USM's Bower boots 2, suspends 2 others

[rebelduckaholic]

USM's Bower boots 2, suspends 2 others

By Tim Doherty
tdoherty@clarionledger

HATTIESBURG — Southern Miss will be without five projected starters — including its leading returning rusher and half its defensive backfield — when it opens the football season Sept. 4 with Tulane.

Four veteran players have been disciplined for an unspecified violation of team rules, coach Jeff Bower said Thursday. Two were kicked off the team and two were and suspended for the game against the Green Wave.

Two other veterans who were involved in the violations that led to the dismissals/suspensions quit the team.

Bower dismissed starting safety Darrell Bennett, a senior, and junior reserve linebacker Kenneth Boley.

He suspended senior cornerback John Eubanks and senior tight end Pedi Causey, both projected starters, for the Tulane game.

Senior fullback Anthony Harris and senior strong-side linebacker Naton Stewart, both projected starters, left the team.

Stewart, who came out of the spring as the starter at strong-side, had been suspended for the 2004 regular-season finale after being arrested and charged with DUI earlier in the season.

Both Eubanks, Conference USA's Special Teams Player of the Year in 2004, and Bennett were anchors in a secondary that at least one preseason magazine had tabbed among the best in the nation.

Harris led USM with 714 yards and five touchdowns last season as the team's top tailback. He had been shifted to fullback in the spring and was being counted upon as one of the team's offensive leaders.

[rebelduckaholic]

Sounds like some pretty big problems at The Rock or whatever they call that place.

[mudsucker]

He is "Rocking the Rock"!