Addressing the Suspension: Short Term Pain, Long Term Gain

Yesterday, Coach Bill Curry announced the suspensions of 2010 Starting QB Drew Little and SS Fred Barnes for 4 games and 2 games, respectively.  Starting ILB Femi Opanubi was dismissed.  Starting WR Danny Williams and ILB Evan Bostic are suspended for the first week of Spring Practice which starts in 10 days.  Back up QB Star Jackson and CB Justin Hughes have left the team.  While this incited every reaction from disappointment to shock to worry, I'm here to calm the Panther Nation.

Both players were suspended for a violation of team rules and I will not begin to speculate the nature of the rules that they broke but I'll say this: For every current and future player, the line in the sand has been drawn.  Either you are pulling in the same direction or you let go of the rope. 

So why am I so calm?  We will be without our 2010 leader of the offense vs. Clark Atlanta, Old Dominion, at Jacksonville State and at Houston.  This is not good news for the anticipated results in those games.  We then face Murray State at home and then will have an Open date.  If Drew is prepared to resume his role as the Starting QB, he will have 2 weeks of practice time to regain that title.  If not, he'll likely serve as a back up as I believe the plan is to redshirt incoming Freshman Ben McLane, who will arrive in June.  After this 4 game stretch, I believe our schedule breaks slightly with five of the next seven games are very winnable games. 

Also, from a scholarship side of things, losing Star, Femi and Justin Hughes may look like very bad news but I believe that Star had checked out after a disappointing Fall and I wish him well.  Femi's loss hurts but we've added Qwontez Mallory who is likely to step right in and start once he arrives in May.  Hughes likely saw the writing on the wall as we added a very talented CB in D'Mario Gunn who I project as a starter in Spring.

Coach Curry has been described as "Old School." If that means that you set out expectations to your players and then you enforce discipline when those expectations are not met, then I hope our program stays "Old School" for a long, long time.

"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments" - Jim Rohn.

Football Players Receive Disciplinary Actions

With spring practice less than 2 weeks away, Coach Bill Curry shows his tough hand by announcing disciplinary action for several Panther football players due to violations of team rules. Players and punishment as follows:

QB Drew Little - Suspended for spring practice and the first four games of the 2011 season.
Safety Fred Barnes - Suspended for spring practice and the first two games of the 2011 season.
WR Danny Williams - Suspended for the first week of spring practice.
LB Evan Bostic - Suspended for the first week of spring practice.
LB Olufemi Opanubi - Dismissed from the team.

It is important to note that none of the disciplinary actions were a result of criminal activity but specifics on why the actions are taking place cannot be disclosed due to student privacy laws.

It has also been announced that Bo Schlechter will be returning to the QB position for the 2011 season. Star Jackson was not mentioned.

Thoughts on these actions will be posted soon.

Link to Georgia State Sports official release.

Thursday Quick Hitters - 8.26.10

Yes we are only 7 days away folks!!!! Here are the quick hitters for today:

-Ticket Sales Update: 4,200 season tickets have been sold and we're approaching 2,000 individual tickets sold for the Shorter game.  You could have as many as 8,000 student in the building and   I've been told by multiple sources that 20,000 fans is realistic for next Thursday night.  If you don't have your tickets, you need to get them.  There is only one first game! Don't miss it!  Full GSU Sports Article

-The AJC Sunday Section will feature a pull out section of more than 34 pages.  It includes us (as we are apart of the "Big 3").  Pick up a copy or two.

-Dominant ILB Evan Bostic gets a shout out from his local paper in the Shelby NC Star.

-OL Michael Davis is head to see his knee surgeon this morning.  Everybody lift up a prayer and keep him your thoughts today. 

-RB Travis Evans may be a game week decision vs. Shorter.  He has a hamstring issue that has been giving him issues and has been limited in practice.

-Funny moment via social media (get on Twitter and follow your boy @GStateBen):  Multiple players were convinced that there would be a white out for Sept. 2nd's game with Shorter.  The trouble is that Shorter's colors are Blue and White as well and they are the road team.  They'll be wearing white.  I think it's been corrected and they bottom bowl will be a sea of blue.

-Speaking of the players: How ready are they to play?

**RB Rosevelt Watson: We got 7 days left til I 1st game, Too amped! WE ready to make    History! 
**DB Brandon Jones: Greatness is the next step for GSU Football.
**OL Ramell Davis: 7 days till the game I'm more focused then ever I must stop my mental mistakes and stop thinking about everything and just do it.