LSU's leading tackler and SS left the team ... LSU HC Lou Saban said he cant come back ...
DAMIEN JAMES UPDATE
LSU free safety Damien James was a no show again at practice Thursday, but his high school coach is hopeful he will eventually return to the team.
Carencro High coach Mac Barousse said he's been unsuccessful in reaching James since he first went missing from practice Monday. But Barousse said some of his current Carencro players have spoken to James.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he came back," Barousse said. "I think the situation could be resolved -- depending on what coach (Nick) Saban decides, of course."
Saban said Wednesday he has not spoken to James since he left the team.
Practice is closed to the media Thursday, but James was not observed getting on or off team buses before practice.
James, a senior, had played in every game for LSU this season. Cornerback Randall Gay is expected to start in James' place.
"I'd love to see this resolved and hope there's a good excuse for his erratic behavior," Barousse said. "He's always been a good, straight forward kid. It's not like him to do something on a whim."
QB DEPTH?
With starting quarterback Matt Mauck out for two months with a torn ligament in his right foot, fellow sophomore Marcus Randall is the starter. But what happens if Randall gets hurt?
The depth chart lists redshirt freshman Rick Clausen and junior college transfer Michael Harrison behind Randall. Clausen hasn't thrown a pass in a game. Harrison is still learning LSU's offense.
Freshman Lester Ricard is practicing only with the scout team and will likely redshirt.
In certain situations, LSU could turn to players who were high school quarterbacks, including running backs Shyrone Carey and Ryan Gilbert and wide receiver Michael Clayton. Saban hasn't mentioned Clayton as an option.
The days of having Josh Booty, Rohan Davey and Craig Nall -- all now on NFL rosters -- are gone.
"I don't think very many people in the country have much depth there," Saban said. "You're lucky if you have one good one, and you're very fortunate if you have two. Most people don't have three."
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IN arkansas, I found this article
Captain of UA football team arrested on drug charges, kicked off team
BY SARAH FISHER Northwest Arkansas Times
Thursday, October 24, 2002
A well-regarded University of Arkansas Razorback football player has been kicked out of the program awaiting the filing of formal charges that he allegedly sold marijuana to a confidential informant working with police and was in possession of more than 7 pounds of the drug at his Fayetteville home.
Tommy Jer maine Brooks, 22, from Pasadena, Calif., and his girlfriend, 21-year-old Celeste Williams of Joplin, Mo., were arrested shortly after midnight Wednesday after detectives with the 4 th Judicial District Drug Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration served a warrant at his Leverett Avenue home.
According to Fayetteville Police Chief Rick Hoyt in a press conference Wednesday morning at the police department, officers first learned Tuesday afternoon that Brooks had been selling marijuana. They arranged to make a purchase and were able to buy a pound of the drug for $800, Hoyt said. After the buy, officers approached a local circuit judge to acquire a search warrant.
During the search of Brooks? home, detectives found 7.5 pounds of marijuana in a backpack that was open and in plain view on a bedroom floor, $16,841, and six guns, including a 30/30 lever action hunting rifle and a 9 mm machine pistol and several items of drug paraphernalia, police said. The street value of the total 10.5 pounds of marijuana seized is estimated at $10,500, according to Hoyt.
Brooks was arrested on charges of two counts of delivery of a controlled substance-marijuana, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver-marijuana, and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms. Williams was arrested on a charge of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver-marijuana, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, and possession of drug paraphernalia. All the charges are punishable by a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, except the charge of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms which is a Class Y felony, punishable by a prison sentence of 10 to 40 years, or life in the Arkansas Department of Correction.
Brooks was the captain of the football team, a graduate student, who earned a bachelor of science degree in industrial technology from the UA.
Police said they don?t know how long Brooks has been selling drugs or who he was selling to.
Williams was previously a member of the Razorback Belles, a service organization which provides prospective student-athletes and their families tours of the UA campus.
Hoyt said he notified UA football coach Houston Nutt shortly after the defensive tackle was arrested. "He was shocked, surprised and upset that something like this could happen," Hoyt said about his conversation that took place around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Nutt elaborated with reporters Wednesday afternoon, saying that when he talked with Brooks, his team captain admitted he had made a mistake. "The first thing I said during the call was, ? Tell me this is not true, it?s not you, ?" Nutt said. "He said, ? No, coach, it?s me. I made a terrible mistake. ?"
Nutt was clear that no other team members were suspected of being involved in the situation, a point Hoyt also mentioned during the press conference. The coach went on to mention that the players are routinely given drug tests and that he was never aware of a problem concerning Brooks. "Every indication was he was not (using drugs)," Nutt said. "But I don?t know 100 percent."
Brooks was listed as a firstteam nose guard for the 2002 season, and regarded as an All-SEC caliber performer by his coaches. He started in seven of the team?s 11 games in 2001. He and Nutt reportedly had a close relationship, and Brooks apparently spent time at Nutt?s home and with his family. "... I had to dismiss him from the team," Nutt said. "I wish him the best. I love him like a son. It?s so discouraging, so disheartening. I don?t think he realizes how many people he has impacted and hurt, his mother, the team, coaches."
Brooks has retained W. H. Taylor to represent him. Brooks and Williams will be arraigned on the charges in Washington County Circuit Court on Nov. 18. Brooks has been released from the Washington County Jail on a $7,500 bond.
Taylor had no comment about the case other than to say his client plans to enter a plea of innocent.
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gl, anyone in these parts please comment, I bet both teams, arky/lsu early in week, what are your thoughts how this will impact the games ... long time Hog backers will recall the orange bowl when they suspended 3 key players and romped to a win over OU, i believe it was
pt1gard
DAMIEN JAMES UPDATE
LSU free safety Damien James was a no show again at practice Thursday, but his high school coach is hopeful he will eventually return to the team.
Carencro High coach Mac Barousse said he's been unsuccessful in reaching James since he first went missing from practice Monday. But Barousse said some of his current Carencro players have spoken to James.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he came back," Barousse said. "I think the situation could be resolved -- depending on what coach (Nick) Saban decides, of course."
Saban said Wednesday he has not spoken to James since he left the team.
Practice is closed to the media Thursday, but James was not observed getting on or off team buses before practice.
James, a senior, had played in every game for LSU this season. Cornerback Randall Gay is expected to start in James' place.
"I'd love to see this resolved and hope there's a good excuse for his erratic behavior," Barousse said. "He's always been a good, straight forward kid. It's not like him to do something on a whim."
QB DEPTH?
With starting quarterback Matt Mauck out for two months with a torn ligament in his right foot, fellow sophomore Marcus Randall is the starter. But what happens if Randall gets hurt?
The depth chart lists redshirt freshman Rick Clausen and junior college transfer Michael Harrison behind Randall. Clausen hasn't thrown a pass in a game. Harrison is still learning LSU's offense.
Freshman Lester Ricard is practicing only with the scout team and will likely redshirt.
In certain situations, LSU could turn to players who were high school quarterbacks, including running backs Shyrone Carey and Ryan Gilbert and wide receiver Michael Clayton. Saban hasn't mentioned Clayton as an option.
The days of having Josh Booty, Rohan Davey and Craig Nall -- all now on NFL rosters -- are gone.
"I don't think very many people in the country have much depth there," Saban said. "You're lucky if you have one good one, and you're very fortunate if you have two. Most people don't have three."
************************************************
IN arkansas, I found this article
Captain of UA football team arrested on drug charges, kicked off team
BY SARAH FISHER Northwest Arkansas Times
Thursday, October 24, 2002
A well-regarded University of Arkansas Razorback football player has been kicked out of the program awaiting the filing of formal charges that he allegedly sold marijuana to a confidential informant working with police and was in possession of more than 7 pounds of the drug at his Fayetteville home.
Tommy Jer maine Brooks, 22, from Pasadena, Calif., and his girlfriend, 21-year-old Celeste Williams of Joplin, Mo., were arrested shortly after midnight Wednesday after detectives with the 4 th Judicial District Drug Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration served a warrant at his Leverett Avenue home.
According to Fayetteville Police Chief Rick Hoyt in a press conference Wednesday morning at the police department, officers first learned Tuesday afternoon that Brooks had been selling marijuana. They arranged to make a purchase and were able to buy a pound of the drug for $800, Hoyt said. After the buy, officers approached a local circuit judge to acquire a search warrant.
During the search of Brooks? home, detectives found 7.5 pounds of marijuana in a backpack that was open and in plain view on a bedroom floor, $16,841, and six guns, including a 30/30 lever action hunting rifle and a 9 mm machine pistol and several items of drug paraphernalia, police said. The street value of the total 10.5 pounds of marijuana seized is estimated at $10,500, according to Hoyt.
Brooks was arrested on charges of two counts of delivery of a controlled substance-marijuana, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver-marijuana, and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms. Williams was arrested on a charge of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver-marijuana, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, and possession of drug paraphernalia. All the charges are punishable by a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, except the charge of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms which is a Class Y felony, punishable by a prison sentence of 10 to 40 years, or life in the Arkansas Department of Correction.
Brooks was the captain of the football team, a graduate student, who earned a bachelor of science degree in industrial technology from the UA.
Police said they don?t know how long Brooks has been selling drugs or who he was selling to.
Williams was previously a member of the Razorback Belles, a service organization which provides prospective student-athletes and their families tours of the UA campus.
Hoyt said he notified UA football coach Houston Nutt shortly after the defensive tackle was arrested. "He was shocked, surprised and upset that something like this could happen," Hoyt said about his conversation that took place around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Nutt elaborated with reporters Wednesday afternoon, saying that when he talked with Brooks, his team captain admitted he had made a mistake. "The first thing I said during the call was, ? Tell me this is not true, it?s not you, ?" Nutt said. "He said, ? No, coach, it?s me. I made a terrible mistake. ?"
Nutt was clear that no other team members were suspected of being involved in the situation, a point Hoyt also mentioned during the press conference. The coach went on to mention that the players are routinely given drug tests and that he was never aware of a problem concerning Brooks. "Every indication was he was not (using drugs)," Nutt said. "But I don?t know 100 percent."
Brooks was listed as a firstteam nose guard for the 2002 season, and regarded as an All-SEC caliber performer by his coaches. He started in seven of the team?s 11 games in 2001. He and Nutt reportedly had a close relationship, and Brooks apparently spent time at Nutt?s home and with his family. "... I had to dismiss him from the team," Nutt said. "I wish him the best. I love him like a son. It?s so discouraging, so disheartening. I don?t think he realizes how many people he has impacted and hurt, his mother, the team, coaches."
Brooks has retained W. H. Taylor to represent him. Brooks and Williams will be arraigned on the charges in Washington County Circuit Court on Nov. 18. Brooks has been released from the Washington County Jail on a $7,500 bond.
Taylor had no comment about the case other than to say his client plans to enter a plea of innocent.
*************************************************
gl, anyone in these parts please comment, I bet both teams, arky/lsu early in week, what are your thoughts how this will impact the games ... long time Hog backers will recall the orange bowl when they suspended 3 key players and romped to a win over OU, i believe it was
pt1gard
