BYU gridder pleads not guilty to assault

PROVO — A BYU football player charged with misdemeanor assault entered a not guilty plea Thursday, but his father said the player has tried to apologize for his actions.

Fahu Tahi, 21, a Cougar running back who returned from an LDS mission last fall, said he would speak with an attorney before making a public statement.

His father, Manu Tahi, said his son should have walked away from a Feb. 12 confrontation with Michael Riffle, a Utah Valley State College student and member of the U.S. Army's Special Forces. Manu Tahi said his son has tried to contact the Riffle family to apologize and said his son pleaded not guilty only to protect himself.

Tahi allegedly punched Riffle in the face at Movies 8, according to Provo police. Riffle told the Deseret News he suffered a broken nose.

Tahi and four of his friends apparently were upset by Riffle's screams during the horror movie "The Ring." There are conflicting reports whether Tahi approached Riffle or whether Riffle's 15 friends surrounded Tahi's group.

Tahi had a noticeable limp Thursday. He underwent arthroscopic surgery Tuesday on his left knee and said it was an old injury that just hadn't improved.

Provo Municipal Court Judge Joseph W. Anderson scheduled a pre-trial conference for Tahi on June 12.