the two misdemeanors with a penalty of 15 days in house arrest and 50 hours of community service. After that guilty verdict and sentencing, the Hokies left McKenzie indefinitely suspended. Today, the Virginia Tech Hokies announced that Shai McKenzie has been reinstated to the team. However, McKenzie has been suspended for Virginia Tech's season opener against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The biggest news in this story may be the fact that McKenzie has made a return to the Virginia Tech football team. It seemed uncertain if McKenzie would end up playing for the Hokies again, but the final punishment has now been doled out from the Virginia Tech athletic department and the sophomore running back will stay on the team. Some may be surprised that McKenzie was suspended for a misdemeanor while others may be surprised that this suspension was not for a longer period of time. Whit Babcock had this to say about the decision to suspend McKenzie for one game. https://twitter.com/DavidTeelatDP/status/629798460708028416 https://twitter.com/DavidTeelatDP/status/629798789113610241 What is interesting to note is that Babcock emphasizes the importance of McKenzie being suspended for the Ohio State game. This makes you wonder if Babcock would have suspended McKenzie longer if the season opener was against a team like William & Mary instead of the Buckeyes. This suspension is deserved for McKenzie, but the Hokies have also given him the second chance. It is up to McKenzie to take advantage of this second because if he doesn't, he will be gone very quickly. Shai McKenzie will be back with the Hokies, but he will miss the Ohio State game for his crime. The penalty has been levied, and McKenzie has been given a second chance in Blacksburg.
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