After ESPN Outside the Lines Report: PSU dismisses Baker and Taylor Today

A day after ESPN's "Outside the Lines" chronicles the large number of arrests the Penn State Football Program has had over the last 5 years, Penn State and Paterno today decide to dismiss both Chris Baker and Phil Taylor (defensive tackles) from the the team.

In May, Baker was placed on probation for two years after entering separate misdemeanor guilty pleas for his roles in the two fights.

He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor simple assault and criminal trespass in connection with a fight in April 2007 in State College. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor simple assault for a fight at the campus student union in October. All other charges against Baker were dismissed, and Baker was ordered to pay $2,500 in restitution.

Earlier, Paterno had suspended Baker because of his connection to both fights, but Baker by spring he had been cleared to work out with the team again.

Baker recorded eight tackles for loss -- 4 1/2 of them sacks -- in 2007 before Paterno held him out of the Nittany Lions' regular-season finale at Michigan State and the 24-17 Alamo Bowl win over Texas A&M.

Taylor had been suspended through mid-August by the university's office of judicial affairs for his role the campus fight in October. PSU police had charged him with simple assault.

He was dismissed from the football team today by coach Joe Paterno. A starter toward the end of the 2007 season, he had been expected to return to school Aug. 15, the day PSU's second summer semester ends.