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News Nuggets, 07.29.05
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Bower suspends two, bids adieu to four more

HATTIESBURG — Southern Mississippi coach Jeff Bower suspended two players, including star kick returner John Eubanks, dismissed two others, and announced Thursday the team's leading rusher and another player have quit the squad.

John Eubanks, who also starts at cornerback, and backup tight end Pedi Causey were suspended for the Sept. 4 season opener against Tulane for violating unspecified team policies.

Eubanks returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown against Houston last season, and he shared the team lead with three interceptions.

Defensive back Darrell Bennett and linebacker Kenneth Boley were also dismissed for violating team policies.

Leaving the team were running back Anthony Harris and linebacker Naton Stewart. No explanation was given by Bower.

Harris moved to fullback this season after leading the Golden Eagles in rushing the past two seasons at tailback. He ran for 714 yards and five touchdowns on 175 carries last season.

Boley, the only junior among the six players, is the older brother of former Southern Miss linebacker Michael Boley, the 2004 Conference USA defensive player of the year and a fifth-round draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons.

Bennett was expected to start at free safety after starting at rover last season. Stewart, a backup last season, was expected to start at this year.

Prep coaches blast Spurrier scholarship moves

COLUMBIA — South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier upset high school coaches in his new home state when he revoked the scholarships of six players recruited by his predecessor.

The South Carolina Football Coaches Association's Board of Directors called the move ``unethical'' in a letter to Spurrier on Wednesday.

``We understand athletic scholarships are a year commitment,'' according to the board's letter. ``However, we feel that unless an athlete 'breaks rules' or embarrasses the institution, to revoke a scholarship because you feel an athlete cannot play at the level needed to compete in the Southeastern Conference is unethical.''

The board's letter, signed by about 90 coaches, also recommended the South Carolina High School League find an alternate location for its five state championship games, scheduled to be played at South Carolina's Williams-Brice Stadium in December.

Earlier this summer, Spurrier sent letters to six players telling them they would lose their scholarships. Those affected included South Carolina high school products Grayson Mullins and Trent Usher, both recruited by the staffs of former coach Lou Holtz.

Scholarships are renewable each year.

``If coming out of spring practice, you make that decision that's one thing,'' SCFCA board member Andy Tweito, an assistant coach at Daniel High, said Thursday. ``Now, these kids are stranded, they have nowhere to go. He's left the kids high and dry.''

Spurrier says there are a few players signed by the old staff who new coaches did not think contributed much to the team.

``We had some walk-on players who were actually contributing more,'' Spurrier said at the Southeastern Conference football gathering in Birmingham, Ala. ``So some of the high schoolers, they got mad about it. I don't know what to say, but to me in life you put people on scholarship who deserve it the most and that's what we tried to do.''

Spurrier last week said receiver Michael Flint and long-snapper Ike Crofoot, both walk-ons, were rewarded with scholarships.

Spurrier's arrival as Holtz's replacement has been greeted with glee by most South Carolina supporters. The school said Thursday it sold a record of 62,618 seasons tickets. Donations to the Gamecock Club were up more than $1 million from last year to a record of $13 million.

Tweito said the high school coaches were not trying to pick a fight with Spurrier or sour future recruits on the Gamecocks; they were just making their case in one of the few ways they could.

``Some coaches are so upset about it, they won't welcome (South Carolina) recruiters into their school,'' he said.

``We're not trying to play political football here,'' Tweito said.

Tweito stressed the coaches were not out to damage South Carolina's program, despite the letter's harsh words.

Spurrier ``absolutely knows how to run a program and we wish him the best,'' Tweito said. ``We're all for Carolina football and for college football in our state. This was something we felt we had to do.''

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2005 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:26 PM