From UCLA (via email):
Two members of the Bruin football team have been suspended for one game for violation of team rules, UCLA head football Coach Rick Neuheisel announced today.
Wide receiver Josh Smith and F-back Morrell Presley will not play in the Oct. 21 contest against second-ranked Oregon in Eugene.
Due to federal and state student privacy laws, UCLA will have no further comment on the matter.
Well so much for the shameless and hackish hyperventilating on the part of the Trojan Times and the OC Register earlier today getting everyone into a frenzy. If those guys were run by individuals with any sense of professional decency they'd be ashamed of themselves but that is too much to expect from bunch of UCLA hating hacks. Clearly the garbage from Chris Foster and Scott Reid appears to be kind of fabricated and a pathetic, disgusting, preemptive hit job on UCLA to create a story.
Let's give credit where credit is due which is to Jon Gold, who did a wonderful job of not joining a feeding frenzy, showing commendable professional restraint throughout the day. As for the suspensions, more on them after the flip.
Both of these suspensions are both very disappointing news. First, wrt to Josh Smith this is not going to help him (or our program) as were hoping the coaches would trust him with more responsibilities. Second, wrt to Morrell Presley, this is now his third bout with suspension as member of UCLA football program. He was suspended for a game for undisclosed violation of team rules following the Tennessee game last season. He was also suspended for the EagleBank Bowl due to academic ineligibility issues. At this point the question becomes whether Presley should remain with the football program.
In terms of personnel, I am assuming Damien Thigpen will get a lot of looks at F-Back (along with Anthony Barr if he gets back from his calf strain injury). Josh Smith's injury will probably mean more reps for Jerry Johnson and Randall Carroll. Hope they will step up.
GO BRUINS.