Miami suspends DT Micanor Regis for 1 game

Miami defensive tackle Micanor Regis will not play Saturday against No. 20 Georgia Tech after being suspended one game for punching a North Carolina player last weekend.

Regis was not penalized on the play where he punched North Carolina wide receiver Dwight Jones, who had just been tackled after catching a pass, in the groin area. Miami announced the suspension on Wednesday, and the Atlantic Coast Conference said it believed the Hurricanes' decision was ''handled appropriately.''

''Quite honestly, I'm embarrassed,'' Miami coach Al Golden was quoted as saying in a statement distributed by the school.

Earlier this week, Jones told reporters in Chapel Hill, N.C. that he believed the play ''definitely wasn't an accident.''

Regis' absence this weekend could prove to be a major blow for the Hurricanes (3-3, 1-2 ACC), who have serious injury problems already on the defensive line and face one of the nation's top rushing offenses this weekend.

Georgia Tech (6-1, 3-1) is averaging 348 yards per game on the ground, and more than 500 yards in total offense. Defensive line is Miami's most banged-up position, so much so that Golden has even considered moving reserve offensive linemen over the other side of the ball in recent weeks.

Regis is tied for the sixth-most tackles by a Miami defender this season, with 25.

''We expect our players to represent our program with class on and off the field, and when they do not, there are consequences,'' Golden added in the statement released by Miami.

Golden said he called North Carolina coach Everett Withers to apologize. The school's statement also said Regis apologized to Jones, Withers and the rest of the Tar Heels' program. Regis will apparently not face further sanctioning from the ACC.

''We discussed the matter with Miami and think they have handled appropriately,'' said Michael Kelly, the ACC's associate commissioner for football.