What started as a friendly birthday celebration ended with an arrest. Chad Bumphis, a junior wide receiver for Mississippi State, was arrested earlier this month in Tupelo after a bar fight got out of control. Now he's facing criminal charges.

It apparently started at the Atlanta Bar & Grill, where Bumphis was celebrating the birthday of his high school friend and teammate from Tupelo High. At some point, a bar patron struck Bumphis in the neck with a champagne bottle. That led to a big fight and Bumphis' arrest. He's been charged with public drunkenness and disorderly conduct.

But the 22-year-old man's mother says he was provoked, just standing there when he realized he'd been hit in the mouth with a champagne bottle. She also says her son told her that he was not drunk at the time. She also claims he didn't hit anybody and was taken to jail so police could "calm him down," according to the Northeast Mississippi News Journal.

Bumphis suffered a cut on his neck, which required stitches, as well as a broken tooth in the brawl. He was released from the Lee County Jail on his own recognizance and is due back tomorrow at Tupelo Municipal Court.

After the incident, little information was released immediately about Bumphis' attacker. The MSU coach indicated he was aware of the situation and the matter would be handled appropriately.

Someone in Bumphis' position has a reputation to protect. Anyone facing similar charges would greatly benefit from a qualified defense attorney, who can make sure the rights of the accused are protected.

Source: Northeast Mississippi News Journal, "MSU WR Bumphis arrested in Tupelo," Brad Locke, Jan. 2, 2012