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9/5/10

Marvin Austin suspended indefinitely

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- North Carolina coach Butch Davis suspended defensive tackle Marvin Austin indefinitely on Wednesday for violating unspecified team rules.

He may be the first of many Tar Heel players to be suspended, sources tell ESPN's Joe Schad.

"This decision is not a result of the ongoing NCAA review," Davis said in a brief statement issued by the school. "Marvin has violated team rules and has neglected his responsibilities to the team."

Austin, a senior, has been projected as a possible NFL first-round pick. He will not play Saturday night when the No. 18 Tar Heels face No. 21 LSU in Atlanta.

Austin is being investigated by the NCAA for his trips to Florida parties, California training sessions and his work with a tutor, sources told ESPN.

The suspension marks the latest twist during a turbulent summer for North Carolina, which is preparing to play against LSU on Saturday without up to 16 players, sources said Wednesday night.

The school is exploring the possibility of "rolling suspensions" with the NCAA, which would allow them to spread losses over multiple games.

Defensive end Robert Quinn is being investigated for his alleged interaction with an agent, a source said. Quinn has also worked with the tutor who allegedly wrote papers for some North Carolina players, a source said.

A source said North Carolina may have to play without seven defensive starters, including numerous high draft choice projections.

Among the players in danger of not traveling with North Carolina Friday are: Austin, Quinn, linebackers Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant and cornerbacks Kendric Burney and Charles Brown.

A source said North Carolina may also be depleted at running back on Saturday. The top two running backs for the Tar Heels following spring practice were Shaun Draughn and Ryan Houston. Wide receiver Greg Little has also been questioned about his trips, agents and papers.

The Tar Heels are working with the NCAA and hope to be able to decide before Friday morning which players will not make the trip and which should be held out for precautionary reasons, a source said.

The NCAA made two trips to Chapel Hill this summer to look into whether Austin and Little received improper benefits from agents. Wednesday's announcement did not address Little's status. Both players had been working with the second team for much of training camp and haven't spoken with reporters.

South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders, who also has been at the center of NCAA inquiries for possible improper agent contact, has been suspended by the Gamecocks. Saunders will not play Thursday night against Southern Mississippi, though South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said Saunders' suspension was not connected to the NCAA probe.

The investigation at North Carolina expanded last week to include possible academic misconduct, with school officials saying it involved an unknown number of players and a woman who previously worked as a tutor for Davis' son. The school has declined to specify how many players could be involved or are in jeopardy of missing the LSU game.

The NCAA also has looked at a cross-country trip involving Austin and former Tar Heels player Cam Thomas, and the friendship between assistant coach John Blake and California-based agent Gary Wichard.

The investigation led to disruptions in game preparations for the opener. The team did not issue a depth chart earlier this week, a break from customary game-week protocol, and Davis said he is using a "fluid" informal depth chart during practice.

Earlier Wednesday, Davis said during the Atlantic Coast Conference's weekly coaches' teleconference that the Tar Heels were "in a holding mode." Team officials canceled all scheduled media availability with players in advance of the LSU game. Players had been scheduled to talk with reporters Wednesday afternoon.

Derrick Washington charged

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Suspended Missouri running back Derrick Washington was charged Monday with sexually assaulting a former tutor in her apartment over the summer.

Assistant Boone County prosecutor Andrea Hayes said that a single count of felony deviate sexual assault was filed against Washington, a senior from Raymore, Mo., and the Tigers' rushing leader the past two seasons.

Coach Gary Pinkel suspended Washington last week without disclosing details. Boone County court documents show Washington had been served with a protection order in late June and accused of sexual assault by a former Missouri tutor.

A campus detective's probable cause statement filed Monday says Washington entered the woman's closed bedroom while visiting her roommate and allegedly assaulted the woman while she slept.

A July hearing was delayed at the woman's request and the case appeared dormant after both Washington and the alleged victim failed to show up for the rescheduled hearing. But prosecutors continued to investigate and Washington's family has hired an attorney.

Washington surrendered to police Monday and was released after posting a $4,500 bond, attorney Bogdan Susan said. Susan said the back planned to plead not guilty.

Washington's legal troubles didn't prevent him from being named one of four team captains in July while also getting a school-paid trip to Dallas for the Big 12 Conference's annual preseason media gathering.

Before the charge was announced, Pinkel said that he is "kind of embarrassed" by a series of off-field problems involving the Tigers.

"We've worked hard to develop and build a program that has a very good reputation of being first-class and disciplined," Pinkel said as Missouri prepared to open its season against Illinois on Saturday in St. Louis. "We've taken a few hits."

The latest occurred Sunday with the early morning arrest of reserve tight end and long snapper Beau Brinkley, who was charged by state troopers with driving while intoxicated. That came one week after reserve linebacker Will Ebner's arrest -- and several weeks after assistant coach Bruce Walker's arrest -- for possible drunken-driving violations.

Susan, who is also representing Walker, said that the coach has been charged with an alcohol-related offense. Ebner has not been charged. Both are scheduled to appear in court next month.

Asked if he could shed any light on Washington's suspension or the other cases, Pinkel demurred.

"For 10 years, I've never discussed anything [related to] discipline," he said.

School policy says that athletes charged with a felony cannot return to the field until the case is resolved. With a Sept. 23 arraignment hearing, Washington will miss the Tigers' first three games, if not more.

Later Monday, speaking to more than 200 Missouri boosters in the Tiger Quarterback Club, Pinkel acknowledged that Washington would not play against Illinois, though he never mentioned the player by name. Instead, Pinkel named sophomore Kendial Lawrence and De'Vion Moore as likely starters, with true freshmen Henry Josey and Marcus Murphy also expected to see playing time.

Missouri athletic director Mike Alden said that he and Pinkel didn't become "fully aware" of the Washington incident nor receive "credible information" until a week and a half ago.

"When that took place, Coach [Pinkel] took appropriate action," Alden said.

Missouri did receive a welcome dose of good news over the weekend. Senior cornerback Munir Prince was released from the hospital after a frightening collision with a teammate on a punt return the same day as Washington's suspension.

He was initially diagnosed with transient quadriplegia, a temporary loss of sensation and movement in the arms and legs, but by Saturday was reported to be walking on his own. By Sunday, Prince had returned to practice, Pinkel said.

At the booster meeting, Alden offered strong support for Pinkel, calling him a "man of integrity." And Pinkel told the fans that he takes responsibility for the program's recent missteps.

"The buck stops here with me," Pinkel said. "I am embarrassed, and disappointed. Hopefully we can get this cleaned up."

USC suspends DB Patrick Hall

LOS ANGELES -- USC freshman defensive back Patrick Hall has been suspended from the team indefinitely for unspecified reasons, coach Lane Kiffin announced Sunday.

Hall was informed of the decision Saturday, just five days before the Trojans' 2010 season opener in Hawaii.

"We have a team of 99 percent of the guys right now that are fully committed to being a championship student-athlete on the field and off the field," Kiffin said. "We didn't feel like Patrick was doing that."

Hall, who was not at practice Sunday, was not immediately available for comment.

Hall, a product of Southern California prep powerhouse St. Bonaventure of Ventura, signed with the Trojans as a member of the 2009 recruiting class but tore knee ligaments during his first practice with the team and was deemed out for the season.

He then failed to qualify academically for the fall semester and was sent home to Oxnard, Calif., where he rehabbed the injury on his own. In January, he re-enrolled at USC, qualified and began taking classes but was still not cleared to practice with the team.

Hall had been with the team throughout 2010 fall camp, but his practice participation was limited in scope. Kiffin listed him on the injury report with the same knee injury as recently as Saturday.

Asked to clarify what Hall had done to warrant suspension, Kiffin was vague.

"Just really a combination of everything," he said. "We take everything into account, we look at everything. This was not one major incident by any means. This is not something that you can go and find that he did something really wrong over the last week or anything to do with the law at all.

"This is a combination of everything coming together -- meeting with him and not feeling like he's got the same goals as the rest of our players do."

Hall, 6 feet, 190 pounds, was a five-star recruit as an athlete in high school, earning a variety of All-American honors and leading St. Bonaventure to a California Division III state title. His cousin, Keary Colbert, is a former USC receiver now working as a tight ends graduate assistant for the Trojans.

Said Kiffin: "Patrick may have a chance to come back some day but not until he changes his focus to being a championship student-athlete here at USC like the rest of our kids are doing."

Jamie Blatnick pleads guilty

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Oklahoma State defensive end Jamie Blatnick pleaded guilty Friday to an assault and battery charge that was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Payne County District Attorney Rob Hudson said he filed for the charges to be reduced Friday after being approached by former Oklahoma State offensive lineman Steve Denning, who was struck with a beer bottle by Blatnick at a Stillwater bar on July 31.

Hudson said Denning asked that prosecutors not pursue a felony charge against Blatnick and told a judge the same during a court hearing Friday afternoon. That fact, along with Blatnick agreeing to plead guilty and being a first-time offender, convinced Hudson that reducing the charge was the right thing to do.

Coach Mike Gundy had said Blatnick would not play for the Cowboys as long as he was accused of a felony.

"It would probably be hard to get a felony conviction [from a jury] when the victim doesn't want that," Hudson said.

Blatnick was sentenced to one year of probation and 30 hours of community service to be performed within the next six months. He must also complete an anger resolution class and pay a series of fines in addition to Denning's medical bills.

"I think the punishment fits the crime in this case," Hudson said.

Blatnick started nine games for Oklahoma State last season and is one of only three defensive starters returning from that squad heading into the Sept. 4 season opener against Washington State. Spokesman Kevin Klintworth said he did not expect Gundy to comment on Blatnick's status.

Blatnick has already been punished by being held out of practice and forced to climb a stair-stepping machine along with safety Victor Johnson, who faces misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and marijuana possession from separate arrests this summer. He has pleaded not guilty.

Blatnick was arrested after police were called to a Stillwater bar to find that Denning had been hit in the face with a beer bottle and suffered a broken orbital socket around his eye. Denning started 23 straight games at guard for the Cowboys, finishing his career in 2008.

Blatnick had faced a felony count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and a misdemeanor count of obstructing an officer before both were dismissed Friday. Denning still faces a misdemeanor charge of obstructing an officer. He has pleaded not guilty.

Hudson said that while the two now characterized it as a fight between friends, he didn't consider dismissing the charges against Blatnick entirely because police had to be called into the situation.

"He's still going to be held accountable by having to plead to a misdemeanor," Hudson said.

Georgia's Washaun Ealey arrested

ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia tailback Washaun Ealey who led the Bulldogs in rushing a year ago and expected to share carries this season with Caleb King, was suspended for at least one game after being arrested early Friday.

Ealey was charged with hit and run and driving on a suspended license. Coach Mark Richt said the sophomore definitely won't play when the No. 23 Bulldogs open the season Sept. 4 against Louisiana-Lafayette and left open the possibility of adding more games to the suspension.

"I'm not happy with it. It's foolish. He knew better," Richt said. "But no one thinks it's going to happen to him. He knew his license was suspended and we knew his license was suspended. As a matter of fact, we spend a lot of hours checking on every single player to make sure their licenses are up to date and if they're not, making them aware of that."

University police chief Jimmy Williamson said Ealey was driving his roommate's Chevrolet Impala when he hit a parked truck in a school parking deck at 3:19 a.m. on Friday. Williamson said alcohol was not involved.

University employees asked Ealey to wait for police after the minor accident, but he left the scene before police arrived. No injuries were reported.

"They told the driver that he needed to stay and that police had been called," Williamson said. "He left the scene."

Williamson said UGA police identified the car's owner, who told them Ealey was driving the car at the time. Ealey was arrested on misdemeanor charges of "duty upon strike" (hit and run) and driving with a suspended license, according to Williamson.

Ealey was released from the Clarke County Jail after posting bond of $4,800.

"He probably thought this short little trip wouldn't be a big deal, but it turned out to be a real big deal," Richt said. "You can't roll the dice. Sooner or later, you're going to lose."

Ealey is the eighth Georgia player to be arrested this year.

"It definitely tarnishes our image, but I don't think we have any bad seeds on this team," tight end Aron White said. "We've got guys who have made silly mistakes for the most part and did things they knew better. I don't think we have any guys who are bad to the core or do things intentionally to hurt people."

Ealey, a sophomore from Stillmore, Ga., emerged in the second half of the 2009 season to lead the Bulldogs with 717 yards rushing. He scored three touchdowns.

Now, King, a junior from Norcross, Ga., will likely get the bulk of the carries against Louisiana-Lafayette, with Carlton Thomas moving up to the second string.

"It's something we don't need, but things happen," Thomas said. "This situation was wrong time, wrong place. It's something we've got to build off as a team. It will probably motivate us to work even harder to beat this image we're putting ourselves in. It's all water under the bridge if you win games."

Georgia's image has certainly taken a beating during this offseason.

Sophomore tailback Dontavius Jackson announced plans to transfer from Georgia after he was charged last month with driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident and other offenses. Richt suspended Jackson for a minimum of six games before he left school.

Quarterback Zach Mettenberger was dismissed from the team in April before pleading guilty to two counts of misdemeanor sexual battery in May. He was arrested March 7 in Lowndes County and charged with underage consumption and possession of alcohol, possessing fake identification and disorderly conduct-obstruction.

Mettenberger faced a one-game suspension from Richt for the alcohol-related charges before the sexual battery charges led to his dismissal.

Two other players were kicked off the team: linebacker Montez Robinson, who was charged with simple battery/family violence; and backup punter Trent Dittmer, who was charged with public intoxication.

Also, offensive lineman Josh Parrish, who is not on scholarship, was charged with underage possession of alcohol and possession of false identification. Backup cornerback Jordan Love was charged with obstruction for not providing his full name to police.

Richt said the length of Ealey's suspension will be determined by how he handles his punishment. He didn't practice with the team Friday, spending his time doing extra running.

"I've got some internal things for him to handle and if he handles them the way he should and behaves between now and the next one, he'll have a pretty good chance of playing," Richt said. "But he's got to show me that he's ready to go back and not only play, but practice with the team."

Richt is confident the Bulldogs will overcome all their off-the-field problems.

"This team is very resilient and very tough mentally," the coach said. "I guarantee the guys that are out there that show up will play their tails off. There's a whole bunch of them that are doing everything right and are preparing for a tremendous opportunity."

UNC investigating academics

North Carolina expanded the inquiry into its football program to include allegations of academic impropriety involving a former tutor writing papers for players, sources said Thursday.

The Tar Heels relegated at least nine players to the scout team on Wednesday due to the academic portion of the probe, the sources said. The group included players who were questioned as part of the NCAA's inquiry related to agents and trips to Miami.

Sources said starting defensive tackle Marvin Austin, starting defensive end Robert Quinn and starting linebacker Bruce Carter were among the players who were relegated to the scout team.

Sources said the tutor in question has also been a nanny for head coach Butch Davis' family.

Athletic director Dick Baddour declined to identify the players or say how many may be involved, and he refused to specify what the possible violations may have been, saying only that they involved "a student tutor and student-athletes on the football team.

"We are looking into improprieties that existed outside the classroom," Baddour said. "That's about as close to that as I can get."

The announcement came nine days before the No. 18 Tar Heels' opener against No. 21 LSU in Atlanta, and roughly two months after the NCAA began an investigation into whether two key players -- Austin and receiver Greg Little -- received improper benefits from agents. Defensive line coach John Blake's longtime friendship with California-based agent Gary Wichard also has drawn the NCAA's interest.

Two sources who were interviewed by the NCAA said that Austin has said Miami Dolphins cornerback Vontae Davis helped fund some of his expenditures to South Florida. A source close to Davis says he is good friends with Austin, but hasn't interviewed with the NCAA. The same source says Davis says he didn't pay for Austin's trips.

Joint interviews conducted by NCAA and school investigators during that probe led them to a player who "raised an issue that we felt like deserved further consideration on our part.

"It led us down a road that brought us to what we're talking about," Baddour said.

While the investigation is centered on the football program, Baddour said that "we will certainly use the opportunity to take a complete look at everything that we're doing in the academic support program."

Davis declined to identify the tutor in question except to say she was one of the five his family had hired since their 2007 arrival in Chapel Hill to serve as an academic coach and advisor for his teenage son.

"This is someone that obviously worked with our son," Davis said. "To be honest with you, I think we're really surprised and possibly disappointed, but there's been no revelation as to exactly the extent or what has actually transpired."

Baddour declined to provide additional details about the tutor, except to say that "the person was in [the university's] employ. When we found out about the issues, the tutor was not in our employ."

Baddour said the university has assembled a team to investigate the academic questions. While there is no timetable to resolve that aspect of the probe, "it is likely that the review would extend beyond the start of the season," he said.

If that happens, he said the school will decide if those players will play against LSU, and Baddour said that decision could come as late as gameday.

"The investigation now has two prongs, so I want to caution you against making assumptions if student-athletes don't play," Baddour said.

Davis did acknowledge that starting on Monday, he moved some players around the depth chart as part of a contingency plan in case they aren't permitted to play. He did not specify which players have risen or fallen.

"Before the start of training camp, because there was speculation on some of these issues, we made a statement ... that there would come a point in time in preparation for this first game where we would have to prepare with the players that we assumed that we would be able to compete and play with," Davis said. "That's what we've done."

Chancellor Holden Thorp -- who began the news conference by saying "to everyone who loves this university, I'm sorry about what I have to tell you" -- vowed that administrators are taking the probe seriously but expressed hope that its scope ultimately would be limited.

"We will find out what happened. We will do everything we can to keep it from happening again," he said. "And we will not let these mistakes define our university and what we stand for."