Notre Dame players accused of rape

SOUTH BEND -- Police are investigating a woman's allegations that she was raped by three Notre Dame football players and a former player.\nThe 20-year-old Notre Dame student reported the alleged rape Saturday, nine days after it allegedly occurred. She told police she did not file a report immediately because she knew it would be a high-profile case and feared her name would be made public.\nThe names of the alleged attackers have not been released by investigators. St. Joseph County police Capt. Harry Seider said the department did not usually release the names of people accused of rape unless a decision was made to press criminal charges. He did confirm, however, that three of the men are Notre Dame players and the other is a former player.\n"They are still doing the investigation and interviewing people," he said.\nNotre Dame coach Tyrone Willingham did not immediately return a telephone message left at his office Wednesday. He told the South Bend Tribune after the football team's practice Tuesday that the university administration was handling the investigation.\nJohn Heisler, associate athletic director, said no players were being held out of spring practice for disciplinary reasons.\nNotre Dame spokesman Dennis Moore said the university was aware of the investigation, but said he could not comment on whether any football players were involved.\n"In such circumstances, the university also conducts its own investigation according to its student disciplinary procedures," Moore said. "The university cannot comment on disciplinary matters because of federal law protecting student confidentiality."\nThe police report said a university hearing is scheduled for April 17. \nThe woman said she was at a bar March 27 when she saw the four men and started talking with them. She said one of the men told her there was a party at his house and invited her. She said she was having trouble with her roommate and agreed to go.\nBut when she got to the house, she realized there was no party. She told police she then ended up in a bedroom and the men took turns raping her while the others held her down.\nShe told investigators she was screaming and "attempting to do her best to fight them off."\nShe said after the attack, which occurred about 4 a.m. March 28, one of the men drove her back to campus.\nShe went to a hospital April 2 and called police on Saturday after seeking counseling.