COLUMBIA, Mo. • As he stood watching his son Derrick at a University of Missouri football practice in August 2009, Donald Washington spoke of how he always urged him to run "like it's your last carry."

He spoke proudly of how people always commended him on Derrick's conduct, how "nice he is and how respectable he is." Like all of his five children, he said, Derrick was raised to be that way.

"We can teach you at home, but when you're out you've got to remember that you're representing the family," Donald Washington said, adding, "Like we always tell him, don't do anything to embarrass us."

However it might be construed by his family, and mother Sarah Washington's despondent voice Wednesday told part of that story, the charge of felony sexual assault brought Monday against Derrick Washington was a major aspect of what MU coach Gary Pinkel called an "embarrassing" set of incidents.

And now Washington, a senior co-captain, no longer has to imagine each carry is his last for Mizzou.

Boldly asserting that playing for Mizzou is more a privilege than a right and apparently demonstrating what he meant when he said his program had to "earn back" respect, Pinkel has "permanently suspended" Washington.

In a three-sentence statement Wednesday, MU added, "Nothing about this decision will affect his existing athletic scholarship as long as he remains enrolled at Missouri. The university will have no further comments on the topic."

The move three days before MU's opener against Illinois at the Edward Jones Dome leaves the tailback job in the hands of sophomore Kendial Lawrence and junior De'Vion Moore, who have just over 700 career yards between them.

Washington could not be reached to comment, and an attorney for Washington, Bogdan Susan of Columbia, did not return a phone message left Wednesday. Donald Washington did not immediately return a message left on his cell phone. His wife and Washington's mother, Sarah, said simply, "I really can't talk right now. I'm too emotional."

It remains unclear why Washington's status changed from an indefinite suspension to a permanent one.

By Mizzou athletics department policy, an athlete facing a felony charge forfeits his or her eligibility until the charge is resolved.

Washington's arraignment is scheduled for late September. Washington could face up to seven years in jail if convicted on the Class C felony, although it's uncertain how much time prosecutors would seek if the case goes to trial.

While a source close to the case told the Post-Dispatch last week that a plea bargain was being discussed that could reduce the charge to a misdemeanor, even if that were to happen the residue of the allegation still would linger — perhaps a factor in Pinkel's considerations.

Boone County assistant prosecutor Andrea Hayes said she did not know what brought about Washington's permanent removal and said, "It's still the same charge. No additional charges have been filed."

According to the probable cause statement, just before 2:30 a.m. on June 19 Washington made an unexpected visit to a female friend and banged loudly on doors and windows until he was let in.

In a supplemental interview with University of Missouri police, the friend said Washington was "acting different and was being mean to her and rude."

After tense discussion between them, the woman said in the interview, Washington left the room from approximately 2:33 a.m to 2:36 a.m. During that time, it's alleged that he opened the closed door of her sleeping roommate and sexually assaulted the roommate before returning to the other woman's room.

The alleged victim sought and received an order of protection against Washington, stating in court documents, "I was sexually assaulted by him. … I am pressing criminal charges. I fear physical retaliation."

Attorneys for Washington issued a statement Tuesday saying Washington was "never served and provided notice that an order of protection was sought" and noted that the order was dismissed when the accuser did not appear in court July 21 for a hearing seeking a full order.

By then, a source said, the alleged victim had moved out of state.

Attempts to reach the alleged victim have been unsuccessful. But between information in the supplemental police interview and interviews with sources by the Post-Dispatch, it's clear that the female friend of Washington considered his actions that night "out of character."

His family probably feels the same and for the moment must hope that Derrick Washington heeds advice from his father to get his degree.

"You never know," Donald Washington said last year, "when football will end."