Friar freshmen suspended for remainder of season
GoLocal Sports Team
Friar freshmen suspended for remainder of season
The news for two freshman basketball players at Providence College isn’t good news.
Freshmen Brandon Austin and Rodney Bullock, comprising coach Ed Cooley’s entire recruiting class for the 2013-14 school year, have been suspended from participating with the basketball team for the remainder of the current season. Austin and Bullock will be allowed to remain in school and practice with the team, if they choose to do so, but are not allowed to play in any games.
Austin and Bullock were originally suspended from game play on November 6th for team violations “and not upholding their responsibilities as student athletes,” according to a statement released by the school at that time. Without any definitive word as to the nature of the alleged transgressions committed by the two players, and with no criminal charges filed against either student, a review process has been completed through the school’s judicial system with the decision that both will remain ineligible.
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The Providence College Office of Public Affairs, Community and Government Relations issued a statement early Monday evening. “Providence College is announcing today that freshmen Brandon Austin (Philadelphia, PA) and Rodney Bullock (Hampton, VA) will not compete in games for the College’s Men’s Basketball Team for the remainder of the 2013-2014 season. The two student-athletes will be able to practice with the team.”
Details of the transgressions committed by the two players have not been disclosed, and the College cited privacy laws that do not allow them to divulge any information about a student’s academic or disciplinary conduct without prior consent. However, the Rhode Island State Police and Providence police have reported they have not been contacted to investigate any criminal complaints on either of the two players.
As a private institution, Providence College has the right to administer discipline in any way they see fit, and the school’s student handbook does contain the clause “disciplinary action may be taken whether or not criminal charges are filed and without regard to whether the conduct occurred on or off the Providence College campus.”
As for what comes next, Cooley told GoLocalProv he expects the two to return for practice Christmas night, and begin “working toward next year.”
Austin, a highly-recruited 6-6 guard and Bullock, a 6-7 forward, have largely been silent and not seen with the team for games at the Dunkin Donuts Center. They did travel to St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam tournament in November, but did not play in the games or sit on the bench with the team. The only comments from either player since their suspension has come from Austin, who posted recently via Twitter “No matter how many times life knocks me down, I will get back up,” and “Others want to see you fail, don’t let them have what you want. It will hurt, it will take time, it will require dedication and sacrifice but it will be worth it. I will make a name for myself, I will be successful.”
The Friars currently stand at 10-2 on the season with one game remaining at UMass next Saturday before Big East play begins on December 31st. The loss of both players is another blow to a team already hurt by the loss of guard Kris Dunn due to a shoulder injury, leaving Providence short of depth in the backcourt. While the two players would be able to play for PC next fall, both Austin and Bullock retain the option of transferring immediately and becoming eligible to play at another school by next December…or they may stay and apply for a redshirt year to retain four years of eligibility at Providence.
Ten Greatest Days in New England Sports History
February 1, 2004
Patriots 2004 Super Bowl
In 2004, the Patriots captured their third Super Bowl in four years. The win put New England in the group of the small number of dynasty teams in the NFL, joining the Packers, Steelers and 49ers.
Super Bowl XXXVIII finished with the Patriots holding on to a 32-29 win over the Carolina Panthers.
The game was also famous for the infamous wardrobe malfunction involving Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake.
December 21, 2010
Longest Winning Streak
The UConn women broke UCLA men's streak of the most consecutive wins in a season.
They dominated their sport like no other and on December 21, 2010, UConn's 93-62 win over Florida State put UConn women in the #1 position.
Later, Sports Illustrated named UConn women as the #3 greatest dynasty in sports in the decade behind only the Lakers and Patriots.
June 12, 1984
Celtics v. Lakers
The 1980's were the glory days of the NBA and the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers were the two teams that elevated the play and excitement of the era.
Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were the superstars and were the feature players. Their rivalry started in the NCAA finals when Magic dazzled and Bird fizzled.
On June 12, 1984, the Celtics won game seven, 111-102 with Cedric Maxwell leading the Celts in scoring with 24 points and a team leading 8 assists. Bird was MVP of the series.
October 27, 2004
Curse of the Bambino
In 2004, after the dramatic historic come from behind win against the Yankees, the Red Sox went on to the World Series and swept the Cardinals 4-0, to win the first title since 1918.
The World Series win broke the proverbial "Curse of the Bambino" which had been in place since the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees.
November 23, 1984
BC v. Miami
There could not have been a more unlikely superstar and there could not have been a bigger stage to pull off the most dramatic win when BC beat the defending National Champions. Quarterback Doug Flutie put on the best show - maybe ever -- in college football.
Flutie threw for 474 yards and 4 touchdowns and the last TD was to Gerard Phelan on the final play - maybe the most exciting play ever in sports.
Final score: BC 47, University of Miami 45.
October 13, 2013
Patriots Beat New Orleans on Last Second TD; Red Sox Comeback from 5 Runs Down v. Tigers
New England sports fans enjoyed the most improbable double header comeback wins.
First, the Patriots upset the undefeated New Orleans Saints with a 70 yard last minute drive that saw the Patriots score with just 5 seconds to steal a 30-27 win. The Saints had numerous opportunities to put the game away.
Then, the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the ALCS at home rallied from a 5 run deficit in the 6th inning and came back on a David Ortiz grand slam to tie and a 9th inning hit to win. The Red Sox had lost Game One of the series 1-0 and were on the verge in Game Two of losing any chance of winning the series.
May 10, 1970
Bruins Beat Blues 4-3 in OT to Win Stanley Cup
The Boston Bruins took New England by storm behind the play of Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr.
In the final game and the score tied 3-3, Orr scored the winning and iconic goal to launch the Bruins into the hearts of New Englanders and to create one of sports most memorable photos.
April 28, 1966
Celtics Win 8th Straight, Red's Last Game, Russell First African American Head Coach
The win by the Boston Celtics over the Los Angeles Lakers in 1966 was a triple header for sports.
First, the 1966 Championship was the 8th straight and set a record never to be matched.
Second, it was the last game that Red Auerbach would ever coach.
Third, as Red stepped down, the enigmatic Bill Russell was named player coach - he was the first African American pro coach of the modern sports era. (Brown alum, Fritz Pollard coached pro football).
February 3, 2002
Patriots Upset Rams to Win 1st Super Bowl
The New England Patriots were 14 point underdogs to the Rams and this was expected to be one of the biggest blowouts in Super Bowl history.
Instead, the Patriots played physical defense and although outgained 427-267 in yards, went on to best the Rams.
The Patriots won on a last second field goal to win their 1st Super Bowl by a score of 20-17.
October 20, 2004
Red Sox Come Back from Down 0-3, to Beat Yankees in ACLS
The Red Sox were looking at another sad loss to the New York Yankees three games to zero and down to 3-4 in the ninth inning and down to their last three outs. The Sox scratched a run off a stolen base by Dave Roberts and a clutch hit by Bill Mueller to tie the game 4-4 and send it into extra innings.
In the 12th inning, the Red Sox scored two runs off a walk off homer by David Ortiz.
The Red Sox went on to make history winning three more games.
