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SoCal College News & Commentary

Suspensions. . .And it's only October. . .(10/23/97)

Consider the number of suspensions this "season". And it's only October. Season hasn't even started yet.

UCLA's McCoy and Johnson. Out indefinitely for violation of team rules.

Wisconsin's Sam Okey, out for two games for reportedly being seen smoking marijuana.

Cincinnati declares senior forward Ruben Patterson, the team's leading returning scorer, and sophomore guard John Carson "ineligible indefinitely" after completing an in-house investigation.

CSUN's Trenton Cross and Jeffrey Parris, out for two games. Coach Braswell threatens there might be more suspensions this season.

Fresno State suspends senior forward Daymond Forney indefinitely. He has entered a drug, alcohol and "anti-social" behavior therapy group.

Fresno State forward Terrance Roberson is suspended until he completes requirements related to the assistance program.

Fresno guard Rafer Alston is suspended after an altercation with his ex-girlfriend.

Henry "J.R." Camel, Montana's leading returning scorer, is suspended from the team after making his initial court appearance a day after being charged with drunken driving.

Illinois State suspends point guard Jamar Smiley for two exhibition and two regular-season games after he pleads guilty to "unauthorized use of a motor vehicle". This latest suspension follows the suspension this summer during the team's two-week tour of Europe in mid-August. . Coach Stallings also says there will be "other disciplinary measures" against Smiley to be "administered privately."

New Orleans declares forward DeWaune Wesley ineligible for the entire first semester.

New Mexico State suspends guard Antoine Hubbard indefinitely.

Texas coach Tom Penders kicks freshman forward Lamar Wright off the team; he was one of the top 100 college recruits coming into this season.

Mississippi State suspends junior guard Bart Hyche two exhibition games and the first two regular-season games for "violation of team rules."

Guard Dane Plock is suspended indefinitely from Cal State Fullerton's basketball team for violating unspecified team rules.

And the list goes on and on.

Most popular offense this year? Violating "unspecified" team rules.

Translation: Smoking marijuana. Seems to be the top favorite on the infraction hit list.

Team winner for most suspensions. Fresno State.

Actual common denominator among guys suspended?

Acting like (or actually being) a punk.

The personal best award: Goes to Sophomore point guard Ed Sheffey of Georgetown University. The 6'-0" native of Washington, D.C., who started 29 of 30 games last season for the Hoyas, averaging 8.7 points and 3.5 assists, was not officially suspended but hasn't practiced with the team because, according to the coach he has "unfinished business."

Yeah, like his August 22 arrest for speeding, being clocked at 97 mph in a 40-mph zone, and his pending charges which include possession of marijuna, resisting arrest, eluding an officer, driving without a license and reckless and negligent driving.

What a colossal waste of talent. What a waste of time. What a shame that these guys may never develop their potential because they can't control themselves off the court. What a true disgrace that these most talented athletes appear to have not much more between their ears than air. They should rightfully be ashamed of themselves.

Some of them will be given second chances. Some won't. Some of them deserve it. Unfortunately, I fear that only a few of them will actually learn something positive from the experience.

Maybe if they're lucky they'll realize that they're just about the luckiest guys on the face of the planet. That a thousand other kids who will never get the chance would give their right arms to trade places with these guys, even for one day, just to get the chance to play D-1 ball. They get to play a game they love, get an education, and maybe, just maybe, position themselves to make more money than they could ever possibly spend in ten lifetimes playing a kids' game.

Yup. What a colossal waste of youth and talent. What a waste of our time, and in most cases taxpayer money spent on lost scholarships. Maybe they'll learn. We can only hope.

And the kids aren't alone in all of this.

Last year's winner: Jim Harrick. Sure, he made a mistake, but then lying about it to cover it up is probably the dumbest thing he could have done. If he tells the truth, right out of the box, probably nothing happens; he stays and the Collins twins are wearing baby blue and gold. He lies, he's gone, and Jason and Jarron are wearing Cardinal and walking around with Chelsea and the secret service.

And this year's nominees. . . the envelope, please:

Michigan's Steve Fisher, fired after a report by a Kansas City law firm reports some questionable conduct by a booster. Sure, no evidence that Webber accepted any money, but then he wouldn't cooperate with the investigation. So Michigan goes looking for reasons to dump him.

New Mexico State "reassigns" Coach McCarthy after the NCAA investigates New Mexico State for academic fraud and lack of institutional control over the basketball program because two former assistant coaches were alleged to have provided test answers and papers for players.

Arizona State basketball coach Bill Frieder, haunted by his players' off-court conduct, resigns; the turning point comes when junior transfer Reggie Hester and sophomore Eddie House are arrested on charges of on-campus theft, on the heels of an FBI investigation into the Frieder's program at ASU.

Common thread? I don't know, but the phrase "stupid coach tricks" comes to mind.

Amazing, isn't it. The season hasn't even started yet. It's still only October. I don't know about you, but I can't wait for the real games to get started because, frankly, the preseason games really aren't very much fun. But maybe we'll all learn a few things from the experience.

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