Idaho assistant coach Brice faces charge

University of Idaho assistant football coach Alundis Brice has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of exhibition or use of a deadly weapon.

Brice, a first-year Vandals assistant, has a pre-trial conference Sept. 27, and a jury trial is set for Oct. 1, at 8:30 a.m. The football team is scheduled to travel Oct. 1 for a game against Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti the following day.

“We’re not going to comment because it’s a legal issue and a personnel issue until the legal proceedings run their course,” Idaho athletic director Rob Spear said.

The charge stems from an Aug. 15 incident in the parking lot of Cadillac Jack’s bar in Moscow. UI student Cameron J. Ryffel and some companions approached Brice’s BMW in the parking lot with Brice and another man standing nearby, according to an article in Idaho’s student newspaper the Argonaut, which cited a police report.

Brice told police one of Ryffel’s companions reached into Brice’s car, saying they were going to take the car. Brice responded by reaching under his seat and pulling out a 9mm pistol, but said he didn’t point the gun at anyone.

Ryffel told police one of his companions asked Brice if he owned the BMW. Ryffel told police that Brice told him not to touch the car, pulled out his pistol and pointed it at Ryffel.

Brice, 33, coaches Idaho’s cornerbacks. He played at the University of Mississippi from 1991-94. He was with the Dallas Cowboys from 1995-99 and Philadelphia Eagles in 2000. He was a graduate assistant at Mississippi before joining Idaho’s staff.