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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina quarterback Blake Mitchell was one of three players suspended for the opening game against Louisiana-Lafayette for missing summer school classes, an athletics spokesman said Thursday.
Mitchell, tailback Bobby Wallace and cornerback Chris Hail were suspended for the Gamecocks' home opener Sept. 1, spokesman Steve Fink said.
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The three players also were suspended from the team's first two practices this fall for missing classes.
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier was not immediately available for comment Thursday afternoon, Fink said.
The suspension is the latest setback for the Gamecocks starting quarterback. Mitchell was arrested a year ago and charged with simple assault after a nightclub bouncer told police that Mitchell punched him. The charge was later dropped, but Mitchell sat out for several weeks as Syvelle Newton ran the Gamecocks' offense.
Behind Mitchell this year are redshirt freshman Chris Smelley and sophomore Tommy Beecher.
When Mitchell, a 6-foot-3, 211-pounder from LaGrange, Ga., was suspended for practices this fall, Spurrier said he was disappointed, but not shocked because the quarterback had "done some disappointing things before."
Mitchell, who started much of the last two seasons, said then that he had let down his coaches and teammates.
The suspension also were announced on Spurrier's Web site for Gamecock fans, www.spurrierhbc.com. A fourth player, Jordin Lindsey, was originally listed as suspended for the first game, but an updated posting said the senior linebacker has been reinstated.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press.
Mitchell, tailback Bobby Wallace and cornerback Chris Hail were suspended for the Gamecocks' home opener Sept. 1, spokesman Steve Fink said.
ADVERTISEMENT
The three players also were suspended from the team's first two practices this fall for missing classes.
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier was not immediately available for comment Thursday afternoon, Fink said.
The suspension is the latest setback for the Gamecocks starting quarterback. Mitchell was arrested a year ago and charged with simple assault after a nightclub bouncer told police that Mitchell punched him. The charge was later dropped, but Mitchell sat out for several weeks as Syvelle Newton ran the Gamecocks' offense.
Behind Mitchell this year are redshirt freshman Chris Smelley and sophomore Tommy Beecher.
When Mitchell, a 6-foot-3, 211-pounder from LaGrange, Ga., was suspended for practices this fall, Spurrier said he was disappointed, but not shocked because the quarterback had "done some disappointing things before."
Mitchell, who started much of the last two seasons, said then that he had let down his coaches and teammates.
The suspension also were announced on Spurrier's Web site for Gamecock fans, www.spurrierhbc.com. A fourth player, Jordin Lindsey, was originally listed as suspended for the first game, but an updated posting said the senior linebacker has been reinstated.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press.
