kepdawg
02-28-2008, 05:42 PM
SMU quarterback Justin Willis suspended from team
Safety Bryce Hudman also disciplined for violation of rules
04:38 PM CST on Thursday, February 28, 2008
By KATE HAIROPOULOS / The Dallas Morning News
khairopoulos@dallasnews.com
Record-setting SMU quarterback Justin Willis and safety Bryce Hudman have been suspended from the football program for violation of team rules. They will not go through spring practice, which begins Monday under new coach June Jones.
"There has to be accountability," said Jones, widely regarded as a quarterbacks guru.
"You're supposed to be taking care of business."
A source said the suspensions were related to academics and missing team functions.
Jones had not immediately ceded the starting quarterback job to Willis, saying that the best player would play.
Willis, a junior from Denton Ryan, is a two-year starter who passed for 51 career touchdowns. He set a school single-season total offense record with 3,643 yards last fall, and his 2,944 yards passing ranked third-best in a season at SMU.
But SMU went 1-11. Willis was also suspended as a freshman for an altercation with another student at an off-campus gathering.
Hudman, also a junior, set a Conference USA record with 26 tackles at Arkansas State last season.
Both players' names have been removed from the roster on SMU's athletic Web site.
Jones didn't rule out the possibility of the players rejoining the team in the future.
SMU has incoming freshmen quarterbacks who Jones has said could contend for playing time immediately, including Katy's Bo Levi Mitchell, who had committed to Jones at Hawaii, and Rockwall's Braden Smith.
As far as spring practice goes, Zach Rhodes and Logan Turner backed up Willis last season. Michael Morse (Richardson Pearce) and Daniel Miller (Lake Highlands) are also "We still have four or five quarterbacks; we'll be OK," Jones said. "The quarterbacks here will have a chance to get better."
When Jones first took over at Hawaii, he kicked the team’s top running back and top defensive player off the team.
LINK (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/022908dnsposmufblede.7a8a7af.html)
Safety Bryce Hudman also disciplined for violation of rules
04:38 PM CST on Thursday, February 28, 2008
By KATE HAIROPOULOS / The Dallas Morning News
khairopoulos@dallasnews.com
Record-setting SMU quarterback Justin Willis and safety Bryce Hudman have been suspended from the football program for violation of team rules. They will not go through spring practice, which begins Monday under new coach June Jones.
"There has to be accountability," said Jones, widely regarded as a quarterbacks guru.
"You're supposed to be taking care of business."
A source said the suspensions were related to academics and missing team functions.
Jones had not immediately ceded the starting quarterback job to Willis, saying that the best player would play.
Willis, a junior from Denton Ryan, is a two-year starter who passed for 51 career touchdowns. He set a school single-season total offense record with 3,643 yards last fall, and his 2,944 yards passing ranked third-best in a season at SMU.
But SMU went 1-11. Willis was also suspended as a freshman for an altercation with another student at an off-campus gathering.
Hudman, also a junior, set a Conference USA record with 26 tackles at Arkansas State last season.
Both players' names have been removed from the roster on SMU's athletic Web site.
Jones didn't rule out the possibility of the players rejoining the team in the future.
SMU has incoming freshmen quarterbacks who Jones has said could contend for playing time immediately, including Katy's Bo Levi Mitchell, who had committed to Jones at Hawaii, and Rockwall's Braden Smith.
As far as spring practice goes, Zach Rhodes and Logan Turner backed up Willis last season. Michael Morse (Richardson Pearce) and Daniel Miller (Lake Highlands) are also "We still have four or five quarterbacks; we'll be OK," Jones said. "The quarterbacks here will have a chance to get better."
When Jones first took over at Hawaii, he kicked the team’s top running back and top defensive player off the team.
LINK (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/022908dnsposmufblede.7a8a7af.html)