eings and theyre going to make mistakes, but the game is going in the right direction." And one thing was certain: Mondays suspensions wont soon be forgotten. "Its a big day and its one of the days to

LOS ANGELES -- A Southern California community college football player was suspended for five years on Monday after knocking out a referee during a game, but his school said the punch was accidental and the penalty will be appealed.I knew I wasnt going to play the next game....I didnt think it would be years, Bernard Schirmer of Mount San Antonio College said after learning of the suspension.However, the 19-year-old man said in a telephone interview that he takes full responsibility for his actions and accepts whatever punishment he ultimately will receive.The commissioner of the Southern California Football Association suspended Schirmer for what was termed a Level 1 Decorum Infraction, which carries a minimum 60-month suspension.A letter from football association Commissioner Jim Sartoris to the college says an officials game report stated that Schirmer was disqualified during the third quarter of Saturday nights game in Ventura for an unsportsmanlike act -- punching a referee and knocking him out cold.The decision to suspend the player was made after viewing video of the incident and reviewing a report provided by the head referee, Sartoris said.Video streaming live from the game showed the line judge falling to the ground.I talked to him yesterday. Hes a little sore from going down so hard, but he said he had no headache or anything else, Rich Kollen, director of football operations for the Southern California Football Association, said Monday.Kollen said the man has not seen a physician. He is scheduled to officiate at another game Saturday.Schirmer was arrested on suspicion of battery after the incident, booked at Ventura Countys jail and released on bail. The district attorneys office will decide whether to file criminal charges.The player said he has not heard anything more from police about the case.Schirmer, who stands 6-foot-6 (2 meters) and weighs 275 pounds (122 kilograms), said he was having words with a defensive end who had pushed him.I let him get the best of me, Schirmer said. I tried to approach him and my teammates were holding me back and I had no idea that the official was, like, hugging me or something.Schirmer said when he becomes frustrated or angry on the football field, he hits his helmet to refocus -- once even giving himself a mild concussion.So during Saturday nights confrontation , he struck the side of his helmet.The next thing I know, the ref was on the ground ... I honestly thought somebody else hit him, Schirmer said.The school looked at the enlarged video frame by frame and concluded that Schirmer accidentally struck the official with his forearm. The college will appeal what could be a career-ending suspension, sports information director Brian Yokoyama said.Im really sorry, Schirmer said. I didnt mean where it (the blow) went. I just tried to get myself focused, and it all went south.---This story has been corrected to show the correct spelling of Brian Yokoyamas last name.Jim Leyland was just a minute into his pregame interview when the first -- and only -- question about Jhonny Peralta was asked. That was it. Detroits crusty manager booted all the reporters out of his office, saying theyd been told he wouldnt talk about losing his All-Star shortstop to a 50-game suspension Monday. But while Leyland was determined to keep his thoughts to himself, other major leaguers had plenty to say after 13 penalties in the Biogenesis drug scandal were finally handed down. "Although today will be a day of infamy for MLB, it is a tremendous step in the right direction," Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria posted on Twitter. Alex Rodriguez received the stiffest discipline when he was banned through the 2014 season by Major League Baseball. But the three-time MVP said hell appeal, with support from the players union. That keeps him eligible to play until a ruling by the arbitrator, which isnt expected until at least November or December. "This is a saga, and thats the way its always been with him," Los Angeles Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson said. "He just has one of those polarizing personalities that people are going to be drawn to. I guess people are going to find him as a villain and stuff like that no matter what he does. "This latest chapter just gives further fuel to the fire that hes made bad decisions," the left-hander added. "Its good for the game that theyre finally getting him for something. This whole thing has been going on for too long -- press conferences, Good Morning America, 20/20 or whatever. I mean, come on. Enough of that. Lets just play some baseball and stop trying to be a role model. All those quotes (from Rodriguez), theyre hilarious for everybody in our clubhouse." Peralta was one of three 2013 All-Stars who accepted 50-game suspensions and admitted using prohibited substances. The others were Texas right fielder Nelson Cruz, also on a pennant contender, and San Diego shortstop Everth Cabrera. "If all the allegations are true, then Im glad they got caught and Im glad baseball is doing something about it," Royals reliever Aaron Crow said. "It shocks me that people try to get away with it. I guess some people think the risk is worth it. Its just unfortunate that its still going on. Hopefully this helps." Rodriguez, Cruz, Peralta and Cabrera had all been linked for months in media reports to Biogenesis of America, a Florida anti-aging clinic accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs. But there were a couple of surprises, too, including Philadelphia pitcher Antonio Bastardo and New York Mets second baseman Jordany Valdespin, who was demoted to the minors last month. Washington reliever Tyler Clippard recalled a blown save in July 2012 when he gave up a tying homer to Valdespin in the ninth inning. "Thats the kind of stuff you think about. Youre like, those guys are doing stuff thats affecting my career and theyre not playing the game the right way," Clippard said. "So thats frustrating. I think anybody can relate to that. If theeyre not doing things the right way, and theyre beating you, then it leaves a sour taste in your mouth.dddddddddddd. So thats why this is so important. Because nobody -- players, ownership -- nobody wants to see guys cheat." Several fed-up players were openly critical of Ryan Braun last month when the 2011 NL MVP agreed to a 65-game suspension, the first significant fallout from the Biogenesis case. His penalty came a year after the Milwaukee Brewers slugger avoided a 50-game ban when an arbitrator overturned his positive test for elevated testosterone because the urine sample had been improperly handled. Braun had insisted he was innocent. Other players felt betrayed. "We want these guys out of the game. We want all those drugs out of the game. I think theres more guys who have done it the right way than not, so I think thats why its turning that way," Atlanta third baseman Chris Johnson said. "We all knew this day was coming. But I think were glad that its happened." Players were sometimes surprised to see friends involved. Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton was Cruzs teammate in Texas and said he enjoyed playing with him. "Some guys keep certain parts of their lives to themselves. So you take them from what you see," said Hamilton, suspended earlier in his career for recreational drug use. "Weve all made mistakes. Some mistakes are different than others, and some are the same. Its just one of those things where he made a poor decision and now hes having to deal with the consequences." Opinions around the majors were mixed. Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said even though none of his players were implicated, "its a sad day for baseball" and "we are all affected by it." Twins closer Glen Perkins said the game is "cleaner now than it was yesterday." "Its a bad and a good day," said Cleveland designated hitter Jason Giambi, who testified two years ago that Barry Bonds personal trainer supplied him with performance-enhancing drugs. "Youre dealing with human beings and theyre going to make mistakes, but the game is going in the right direction." And one thing was certain: Mondays suspensions wont soon be forgotten. "Its a big day and its one of the days to be marked in baseball history -- a monumental day," St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "I think overall the guys are happy to see it kind of come to a head, be talked about today and get it over with, and just keep playing." With all that transpired recently, Indians manager Terry Francona said he felt for Commissioner Bud Selig and even called him Monday. Around 10 minutes later, Selig called back. "We spoke for about five or 10 minutes and he was like, this doesnt need to be a dark day for baseball. This needs to be the beginning of the good stuff. He didnt say it like that, but I dont articulate as well as him," Francona said. "But I agree with him. Major League Baseball did something really difficult today, but sometimes the right thing is the difficult thing." ' ' '