Official Thread Re Injuries, Suspensions, and Dismissals NOT in Steele

[RJ Esq]

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="col0">Arkansas' Fairchild kicked off team

</td><td class="col1">Story Highlights

• Fairchild was arrested on March 24 for allegedly attacking a woman
• He had been suspended by Arkansas since the day after his arrest
• He pleaded not guilty and faces a June 18 trial in Fayetteville

</td></tr></tbody></table><table class="cnninlineright" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>
</td></tr></tbody></table>FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Linebacker Freddie Fairchild, arrested in March on misdemeanor charges of battery and false imprisonment, has been dismissed from the Razorback football team, Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said Wednesday.
Petrino had suspended Fairchild the day after his March 24 arrest by Fayetteville police following a report by a woman that he had attacked her.
"Freddie Fairchild has been dismissed from our football team," Petrino said in a prepared statement. "Since his suspension last March, he has not participated in team activities. As his status with our team has been resolved, we will make no further comment regarding this matter."
A preliminary probable-cause statement from a Fayetteville police detective said that Fairchild caused injuries to the woman's "head, face, extremities and pelvis" and that "he would not allow her to leave for several hours."
Fairchild had been in a "domestic relationship with the women intermittently for over a year," the statement said.
Fairchild pleaded not guilty to the charges in Fayetteville District Court. A trial is scheduled for June 18.
The 21-year-old junior started 11 games last season as a redshirt sophomore. He led the Razorbacks with 4.5 sacks. He also forced one fumble, recovered one and was third on the team with 92 tackles.

 

[RJ Esq]

<mcc head="">Leach suspends Lewis, Harris for 2008 season</mcc>

<mcc subhead=""></mcc>

<byline1> by don williams </byline1><byline2> | AVALANCHE-JOURNAL </byline2>

- publication data - Posted: <mcc date="">Wednesday, June 11, 2008</mcc>
Updated: <mcc date="">Wednesday, June 11, 2008</mcc> <mcc time="">4:54 a.m.</mcc>



<mcc story=""> </mcc>

<script type="text/javascript"> <!-- OAS_AD('Position3'); //--> </script>

Texas Tech running back Kobey Lewis and safety Steven Harris have both been suspended for the 2008 season, Tech head coach Mike Leach said Tuesday.
Leach said they were disciplined for violating team rules, but said he wasn't free to elaborate.
"I'm not really allowed to say because of the whole privacy act and that business,'' he said. "Long story short, they're both suspended and don't expect them back anytime soon.''
Leach said both remain in school. Asked whether he'd left the door open for their possible return to the team after 2008, Leach said he hasn't had time to give it much thought.
"Maybe,'' he said. "It's too far off to really say. Anything's possible, I guess.''
Lewis, a junior from Abilene, was part of a four-way battle at running back during spring practice. Regardless of whether he'd won a starting job, he probably would have filled a role, much as he did last year when he made several key plays on the Red Raiders' game-winning drive to beat Virginia in the Gator Bowl.
During the 2007 regular season, Lewis carried 50 times for 189 yards and two touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 178 yards. He played in all 13 games and started two.
In the spring, Lewis shared time with Shannon Woods, Aaron Crawford and Baron Batch in a tight competition.
"I thought he did a real good job and did some good things on the field and had a good spring,'' Leach said, "but we have three others so ... .''
Harris, a sophomore from Lewisville Hebron, turned heads last season covering kicks on special teams and has shown promise.
He was injured for part of spring ball and wasn't in the two-deep when it ended. At the vacant safety position next to returning starter Darcel McBath, Tech safeties coach Carlos Mainord said Daniel Charbonnet had a slight edge.
Harris was credited last season with six solo tackles, three assists, a blocked kick and a caused fumble. He played in all but two games.
In an unrelated item, Leach said defensive tackle Bobby Agoucha, whom he suspended during spring practice, is off the team for good.

 

[RJ Esq]

Starting tight end leaves ASU football team

Comments 0 | Recommend 0 Dan Zeiger, Tribune

The Arizona State football offseason roster reduction continued on Friday with the program's highest-profile departure to date.
Dane Guthrie, projected as the starting tight end, will not return for his senior season. The reason was not disclosed, but he missed a portion of spring drills due to academics.
Saguaro lineman Kody Koebensky commits to ASU
The 6-foot-3, 275-pounder, who transferred to ASU from Florida in 2005, played defensive end last season. He moved back to tight end prior to spring practice.
Guthrie is the fifth member of the team to depart since the end of the spring, following four reserves: receiver Rodney Glass, defensive lineman Zach Niusulu, linebacker Antone Saulsberry and tight end Lance Evbuomwan.
The tight ends below Guthrie on the spring depth chart were Andrew Pettes, Jovon Williams and Dan Knapp. Converted defensive end Wes Evans is also at the position, and the program signed two incoming freshmen, Steven Figueroa and Toa Tuitea (who could play on defense), and junior-college transfer Stanley Malamala.
If any of the departing players are not in good academic standing, ASU's NCAA Academic Progress Rate score would be affected. A team can lose scholarships if its APR score falls below 925 and a player leaves the program while academically ineligible.
The football team's APR score for the 2006-07 academic year was 933.
With Guthrie's departure, the Sun Devils are believed to be at the maximum-allowed 85 scholarship players, barring any other academic casualties among the current roster and recruits scheduled to arrive in the fall.

 

[RJ Esq]

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="col0">MSU backup QB Dixon transferring to I-AA Duquesne

</td><td class="col1">Story Highlights

• Dixon was ranked as the No. 17 QB out of the 2006 high school class
• Against UAB last season, Dixon completed 3-of-5 passes for 37 yards

</td></tr></tbody></table><table class="cnninlineright" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>
</td></tr></tbody></table>PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Connor Dixon, the backup quarterback at Michigan State part of last season, is transferring to Division I-AA Duquesne University and will be eligible immediately.
Dixon, who played at South Park High School in the Pittsburgh area, redshirted in 2006. He completed 3 of 5 passes for 37 yards and a touchdown against Alabama-Birmingham in his only game action last season.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Dixon was ranked No. 17 among high school quarterbacks by Rivals.com and No. 37 by Scouts, Inc., after leading South Park to a 16-0 record and PIAA Class AA championship in 2005.
Dixon was named as the AP Pennsylvania AA player of the year after completing 78-of-150 passes for 1,868 yards and 20 touchdowns that season.
Duquesne, previously a I-AA non-scholarship team, will begin play as an associate football-playing member of the Northeast Conference this year.

 

[RJ Esq]

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="col0">ASU suspends two for 2008 season

</td><td class="col1">Story Highlights

• Coach Steve Roberts said Brown and Douglas had violated team rules
• The two players are facing residential burglary and theft charges
• Brown rushed for 298 yards and caught 20 passes as a redshirt freshman

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</td></tr></tbody></table>JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) -- Arkansas State running back Preston Brown has been suspended for the 2008 season along with defensive back Marlon Douglas.
Coach Steve Roberts announced the season-long suspensions Monday, saying the pair had violated team rules.
Brown and Douglas are to appear in court later this month on residential burglary and theft charges, according to the Craighead County prosecutor's office. Indefinite suspensions from the football team were announced previously following their arrests.
"This is obviously a disappointing situation, but after sorting through all the information we felt this decision was in the best interest of our university and our football program," Roberts said. "We don't know at this time if Preston Brown and Marlon Douglas will return for the 2009 season."
Brown rushed for 298 yards and caught 20 passes as a redshirt freshman last season. Douglas, who was also a redshirt freshman, played in two games.

 

[RJ Esq]

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="col0">Reserve QB leaves West Virginia

</td><td class="col1"> Story Highlights

• Charlie Russell did not see action last season
• The 6-foot-3 QB had chosen WVU over Kentucky, Nebraska and North Carolina
• He led Morgantown High to state Class AAA championships in 2004 and 2005

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</td></tr></tbody></table> MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- West Virginia reserve quarterback Charlie Russell has left the team.
WVU Director of Football Communications Mike Montoro confirmed the redshirt freshman's departure Monday.
Russell did not see action last season. He led Morgantown High to state Class AAA championships in 2004 and 2005.
The 6-foot-3 Russell had chosen WVU over Kentucky, Nebraska and North Carolina in part because the university offered his major, biochemistry.

 

[RJ Esq]

Brewster's Son To Transfer

Via the Star Tribune we learn today that Tim Brewster's son Clint is going to transfer. You'll remember that Clint Brewster was a big "get" for the new football coach. The quarterback recruit had verbally committed to Tim's alma mater, Illinois, but withdrew from that pledge to play for his father.

The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.

Clint's decision is hopefully based on the fact that the Gophers have become surprisingly deep at quarterback. Sophomore Adam Weber is poised to lead the Gophers under center for the second year of Minnesota's attempt to install the spread coast offense. And Coach Brewster's big get during this recruiting season was MarQueis Gray, a quarterback that is hyped to be a perfect fit for the spread coast. The Gophers are also bringing in JUCO quarterback David Pittman, though it has been speculated he would play a position other than quarterback.

However, losing any 4-star player isn't good. Adding in that it is the coaches son leads me to two thoughts.

1) This might show me that Tim Brewster has been honest with his son. Perhaps Coach Brewster told Clint that Weber is the quarterback of the present and Gray is the quarterback of the future. It would only be natural for the father in this situation to want his son to be in a position to succeed. Because of actual talent at Minnesota (wow, can't believe I said that) the opportunites aren't in maroon and gold for Clint. If this is the case, I applaud the transfer.

2) This might show me that Coach Brewster is worried about the public relations of playing his son over the likes of Pittman or Gray. If Clint Brewster honestly wins a job over his competitors, jerks like Patrick Reusse and me will surely pen an article or post talking about nepotism. Playing Clint Brewster could be seen as a lose-lose situation for the coach, unless of course the son performs above expectations. If this type of thought went into the transfer, or Coach Brewster's decision to anoint an otherwise raw quarterback like Weber to the starting role, then I shake my head at the news of the transfer. After all, Clint Brewster came into to camp last year as the only quarterback with experience in the spread coast.

Personally, I'll remember Clint Brewster for his antics after the Gophers lost to Winsconsin last year. He, according to the Bucky kicker, sprinted across the field and used some naughty words to basically say 'Wisconsin sucks.' Classy.

Other reading: Gopher Nation asks "What was your favorite Clint Brewster moment?"

 

[RetroVK]

OK, now that I have Steele, I've gone through and made the changes for season ending injuries/transfers/suspensions. To summarize, they are:

WR Kenny O'Neil Tenn
RB Manese Tonga BYU
RB George Stripling L-ville
QB Connor Dixon Michigan State
LB Wesley Flagg UNC
LB Courtney Vincent Clemson
DT Isley Filiaga Utah
DE Matt Mullenix WSU (not a loss, given a 6th year of eligibility--Steele has him as a loss)
LB Derrick Stephens Texas A&M
DT Kenrick Ellis S. Car.
KR Harold Howell Minny
LB Aaron Nagel Notre Dame
WR Mike Williams Syracuse
RB Dale Martin L-ville

thanks for the consolidation RJ

 

[RJ Esq]

OU lineman quits to join Marines

By Scott Wright
Staff Writer
NORMAN — Some Oklahoma football players might liken strength and conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt to a military drill sergeant. Now Britt Mitchell can make a first-hand comparison.

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The freshman offensive lineman left the Sooners late last week and has enlisted with the United States Marine Corps, OU sports information director Kenny Mossman confirmed Tuesday.
“He has the coaching staff’s full support in pursuing something that has been attractive to him for some time,” Mossman said.
Mitchell, a 6-foot-6, 311-pound freshman tackle from Roscoe, Texas, enrolled at OU in January and went through winter and spring workouts with the team. He had begun summer training with Schmidt before deciding on a military career.
Mitchell’s departure won’t have a major impact on the Sooners. He was the least-recruited of OU’s three offensive line signees in February and was one of the lowest rated players in the 21-man signing class, according to Internet recruiting services Rivals and Scout.
However, offensive line depth could become an issue in the future. OU has five full- or part-time starters who will be seniors this fall.

 

[RJ Esq]

AFA Z-receiver Paffett faces possible surgery

Comments 0 | Recommend 0
June 18, 2008 - 12:12AM
By JAKE SCHALLER
THE GAZETTE
<!-- Video goes here --> Air Force senior Z-receiver Ty Paffett is scheduled to undergo surgery for a herniated disc on June 26, his father, Andy Paffett, said Tuesday.
Paffett, a Lewis-Palmer graduate, originally was scheduled to have surgery on June 11 but pushed it back to "give it every chance in the world to heal itself naturally," his father said. "But we're getting mixed results, and he's in a bit of pain."
Each day Paffett is doing about eight hours of conditioning and therapy - including spinal decompression therapy, his father said. He could avoid surgery if he feels better in the next week or so, but his father said Paffett is "mentally prepared" for surgery.
The surgery would be to relieve pain, Paffett's father said.
Paffett finished spring practices listed as the Falcons' starter at Z-receiver - the hybrid running back/receiver position Chad Hall played in 2007 when he earned Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Paffett showed flashes of big-play ability in 2007. In the regular season finale against San Diego State he ran for 105 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries, including a 73-yard burst for a score.
Paffett's father said if his son has the surgery he should be able to walk within two hours after it and jog in two weeks.
"The goal is to get him out there for the first day of football, July 31," Paffett's father said.

 

[GridironGems]

A boost for ND and their defense...

NOTRE DAME'S KUNTZ RETURNS​

Notre Dame announced that defensive lineman Pat Kuntz returned to the university Tuesday after leaving for the spring semester.​

Kuntz, who started 10 games at defensive tackle last season before missing the final two with injuries, had left school for what was termed "personal reasons." He took classes at Ivy Tech in Indianapolis while he was gone, and he'll be eligible for the fall.​

Kuntz will likely move to defensive end this season, and he'll be one of Notre Dame's best defensive players. A good athlete who led all Division I-A defensive linemen with nine deflected passes in 2007, Kuntz is just the kind of player Notre Dame needs. This is good news for Charlie Weis.​

 

[RJ Esq]

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="col0">Back problems end Alabama cornerback's career

</td><td class="col1">Story Highlights

• Lionel Mitchell has been placed on medical scholarship because of back problems
• Receiver Will Oakley broke a bone in his foot and had surgery on Thursday
• Kareem Jackson, Charlie Higgenbotham should be back for preseason practices

</td></tr></tbody></table><table class="cnninlineright" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>
</td></tr></tbody></table>TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- The offseason has taken a bit of a toll on Alabama's football team.
Coach Nick Saban said Thursday that senior cornerback Lionel Mitchell has been placed on medical scholarship because of chronic back problems, ending the former starter's college career.
That was the biggest of several roster updates Saban offered during an informal session with media.
Receiver Will Oakley broke a bone in his foot during a weight-room workout and had surgery on Thursday, Saban said.
"It's going to be tight as to whether he's going to be ready for the start of fall camp," Saban said.
He did say cornerback Kareem Jackson and linebacker Charlie Higgenbotham should be back in time for the July 31 start of preseason practices after having "very mild sports hernias" repaired.
The coach also confirmed that defensive line signee Brandon Lewis failed to academically qualify and started attending a junior college this summer. Signee Melvin Ray has already opted to pursue a pro baseball career instead of playing football for the Tide, and receiver Destin Hood is considering the same move.
Mitchell sat out spring practice because of the back problems. He had four interceptions as a sophomore and one last season, when he made seven of his 10 career starts.
Jackson, a sophomore, replaced him in the starting lineup last season after Mitchell gave up the winning touchdown catch against Georgia. The Tide also must replace departed starting corner Simeon Castille.

 

[RJ Esq]

Cooper Transferring

by ntrebon on Jun 19, 2008 9:48 AM PDT
Cade Cooper is transferring to Southern Utah. Cooper never played for the Ducks as he redshirted last season while rehabbing from an injury. After an inconsistent spring, he remained buried on the depth chart. At Southern Utah, he will apparently be reunited with his JC QB coach that helped him attain national JC player of the year honors.
With the transfers of Cooper and Kempt, it seems like the mass of QBs on the roster has been whittled down five, which I believe is the number that the Oregon staff mentioned as ideal.
Good luck to Cade at Southern Utah -- hopefully the NCAA will approve his petition to allow him to play immediately.

 

[RJ Esq]

Report: Ohio State's backup QB transfering

<table class="cnninlineright" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>
</td></tr></tbody></table>COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio State's backup quarterback Antonio Henton is expected to transfer to Georgia Southern, according to a newspaper report.
The move is to happen soon, several sources close to the team told The Columbus Dispatch for a Thursday report on its Web site.
Georgia Southern spokesman Patrick Osterman would not confirm the transfer Thursday night, and said Henton is "not enrolled in classes at this moment."
A message was left late Thursday for an Ohio State athletic department spokesman. Coach Jim Tressel would not confirm the transfer to The Dispatch earlier in the day.
Georgia Southern's offensive coordinator Rance Gillespie was Henton's coach at Peach County High School in Fort Valley, Ga.
Henton, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound redshirt sophomore, has been battling redshirt freshman Joe Bauserman for the No. 1 backup spot behind senior starter Todd Boeckman. Incoming freshman Terrelle Pryor is also expected to be in the running for the top backup spot.
Henton sat out much of last year while under a legal cloud before pleading guilty to a minor misdemeanor count of loitering for prostitution.
He would have three years of eligibility at Georgia Southern and be permitted to play this season.
Backup quarterback Robbie Schoenhoft announced in January that he was transferring to the University of Delaware. The redshirt junior was the top substitute for Boeckman all last season but was moved to tight end for the BCS title game.

 

[RJ Esq]

Chiles to double as QB-WR?

By Kirk Bohls | Thursday, June 19, 2008, 02:53 PM
Texas football coach Mack Brown confirmed that sophomore-to-be John Chiles will remain at quarterback but said the staff wanted to better utilize his talents and will try to get him some playing time at wide receiver as well.
“He is a quarterback, period,” Brown said Thursday. “We don’t know yet (if he can play receiver), but we’ll obviously look at him there. He wants to be a quarterback, and we need him at quarterback. We’d just like to get the ball in his hands more.”
Texas tried to get the ball out of his hands more last season, but as a freshman he was tentative in his throws and highly inaccurate, completing just one of his nine passes. No one knows if he could perform as a wideout at the same time as he progresses at quarterback. Brown, however, said he has real good hands.
But Chiles runs a 4.3 40-yard dash, and the Longhorns hope to maximize his running skills after seeing him rush for 191 yards and two touchdowns in seven games last year. He also led Texas on a pair of touchdown drives in the romp over Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl.
The jury is way out on whether Chiles will ever be an accomplished passing quarterback. I have severe doubts myself. But Vince Young didn’t take off till halfway through his sophomore season.
Chiles has amazing athletic ability and needs to be on the field as much as possible. That much is clear. Brown each year asks his staff to rank the players in terms of their athletic ability on both sides of the ball, and Chiles and incumbent quarterback Colt McCoy rank as two of the top offensive playmakers.

 

[JPicks]

TCU loses starting WR Massey for the season (career).

Senior wide receiver Donald Massey will not return to the TCU football program because of academics.

Massey, who did not participate in spring drills for the same reason, caught a career-high 29 passes in the 2007 regular season for 365 yards with no touchdowns.

He also was TCU's main kick returner last season, with 12 returns for 247 yards.

Also was supposed to be the main KR guy with Aaron Brown's health always being in question.

 

[RJ Esq]

Jimmy Johns arrested, dropped from team

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Alabama football LB Jimmy Johns was booked at the Tuscaloosa County Jail around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Tuscaloosa News Staff | Dan Lopez

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TUSCALOOSA | A once-promising University of Alabama football player spent Tuesday behind bars facing serious drug charges.

UA head coach Nick Saban dismissed senior linebacker Jimmy Johns from the team shortly after narcotics investigators charged him with selling cocaine. He has also been suspended from the university.

Johns, 21, allegedly sold powdered cocaine to undercover officers several times.

Johns had been selling cocaine to UA students, said Capt. Jeff Snyder, commander of the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force. During the course of the investigation, which encompassed a week and a half, undercover officers purchased drugs from him five times, he said. He described Johns’ alleged operation as “pretty wide open.”

“We were kind of surprised that we were able to buy the cocaine as quickly and easily as we did,” Snyder said. “And I’m surprised that we didn’t hear that he was selling it before we did.”

Snyder said officers bought cocaine twice from Johns at his home, once near campus and twice on campus.

Although he is well known around campus and was not reluctant to sell drugs to new customers, Johns didn’t want his UA teammates to know what he was doing, Snyder said.

“He did the best he could to ensure that none of them knew,” he said. “We believe his source was an individual outside the university community.”

Investigators with the drug task force found between 9 and 11 grams of cocaine at Johns’ home in the 2100 block of 11 Street East, Snyder said.

Johns had been working out at the UA Athletic Complex early Tuesday and had stopped to get gas when officers arrested him. He accompanied them back to his house, where they executed the search warrant and found more cocaine and eight or nine Ecstasy pills.

Johns was charged with five counts of distribution of a controlled substance and one count of possession of a controlled substance.

If he is found guilty, Johns could face between two and 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $30,000 for each of the five distribution charges. He could face one to 10 years and a $15,000 fine on the possession charge.

Saban issued a short statement after the arrest. “Jimmy Johns has been dismissed from the team,” he said in the statement. “This type of behavior obviously will not be tolerated and he is no longer a part of our program.”

Johns’ family arrived from Mississippi at about 4 p.m. to bail him out of jail. Lee Thomas described himself as Johns’ “caretaker” and accompanied the family.

“He may be done here, but he’s not done with football,” Thomas said. “He just got mixed up with the wrong people; that’s it. He’s a good kid.”

Thomas said that Johns was in good spirits Tuesday afternoon, considering the seriousness of the charges against him.

“He knows he messed up. It’s his first offense. He’s going to come back,” Thomas said.

Johns is the 10th Crimson Tide football player to be arrested within the past year, and the second to face felony charges. On Feb. 17, redshirt freshman defensive lineman Jeremy Elder was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree robbery. Elder was subsequently kicked off the team and has since applied for youthful offender status. The case is pending.

Johns arrived at Alabama with impressive credentials out of Brookhaven High School in Mississippi, winning the 2004 Mr. Football award for his home state as a high school senior. As a quarterback, he passed for 24 touchdowns and ran for 20 more as a senior, leading his team to a 14-1 record. He was also a track and field standout, winning the 110-meter hurdles event in the Class 4A state championship meet.

At Alabama, Johns played running back and was second on the team in rushing in both his freshman and sophomore seasons, gaining 202 yards with a 5.3-yard average in his freshman season and adding 292 yards with a 4.4-yard average as a sophomore.

Johns sat out some spring practices in 2007 for academic reasons but still won the Jerry Duncan “I Like to Practice” Award.

Last season, Johns ran for 69 yards on 17 carries and caught three passes for 41 yards. He played in all 13 games with one start, but he saw most of his action on special teams.

The 6-foot-2, 233-pound senior moved to linebacker this spring and won the Woodrow Lowe Linebacker Award.

UA spokeswoman Debbie Lane issued a statement on Johns on Tuesday afternoon.

“The University of Alabama has a zero tolerance policy related to trafficking, sale, distribution or use of illegal drugs on or off campus,” the statement read. “For the safety and well-being of our student body, anyone charged with these offenses is subject to immediate suspension. Jimmy Johns has been referred to UA’s Judicial Affairs and has been suspended from the university.

“We expect members of the University of Alabama family to follow both the letter and the spirit of the law, in addition to the rules and regulations of the university.”

Sports Editor Cecil Hurt, Executive Sports Editor Tommy Deas, sports writer Christopher Walsh and staff photographer Dan Lopez contributed to this report.

 

[RJ Esq]

UCLA Offense Takes Another Hit

Posted Jun 25th 2008 9:39AM by Sean Hawkins
Filed under: UCLA Football, Pac 10

The UCLA offense is a little thin these days, what with starting quarterback Patrick Cowan and backup Ben Olson already nursing various injuries. Cowan is actually lost for the entire 2008 season after tearing his ACL, and Olson suffered a broken right foot late in spring ball and should miss most of the off-season training sessions. But now the offensive line has joined in, as projected starting right tackle Sean Sheller could be on the shelf for some time.

According to the LA Times, Sheller was injured over the weekend while riding an ATV. He suffered an open wound on his left ankle as well as an undisclosed injury to his left knee. An MRI is pending on the knee to determine how much damage was actually done in the accident.

An interesting angle is that the LA Times also reports in the same story that UCLA gained a JC tackle in Donovan Edwards. Edwards is a late signee who could be eligible to play immediately this fall, pending summer school results.

The troubling thing for UCLA is what this does to an already-thin offensive line. It's bad enough when you are without a couple of QB's and it's only June. But the Bruins were already down to two returning starters up front with the "Micah" duo of Micah Reed at center and Micah Kia at left tackle. Overall eight of the top 10 listed on the offensive line depth chart didn't even play a single snap last year, so potentially losing Sheller isn't exactly good news.

 

[RJ Esq]

Grooms' departure official
Missouri team spokesman Chad Moller confirmed that sophomore quarterback Dominic Grooms has left the team for personal reasons. Moller said Grooms left the program on good terms and the coaching staff will assist him in finding another school where he can enroll, most likely closer to his home in Tampa, Fla.
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<!-- end HORIZONTAL photo table --> Grooms hadn’t been attending the team’s twice-a-week 7-on-7 practices. On Tuesday, his high school coach, Harry Hubbard, from Middletown, Fla., High School in Tampa, said he has heard Grooms left the team but he hadn’t spoken to him in a few weeks.
“When I last talked to him he told me he thought he had a pretty good spring, but he said he might not go back,” Hubbard said. “But at the time, he didn’t know for sure.”
In four spring scrimmages, Grooms completed 47 of 88 passes for 256 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. His best moments came in his last two scrimmages, though it wasn’t enough to unseat Chase Patton as the clear-cut No. 2 behind Chase Daniel. He never appeared in a game in two seasons at MU.
Grooms' departure leaves Missouri with three scholarship quarterbacks for the 2008 season: seniors Daniel and Patton and freshman Blaine Gabbert. That means, barring the worst luck to ever befall a quarterback corps, the Tigers should be fine for 2008, especially considering Grooms wasn’t necessarily a lock to hold off Gabbert for the No. 3 job come August. Beyond 2008, the depth drops off considerably when the roster will include only Gabbert and any 2009 quarterback recruits, a group that, as of now, includes only Blue Springs South’s Blaine Dalton. The position won’t be thin on experience in ’09 — it’ll be downright skeletal. But it’s something the Missouri coaches will know well in advance and can spend the next year preparing for.

 

[ISU74]

Wes Johnson to Transfer [from Iowa State]

by CrossCyed Mon May 19, 2008 at 02:40:32 PM EDT

Something I've been hearing for a while, but today it became official.
Look at TCU and Kentucky as possible destinations.
I don't have much computer access til later today, but it's another mark against McDermott.

This is basketball and it looks like he will end up at Syracuse.

FU Wesley. Dude couldn't even tell the coach himself, had to have his fucking brother do it. All this happens after he signs his lease and scholly for the next year. I wish we wouldn't have let him out of the scholly. Fuck him.

 

[RJ Esq]

Syracuse starting defensive end Brandon Gilbeaux is suspended over academic issue

by Donnie Webb Friday June 27, 2008, 5:23 PM


Syracuse, NY -- Syracuse University defensive end Brandon Gilbeaux has been suspended by the school for academic issues and will not play for the Orange this fall, according to head coach Greg Robinson.
Gilbeaux is the second Orange starter to be sent home from school because of academic issues since the conclusion of the spring semester. The other is wide receiver Mike Williams, who was told of his suspension earlier this month.
The door appears to be slightly cracked for both players to apply for reinstatement in the future, though Gilbeaux is out for the fall and the return of Williams remains murky.
Gilbeaux has not informed the football team of his plans after an appeal of his suspension was denied. Williams is contemplating whether to attend classes at Onondaga Community College this summer. Despite a recent statement by Williams that he's returning for the fall, he remains suspended by the university.
Gilbeaux is a 6-foot-3, 271 pound junior from Washington, D.C. He was one of five Syracuse players to start all 12 games for the Orange defense last season. Gilbeaux finished eighth with 49 tackles. He had one sack and six tackles for losses.

 

[RJ Esq]

Huskies cut ties with Hasty and Murchison

By Bob Condotta
Seattle Times staff reporter

J.R. Hasty never made as much noise on the football field at the University of Washington as was expected after a standout career at Bellevue High.
So fittingly, his Huskies career ended on Saturday with nary a whimper.
The school made no official announcement that Hasty, a junior running back, had finally been cut loose for good, simply releasing an updated roster on its Web site that didn't include his name. The name of senior cornerback Jordan Murchison, who battled legal trouble last season and played sparingly, was also absent from the roster. A school spokesman later confirmed that neither will play for the Huskies again. Both were recently told by UW coach Tyrone Willingham that they were not having their scholarships renewed for the 2008 season.
Hasty, who scored a state-record 50 touchdowns as a senior at Bellevue in 2004, said he was told by Willingham that "he kind of just didn't really trust me, I guess."
His career ends with just 18 yards on six carries, all last season.
Hasty had been unofficially suspended since midway through spring football for undisclosed disciplinary reasons. He was suspended for the beginning of spring practice for what he said was missing some offseason conditioning drills. He returned for a couple of practices before again being suspended.
Hasty said Willingham told him then that the coach wanted more time to think about whether he should be allowed back on the team. Hasty said he wanted to return but got the final word a few weeks ago.
"It's pretty frustrating coming in thinking you are the top guy and they take it from you," he said. "That hurts real bad. And from my own state [school], that kills me."
Hasty was considered the plum of Willingham's first recruiting class at UW in 2005. He impressed coaches with his play early on as a true freshman and he made trips to away games at UCLA and Oregon as Willingham debated whether to play him before it was decided he would redshirt.
But the following year he struggled during spring practice after adding weight in an attempt to get stronger. He then was declared academically ineligible that summer and missed the 2006 season.
Hasty said he thinks that's when UW coaches may have started to lose faith in him.
"It kind of seemed like that a little bit," he said. "It just didn't work out for whatever reason."
Hasty struggled with an ankle injury during fall camp in 2007 and didn't make a run at the starting running-back job. After not playing against Oregon Oct. 20, he briefly quit the team, saying he didn't feel like he was getting a fair shot, but decided to return after talks with Willingham and his parents — his father is James Hasty, a former WSU safety and longtime NFL player.
A school spokesman said Hasty and Murchison were academically eligible. Hasty said he would like to continue playing and may pursue a lower-division school, where he would be immediately eligible and would have two years left.
Murchison, a transfer from City College of San Francisco, was slated to contend for a starting cornerback job heading into last season before it was learned he was wanted on assault charges. It was also discovered he had been arrested for domestic violence. He was suspended for five games before he was reinstated when his legal issues were resolved.
A school spokesman said Willingham would have no comment on the departures.

 

[RJ Esq]

Cougars backup transfers to WWU

By Craig Smith
Seattle Times staff reporter

Washington State backup quarterback Cole Morgan is transferring to Western Washington in search of playing time.
"I need to get the football out of me before it's too late," said Morgan, who led Ballard High School to the 2003 Class 4A state-championship game won by Pasco.
Morgan, who delayed enrolling at WSU until 2005, appeared in one game for the Cougars, against Idaho in 2006 as a redshirt freshman. It was a brief appearance because Kevin McCall promptly scored on a 53-yard run for the final touchdown in a 56-10 romp.
Morgan was the Cougars' third-string quarterback most of last season as a sophomore. With Gary Rogers slated to be the starter this fall, Kevin Lopina and Marshall Lobbestael appeared likely to get the backup playing time.
"I'm healthy and raring to go," said Morgan, who will be a junior and is expected to challenge senior Adam Perry of Longview for the starting job at Western. Morgan can play immediately for the Vikings because he is transferring from an NCAA Division I school to a Division II institution.
One of Morgan's Ballard teammates might soon have a new school. Keauntea Bankhead, an all-state defensive back and the 2003 Seattle Times prep player of the year, has earned his junior-college diploma at Arizona Western College. The former Washington recruit is now eligible to play for a four-year university. He recently visited I-AA Illinois State.

 

[RJ Esq]

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="col0">Georgia Tech cornerback charged with rape, suspended

</td><td class="col1"> Story Highlights

• The alleged victim said she was raped at an on-campus dormitory April 25
• Tarrant, 19, was released Saturday on $40,000 bail
• He was considered a potential starter at cornerback

</td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="cnnInlineRight" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><!--startclickprintexclude-->

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</td></tr></tbody></table> ATLANTA (AP) -- Georgia Tech cornerback Jerrard Tarrant has been charged with rape and has been suspended from the football team.
The alleged victim said she was raped at an on-campus dormitory April 25 and reported the incident to police that morning, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Monday.
Charles Lea, an attorney representing Tarrant, said his client is innocent of the charges.
Tarrant, 19, was released Saturday on $40,000 bail, the newspaper reported. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound redshirt freshman from Carrollton, Ga., was considered a potential starter at cornerback.
Tarrant has been suspended indefinitely from the Tech football team pending the outcome of the case, Yellow Jackets coach Paul Johnson said in a statement.
"These charges filed against Jerrard are something that we take very seriously. He has been suspended from the team indefinitely, pending the outcome of the legal proceedings," Johnson said.
Georgia Tech campus police said the arrest report was not available Monday afternoon.
Tarrant was competing with Mario Butler for the spot opposite Jahi Word-Daniels. Tarrant also practiced at nickel back and on special teams.
Lea said Tarrant's side of the case will be presented at the proper time. "We maintain that any sexual activity that took place was entirely consensual," he said.

 

[RJ Esq]

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="col0">Two Tennessee players undergo successful surgeries

</td><td class="col1">Story Highlights

• Rodriquez Wilks underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Monday
• Darris Sawtelle had arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder
• Sawtelle will undergo surgery on his right shoulder in July

</td></tr></tbody></table><table class="cnninlineright" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>
</td></tr></tbody></table>KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee players Rodriquez Wilks and Darris Sawtelle have had successful surgeries to repair ongoing problems with past injuries.
Wilks, a freshman wide receiver from Smyrna, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Monday. He is expected to make a full recovery in time for fall practice.
Sawtelle, a redshirt freshman offensive guard from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., had arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder and will undergo surgery on his right shoulder in July.
Sawtelle is expected to miss the entire 2008 season but be available for spring practice next year.

 

[99club]

Two football players charged with battery

<sw_photos> </sw_photos> By Marc Weiszer Story updated at 10:55 a.m. on Tuesday, July 1, 2008
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<!-- End AdSpace --> Georgia offensive linemen Trinton Sturdivant and Justin Anderson were arrested Monday night on charges of simple battery after a female alleged she was touched without her consent at a campus dorm. The female alleged that individuals unknown to her approached her in a breezeway of East Campus Village Building 1512 early Friday morning, according to an incident report from the University of Georgia police department. Sturdivant and Anderson are listed as residents of Building 1512, while the victim is listed as a Bogart resident and a campus visitor. The victim met with a university police officer at 2:17 a.m. last Friday in Rooker Hall, 32 minutes after the alleged incident. In separate affidivats, it is alleged that Sturdivant and Anderson each "did intentionally make physical contact of an insulting nature with (the alleged victim), who he does not know, when he approached her and touched her stomach."

Warrants were issued for Sturdivant and Anderson at 3 p.m. on Monday and they were booked on Monday night. Sturdivant, 19, a starting tackle from Wadesboro, N.C., was booked at 9:56 p.m. and released at 10:46 p.m. on a $1,500 bond. Anderson, 20, a guard from Ocilla, Ga., was booked at 9:49 p.m and released at 11:07 p.m., also on a $1,500 bond, according to the Clarke County Jail booking report. The misdemeanor arrests could leave Georgia thin on the offensive line at least for its season opener against Georgia Southern on Aug. 30 if they bring suspensions from Coach Mark Richt. The coach is out of town this week, but is aware of the incident involving Sturdivant and Anderson, according to Georgia spokesman Claude Felton. No disciplinary action is expected this week. Starting offensive guard Clint Boling is already facing the possibility of a suspension of at least one game for a DUI arrest in Alpharetta in May. Defensive end Jeremy Lomax also faces a possible suspension after he was arrested on a concealed weapons charge last month. Six Georgia players are now known to have been arrested this offseason.

 

[RJ Esq]

Devonta Bolton Headed To JUCO

by outsidethesidelines on Jul 1, 2008 11:30 PM CDT
As reported by ABC 33/40 out of Birmingham, Alabama signee Devonta Bolton did not qualify. According to their reports, his ACT score was not high enough, and now he is headed to East Mississippi Junior College with fellow Alabama signee Brandon Lewis. Without knowing any specifics just yet, I would assume the plan for both is to play one season, redshirt, and then come back to Alabama with three years of eligibility remaining.
And that will officially wrap up the 2008 recruiting class. Of the 32 signees, we ended up getting 27 enrolled. Two of the 27 were early enrollees, three were academic casualties, and two decided to play professional baseball.

 

[RetroVK]

East Mississippi Junior College

Isn't that an ivy league school ?

 

[JumpOnBoard]

Prolly will be suspension:

http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8609836

 

[RJ Esq]

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="col0">Speedy Hokies WR Dillard sidelined for season by torn ACL

</td><td class="col1">Story Highlights

• The redshirt junior was expected to contend for significant playing time this season
• Dillard is one of the fastest players in school history
• He had a 49-yard run on a reverse and a 25-yard TD reception in the spring game

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</td></tr></tbody></table>BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -- Brandon Dillard, a redshirt junior wide receiver expected to contend for significant playing time for Virginia Tech this season, will instead miss the season after rupturing his right Achilles' tendon in player-organized offseason workouts.
The school said Wednesday that Dillard was hurt Tuesday night.
Hokies head trainer Mike Goforth says the Martinsville native will have surgery next week at Montgomery Regional Hospital, with four to six months of rehabilitation to follow.
One of the fastest players in school history, Dillard was expected to help the Hokies alleviate the loss of the top four wide receivers to graduation after last season.
He gave a glimpse of his potential in the team's Maroon and White spring game with a 49-yard run on a reverse and a 25-yard touchdown reception.

 

[RJ Esq]

Coaches finally had enough? OSU senior safety Bryan Payton leaves program

Posted by Paul Buker, The Oregonian July 01, 2008 09:26AM

Categories: Football
TUESDAY .. this just released from OSU:
Oregon State University senior safety Bryan Payton has elected to leave the football program, he announced Tuesday. Payton lettered two years, playing 27 games with six starts. The West Covina, Calif., native made 73 tackles and three interceptions for his Beaver career.
"I want to thank Bryan for his contributions to our program and wish him well in his future endeavors," head coach Mike Riley said.
The Beavers open camp for the 2008 season Aug. 1. The season opener is Aug. 28 at Stanford at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.

One of OSU's best athletes has left the team.
Comment: We're told this was not a football issue, that Bryan was not dismissed from the team. ... meaning it was academics? Don't know that for sure because of privacy laws. ... obviously, a senior who had a very good chance to start in his final season does not just walk off the team unless there is a serious issue. ... Payton was one of the star's of the Beavers' monumental upset of USC in 2006 with his spectacular end-zone INT and he was always front-and-center in practices, setting an unofficial NCAA record for INTs during drills and scrimmages ... but we've heard he was a headache to coach. ...a few weeks ago, OSU announced that perhaps the biggest headache on the team, Patrick Fuller, was leaving. ... Payton was listed as the co-starter at FS in the spring with senior Greg Laybourn. The backup was sophomore Suaesi Tuimaunei. Payton wasn't an easy kid to figure out ...he was involved in the "Judge Judy'' deal with teammate Adam Speer, he had been in academic hot water several times, and he has been called on the carpet by the coaches for lack of focus.
Yet this was the same Bryan Payton who was the Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis volunteer of the year two years ago. ... OSU defensive coordinator Mark Banker said then, "I don't think we've seen anything out of Bryan Payton, yet. We are just seeing the tip of the iceberg. When Bryan Payton as a man decides for himself that this is going to be his sole focus, physically and mentally, now you are going to see something special."
Here's the link to a very good story that talks about the other side of Bryan Payton. ..
We'll try to get more on this ...

 

[RJ Esq]

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="col0">Richt suspends Georgia DE Lemon following arrest

</td><td class="col1">Story Highlights

• Lemon was arrested and charged with battery and aggravated battery after fight
• He allegedly punched DeMarius Jackson, who suffered a fractured left eye socket
• Seven Georgia players have been arrested since the end of the 2007 season

</td></tr></tbody></table><table class="cnninlineright" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>
</td></tr></tbody></table>ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- Georgia defensive end Michael Lemon was suspended by coach Mark Richt on Thursday after he was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery and felony aggravated battery.
Lemon's arrest followed an alleged fight with another University of Georgia student on Saturday. Lemon allegedly punched DeMarius Jackson, who suffered a fractured left eye socket.
Georgia issued a statement which referred to athletic association policy that a student-athlete charged with a felony offense is given an indefinite suspension pending an investigation.
Lemon's arrest closely followed the arrests of two players, offensive linemen Justin Anderson and Trinton Sturdivant, on misdemeanor battery charges on Monday night. The arrests followed accusations that they rubbed the stomach of a pregnant woman, Trina Bailey, without permission.
Seven Georgia players have been arrested since the end of the 2007 season.
"I'm certainly disappointed in a few of our players who have made poor decisions during the offseason," Richt said. "It is of great concern and we take it very seriously. They will be dealt with accordingly and will pay a price. Each one will be disciplined based on the severity of their actions."
Lemon, a sophomore, is a third-string defensive end. He was booked at the Athens-Clarke County jail Thursday morning and released on $2,500 bond.
Richt said that sophomore offensive guard Clint Boling will be suspended for the first two games of the season following an alcohol-related arrest in the spring.
Senior defensive end Jeremy Lomax, charged in early June with speeding and carrying a concealed weapon, has been exonerated of the concealed weapon charge.
Richt also said he is "extremely excited about what the vast majority of our team has been doing on a daily basis this summer."
Richt noted "virtually every one of our players is giving back to the community this summer." The coach listed his players joining a mission trip to Honduras and working on projects for Habitat for Humanity, at Camp Sunshine and other projects.
Richt said the football team posted a 3.23 grade point average in the most recent semester.

 

[RJ Esq]

Oregon State Secondary Suffers a Big Loss

Posted Jul 3rd 2008 3:24PM by Sean Hawkins
Filed under: Pac 10, Oregon State Football

First it was Al Afalava, the hard-hitting senior safety who ran afoul of the law. Afalava was involved in a weird story a few months ago, where he was charged with a DUI, criminal mischief and hit-and-run charges for destroying a city bus shelter with his car and then fleeing the scene on foot. Afalava is also the guy Washington fans officially hate after his helmet-to-helmet hit on QB Jake Locker last year that could have been a disaster. Afalava's punishment for his off-the-field incident is that he will miss the upcoming season opener vs. Stanford.

But now in an unusual story, senior safety Bryan Payton has suddenly left the Beaver football program. Payton was set to be the starting free safety next to Afalava this season, listed as a co-starter with senior Greg Laybourn.

The details are still hazy as to why Payton left. The Oregonian reports that he wasn't exactly kicked off the team, and that it wasn't a football issue. The speculation appears to be a mutual parting of the ways, with a few comments insinuating that Payton was a bit of a headache to the coaching staff. He had some past issues, including being sent home from the 2004 Insight.com bowl and reportedly had some academic problems over his career.

Losing Afalava as a starter is bad enough for a defense that is only projected to return three total starters from last year. But at least Afalava's loss is only for one game. Payton was one of the few members of the defense who has actually started a game in the past, but it will certainly be Laybourn's job now.

 

[RJ Esq]

JaJuan Spillman arrested again

by Mike Rutherford on Jul 3, 2008 2:54 PM EDT in Football
Just how f#&%ing stupid do you have to be?
Your teammates are dropping like flies, but you - for whatever reason - are afforded a second chance after a marijuana arrest, and then a third chance after an argument with an assistant coach during a game, and you still make the conscious decision to go and do this.

Spillman, 21, was arrested at 12:08 a.m. today and charged with driving under the influence, possession of marijuana, carrying a concealed weapon and having no insurance, according to court records.

Louisville Metro Police spokesman Phil Russell said that Spillman was stopped because he didn’t have his license plate illuminated. According to an arrest slip, he took some time to pull over and smelled of marijuana, Russell said.

Spillman failed a field sobriety test and admitted he had marijuana in his possession, Russell said. Police found a marijuana cigarette in the car and a .25-caliber pistol with one round in the chamber, Russell said.

Spillman was taken to Jefferson County Jail, where he was being held without bond until his arraignment, which is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday morning, said Pam Windsor, a jail spokesperson.
​

Peace JaJuan.
Jacques Caldwell for kick/punt returner.

 

[RJ Esq]

Arrest warrant issued for UGA's Lemon
Defensive end faces charge of aggravated battery stemming from fight

By CHIP TOWERS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/02/08Athens — Athens police issued a warrant for the arrest of Georgia football player Michael Lemon on Wednesday, The Associated Press reported.
The victim's family corroborated the report to the AJC on Wednesday night.
Jacqueline Jackson, whose son, DeMarius Jackson, suffered a blowout fracture of his left eye socket when Lemon allegedly punched him Saturday night, said Athens police informed them late Wednesday afternoon that Lemon would be arrested for aggravated battery, which is a felony. She said Lemon was informed that a warrant was issued for his arrest and sheriff's deputies will be dispatched to pick him up if he doesn't turn himself in.
The warrant comes as a relief to the Jacksons, who say they had been frustrated by the lack of action by local authorities.
"I feel a whole lot better now," Jacqueline Jackson said. "I felt they were really putting us off at first. I think me calling the D.A. and police finally paid off. It bothers me that it took this much."
Jacqueline Jackson and her husband traveled to Athens from Albany on Sunday and have been staying with their son ever since.
DeMarius Jackson, a rising junior at UGA, claims that Lemon, a 6-foot-4, 274-pound defensive lineman attacked him and punched him at least five times Saturday night at a barbecue at an apartment complex. Jackson said he was transported to St. Mary's Hospital via ambulance after the incident and released about eight hours later.
Earlier Wednesday, Jackson told the AJC that his left eye remains swollen, the side of his face is numb and that he occasionally spits up blood. "It still hurts pretty bad," he said.
Lemon could not be reached for comment.
Because it is a felony charge, Lemon is expected to be suspended indefinitely from the football team until his case is resolved. The redshirt sophomore from Lizella, near Macon, was listed as a third-team defensive end at the conclusion of spring drills.
If Lemon is arrested Thursday as expected, he will become the seventh football player to be charged with a crime this year.

 

[RJ Esq]

Suel won’t suit up for Hoosiers

[FONT=georgia,serif]<small>• By Chris | Saturday, July 5, 2008 at 7:34 pm </small>[/FONT]

<!--content with more link--> Even as Indiana adds players to its possible 2009 football recruiting class, it found out it is losing a 6-3 wide receiver that was supposed to join the team in August.
Marquelo Suel, who starred for Harding in Fort Wayne, did not qualify academically and now plans to attend Division II Northwood University in Michigan, according to the Fort Wayne News-Setinel.
In an article proclaiming him the newspaper’s choice for “PrepSports Boys Athlete of the Year” for his work in football, basketball and track, writer Reggie Hayes reports that Suel could not achieve an SAT score that would allow him to be accepted.
“It was disappointing (to lose the Indiana scholarship) because I was trying to work harder than what I did before,” Suel told the paper. “But I just couldn’t get in. Now I just have to take a new route to achieve my goals.”

 

[RJ Esq]

UGA suspends Lemon after felony arrest
School policy results in indefinite suspension pending an investigation

By CHIP TOWERS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/03/08 Athens - Georgia defensive lineman Michael Lemon was suspended indefinitely from the football team Thursday afternoon after turning himself into authorities Thursday morning, the school announced.
Also, starting offensive guard Clint Boling, who had been arrested for DUI back in the spring, was suspended for two games Thursday, according to an announcement by coach Mark Richt, and charges were dropped against defensive end Jeremy Lomax, who was cited last month for carrying a concealed weapon.
<!--endtext--><!--endclickprintinclude--><table width="175" align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><table width="170" bgcolor="#cccccc" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><table width="168" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="9" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="body">RELATED STORIES

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</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><!--startclickprintinclude--><!--begintext--> Lemon, a redshirt sophomore from Lizella, near Macon, was wanted on two battery charges - one of which was a felony - in connection with a fight that occurred at an Athens apartment complex Saturday night. UGA student DeMarius Jackson suffered a fracture of his left eye socket as a result of punches he claims he took from Lemon.
A felony warrant for Lemon's arrest was issued by the Athens-Clarke County district attorney's office late Wednesday afternoon. Lemon turned himself in at the Athens-Clarke County Jail at 10:24 a.m. Thursday morning. He was released 38 minutes later after posting a $2,500 bond.
Georgia athletics association spokesman Claude Felton said that Lemon's indefinite suspension "was an automatic thing" in keeping with athletics department policy. Any athlete charged with a felony offense is suspended "immediately and indefinitely" from team participation until an internal investigation is completed.
Richt could not be reached for comment on the Lemon case. He was at Fort Stewart on Thursday welcoming back U.S. troops from overseas duties. However, he issued a statement through the sports communications office.
"I'm certainly disappointed in a few of our players who have made poor decisions during the off season," Richt said. "It is of great concern, and we take it very seriously. They will be dealt with accordingly and will pay a price. Each one will be disciplined based on the severity of their actions."
Lemon was the seventh Georgia football to be arrested by police since the end of last season. In addition to Boling and Lomax, other Bulldogs arrested this year include offensive guard Justin Anderson (simple battery), defensive back Donovan Baldwin (DUI), fullback Fred Munzenmaier (underage possession), and offensive tackle Trinton Sturdivant (simple battery). The cases of Anderson and Sturdivant are ongoing.
Richt indicated in the news release he does not believe his 2008 team, ranked No. 1 in some preseason polls, has a discipline problem. He cited the team's 3.23 combined grade-point average in the previous semester and their volunteer work with children and charities.
"I'm extremely excited about what the vast majority of our team has been doing on a daily basis this summer," Richt said. "They're working hard in the classroom, and there's certainly a buzz from our veteran players as to the work ethic and effort they've seen in their weightlifting, running and position workouts. Virtually every one of our players is giving back to the community this summer."

 

[RJ Esq]

[FONT=arial, helvetica][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Daniels gets another chance[/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]
By Bill Koch
bkoch@enquirer.com [/FONT] [/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]University of Cincinnati football coach Brian Kelly first met Alex Daniels in September, before the start of fall quarter.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]He knew Daniels had been dismissed from Minnesota's football program a few months earlier. He also knew about his potential as a football player.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]But Kelly said their first conversation had very little to do with football. "I really wasn't that interested in the football end of things," Kelly said. "I was trying to get a feel for who Alex Daniels was at that time.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]"Any time you have a situation like Alex's, it's either a serious mistake or it's somebody that is a bad human being. I didn't know when he first came on campus where he fit on that. But after observing him for nine or 10 months ... I see a person who made a bad mistake and has earned a second chance."[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]After examining Daniels' situation and talking with officials from Minnesota, UC athletic director Mike Thomas reached the same conclusion and on Thursday cleared Daniels to play at UC this fall.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]"Alex's opportunity to play at UC is based on what he has done the past nine or 10 months," Thomas said. "What he has accomplished hasn't been done with the support of UC athletics. What he's done in the classroom, his conduct in the community, being a student and paying for that himself, he has proven that he deserves that opportunity and I agree with that."[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]Daniels, 21, was one of four players dismissed from the Minnesota football team in July 2007 for their involvement in an on-campus incident with an 18-year-old woman.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]He was arrested but never charged with a crime.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]He transferred to UC last year, paying his own way first at Raymond Walters College, a UC branch campus, and then in the College of Arts and Sciences on the main campus.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]According to a July 18, 2007, Associated Press story, junior Dominic Jones was accused of having sex with an 18-year-old woman who was "physically helpless" after a night of binge drinking at a campus apartment in early April of that year.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]Investigators said Daniels used his cell phone to film Jones having sex with the woman. Hennepin County (Minn.) attorney Mike Freeman said that Daniels, and Minnesota players E.J. Jones and Keith Massey also had sex with the woman earlier that night.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]Thomas said reinstating Daniels was not an easy decision. During the past week and a half, in addition to meeting with Daniels, he consulted with officials from Minnesota.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]"From what I recall," Thomas said, "Alex wasn't pleading his case. We talked about the situation and what has transpired in his life the last nine or 10 months, the fact that he's accepted the responsibility for his actions and is serious about getting acclimated into the UC campus and his commitment to continue to do good work in the classroom."[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]According to Thomas, Daniels had a grade-point average in excess of 3.0 in the last academic quarter.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]"He's taking his academics seriously," Thomas said. "I believe he's intent on putting his life back on the right track. I think he'll make good on the opportunity.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]"What's important to me is the integrity and the character of our student-athletes. I believe that Alex has made a mistake and he paid for that mistake. Did he learn from that? I believe that he has. Is he a different person because of that situation? I believe he is."[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]Daniels, from Brookhaven High School in Columbus, did not return a phone call seeking a comment Thursday.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]In a statement included in UC's press release, Daniels said: "I first want to thank Mr. Thomas for letting me join the UC football team. ... I will work hard in the classroom, on the football field and in life to earn every ounce of respect I receive from my teammates, coaches, the university and its fans. I am sorry for my actions that led to my dismissal from the University of Minnesota football team and have apologized to those I disappointed, especially my family."[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]During two years at Minnesota, Daniels played in 23 games at linebacker and running back. In the Gophers' 2006 season opener, he rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns against Kent State.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]Kelly said the 6-foot-3, 255-pound Daniels, who was ranked the 11th-best athlete in the nation by Rivals.com after he led Brookhaven to a state title in 2004, probably will be tried at defensive end at UC.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]But first Daniels has to get healthy.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]He ruptured an Achilles tendon in February and underwent surgery March 3. According to UC trainer Bob Mangine, Daniels is expected to be ready for preseason practice when it begins Aug. 1. He is expected to have two years of eligibility remaining.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]"There are still no promises relative to Alex Daniels," Kelly said, "other than he gets an opportunity to be on the football team. We have not moved to the level of scholarship, playing time or any of those things."[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]Kelly said he does not believe having Daniels in his program constitutes an undue risk.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]"I think you take a chance every day with student-athletes," Kelly said. "I'm working with 18- to 21-year old kids. There are no givens. In my 19 years of being a head football coach, I've had hundreds of players play for me. You've got to look at each case case-by-case and try to make good decisions.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]"I've given other kids second chances and other players I haven't depending on the circumstances, who the person was and where they are today."[/FONT]

 

[RJ Esq]

[FONT=arial, helvetica][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]U of L dismisses Spillman from team[/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]
By Brian Bennett
bbennett@courier-journal.com [/FONT] [/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]JaJuan Spillman has been dismissed from the University of Louisville football team after his arrest on drug and gun charges last week.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]In a release announcing Spillman's dismissal last night, U of L head coach Steve Kragthorpe said the junior wide receiver "would not have the opportunity to return to the team."[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]Early Friday morning, Spillman was charged with driving under the influence, possession of marijuana, carrying a concealed weapon and having no insurance after a traffic stop in Middletown. It was Spillman's second arrest in 18 months. He pleaded guilty in June to marijuana possession, the result of a January 2007 arrest after a car accident.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]Spillman caught nine passes for 64 yards and rushed four times for 42 yards last season before being suspended for the last half of the year. He was reinstated and participated in spring drills.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]The Cardinals have lost 21 scholarship underclassmen for various reasons since the spring of 2007.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]• U of L wide receiver Trent Guy remained in stable condition at University Hospital last night but appeared to be improving after he was shot in the back early Saturday morning.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]Team spokesman Rocco Gasparro said Guy was feeling better and was able to sit up and receive visitors. Guy is expected to be hospitalized for about a week.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica]The junior was shot about 2:25 a.m. Saturday as he was walking to his car from Club Villa Fontana in Theater Square downtown. No arrests have been made.[/FONT]

 

[RJ Esq]

IU makes it official: Lewis reinstated

[FONT=georgia,serif]<small>• By Doug Wilson | Monday, July 7, 2008 at 8:35 pm </small>[/FONT]

<!--content with more link--> Here’s tonight’s news release from IU:
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana head football coach Bill Lynch announced on Monday that junior quarterback Kellen Lewis has been reinstated to the team, effective immediately.
“Kellen has worked very hard and reached all the benchmarks we set for him,” Lynch said. “He is committed to this football program and is excited to rejoin his teammates. We are happy to welcome him back.”
Lewis joins Antwaan Randle El as the only QBs in Indiana history to reach 40 passing touchdowns, 5,250 passing yards, 6,000 total yards, 450 completions and 750 attempts in a career. He is just the fifth quarterback at IU to reach 5,000 career passing yards and the fourth player to collect 6,000 total yards. Lewis sits tied for first on Indiana’s career list with 42 passing touchdowns, fifth with 5,264 passing yards, third with 6,441 total yards, third with 455 completions, third with 788 attempts and second in completion percentage at 57.7.
The Jacksonville, Fla., native was a second team All-Big Ten (media and coaches), Rivals.com first team All-Big Ten and ESPN.com All-Big Ten selection in 2007. Lewis set the school’s single-season record with 28 passing touchdowns, 37 touchdowns accounted for, 3,043 passing yards, 3,779 total yards, 265 completions, 442 attempts and a 60.0 completion percentage. He was one of only three quarterbacks in the country to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 700 yards (Tim Tebow, Florida; Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan)
Lewis and the Hoosiers begin fall camp on Monday, Aug. 4, and open the season on Saturday, Aug. 30, against Western Kentucky.

 

[TheGarfather]

God bless you for keeping up on all this stuff RJ.

 

[RJ Esq]

God bless you for keeping up on all this stuff RJ.

No worries, Garf.

Let's make 2008 a whole lot better than 2007.

 

[RJ Esq]

Signing Class 2008: The Grades Are In

A.J. Green is on campus and impressing. Marcus Dowtin got his transcript cleared up and has moved in, too. So that leaves one guy who wasn't on campus, Toby Jackson, the highly touted defensive end from Griffin. According to UGASports.com, Jackson won't be on campus in the fall, missing his needed test score by a single point. Jackson will head to Hargrave for the fall semester. If he improves his score, he'll likely be able to get to Athens in January. Good luck, Toby. Study hard.​

With Jackson heading north, we missed a second consecutive fully eligible signing class by a single ACT point. We still have plenty of depth on the ends with Lomax, Dobbs, Houston, Battle, Wynn, and Ball.​

Considering the talent of the past two classes, I think one academic casualty is acceptable, if not admirable.
​

 

[RJ Esq]

Florida State Loses Starting Guard for Season

Posted Jul 7th 2008 9:45PM by Adam Jacobi
Filed under: Florida State Football, ACC, NCAA FB Injuries

Over the next six months, this sort of thing would be a serious medical problem for Bellamy. Yes, football is out of the question.

Not good news of the extra large variety from Tallahassee, as FSU guard Evan Bellamy has been put down for the season after doctors found a blood clot in his right leg. Fortunately, Bellamy's life is in no danger--he was released from the hospital today after being admitted last week--but football's a long way away.

Treatment will probably last for six months, for the duration of which Bellamy is essentially a hemophiliac. As football is a bleedin' sport and Iron Man suits are still illegal (bastard), the redshirt sophomore has no choice but to sit idly on the sidelines and watch.

Also, running with scissors is right out.

 

[RJ Esq]

U of L signee heading to juco
U of L football signee Randy Salmon, a defensive tackle out of Atlanta, will not make it to campus and is instead heading to a junior college because of eligibility issues.

Salmon is a 6-3, 290-pounder who played at Stockbridge High School and chose the Cards over South Carolina, North Carolna State, Michigan State and others.

All the other signees have reported except tight end Stephon Ball, who is expected to arrive later this summer.

 

[JumpOnBoard]

Pretty sure Eugene Clifford is DONE....arrested over the weekend and was already in the doghouse...

 

[RJ Esq]

Texas Longhorn Ath/WR recruit Antoine Hicks failed to qualify.

 

[TheGarfather]

Pretty sure Eugene Clifford is DONE....arrested over the weekend and was already in the doghouse...

Remember, Tressell knows he needs to compete with the SEC, so maybe he'll only miss a game or two. LOL

 

[RJ Esq]

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="col0">East Carolina's Holtz suspends freshman linebacker

</td><td class="col1">Story Highlights

• Holtz would not specify what Joyner did in announcing the suspension
• Joyner signed with the Pirates in February and enrolled at the school in June
• The Greenville native played on three state title teams at Rose High School

</td></tr></tbody></table><table class="cnninlineright" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>
</td></tr></tbody></table>GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- East Carolina coach Skip Holtz has suspended freshman linebacker Max Joyner for breaking a team rule.
Holtz would not specify what Joyner did in announcing the suspension Thursday, saying only that it was indefinite and would be re-evaluated later.
Joyner signed with the Pirates in February and enrolled at the school in June. The Greenville native played on three state championship teams at Rose High School, including a seven-interception season as a junior.

 

[RJ Esq]

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="col0">Irish starting CB Walls out for 2008

</td><td class="col1">Story Highlights

• Walls plans to take the fall semester off for personal reasons
• He had 32 tackles, one interception and nine passes broken up

</td></tr></tbody></table><table class="cnninlineright" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>
</td></tr></tbody></table>SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Starting cornerback Darrin Walls will not play for Notre Dame next season and wide receiver D.J. Hord has decided not to return for his senior season.
Walls plans to take the fall semester off for personal reasons and return home to Pittsburgh following the end of summer school, coach Charlie Weis said Friday.
"We won't have Darrin with us this season but I hope to have him return for the spring semester," Weis said.
Walls, a junior, started every game except one against UCLA. He had 32 tackles, one interception and nine passes broken up.
"Fortunately, cornerback is a position of strength on our team and this will provide opportunities for increased playing time for our corners," Weis said.
Terrail Lambert returns as a fifth-year senior and junior Raeshon McNeil, who played in 11 games last season, had nine tackles and three pass breakups. Sophomore Gary Gray, who missed his entire freshman season after undergoing shoulder surgery, is expected to contribute.
Hord, a highly recruited player out of high school, had two catches for 7 yards in two seasons with the Irish. He missed his sophomore season with an Achilles' injury. He plans to transfer to a NCAA Football Championship Subdivision school.
"I'd like to thank D.J. for all he has given to this team in his three years and wish him well in his future endeavors," Weis said.