Rasp
Senior Editor
Oh, no, not the "Lamecocks" again
Gamecock football player arrested
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Redshirt freshman David Smith was suspended from the South Carolina football team after being arrested in connection with a break-in at his former girlfriend's home, school and police officials said Wednesday.
South Carolina athletic spokesman Kerry Tharp said Smith was suspended indefinitely. Coach Steve Spurrier said it was unlikely Smith, 20, would return to the Gamecocks.
Photo courtesy of
USCsports.com
Smith was charged with first-degree burglary, criminal domestic violence and simple assault, trespassing after notice, dest
ruction of public property and damaging property of another. Smith had a hearing at the Lexington County Judicial Center where a magistrate outlined the charges against him, sheriff's Capt. John Allard said.
If convicted of the burglary charge alone, Smith faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Smith remained in the Lexington County jail Wednesday awaiting a bond hearing, Allard said.
Smith is the latest Gamecock to face criminal charges or get dismissed from the team in what has been a chaotic offseason.
The bad marks began in the last regular-season game when South Carolina players brawled with Clemson players - a fight that made national headlines - late in the season-ending game.
When the Gamecocks learned two days later th
ey would not go to a bowl game as part of the penalty for fighting, about $18,000 worth of computer and video equipment and framed photographs were taken from Williams-Brice Stad
ium. Six players, including returnees Syvelle Newton, Freddy Saint-Preaux and Woodly Telfort, were charged in the thefts.
Star running back Demetris Summers, counted on to be a force in Spurrier's "fun-'n-gun" attack, was dismissed for violating an unspecified team rule, although several reports say the reason was drug-related.
Then starting defensive lineman Moe Thompson and redshirt freshman Kevin Mainord were charged with breaking into dorm rooms while female students slept and stealing televisions and DVD players. Thompson went nearly a week before surrendering to police and facing charges of first-degree burglary.
Spurrier sa
id that if the charges against Thompson, Mainord and Telfort, one of two players charged with a felony in the stadium thefts, prove true, they will be kicked off the team permanently.
"We thought we were at the end and then this comes up," Spurrier said Wednesday of the new
charges. "Hopefully, this is the end. I don't know, maybe there will be more."
Smith's case appeared to be more violent than the others, according to the Cayce Police Department report.
Police responded just after midnight when Smith's ex-girlfriend called 911. Kendra Betsill told police Smith had knocked in a bedroom window at her apartment complex. When the officer arrived, he heard Betsill and Smith yelling, according to the report.
Betsill told police Smith broke in and chased a man out of her apartment. She said she closed the door to keep Smith out, but the player came in again through the bedroom window.
Betsill said Smith threatened her and grabbed her by the nec
k, choking her with his hands. Smith had previously been warned against trespassing at Betsill's apartment, according to the police report.
After Smith was handcuffed and placed in a patrol car, officers said he kicked out the passenger window. The other man, identified in the report as Mr. Hayes, told poli
ce Smith hit and kicked him several times.
The report estimated Smith caused about $300 worth of damage.
Spurrier says it can't always be helped when players make bad choices off the field. "Hopefully, our fans out there won't see that as a reflection on the entire team," he said.
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Spurrier must be thinking he'd be better off coaching in the prison leagues. In fact, that's where all his players eventually end up getting "drafted".
Gamecock football player arrested
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Redshirt freshman David Smith was suspended from the South Carolina football team after being arrested in connection with a break-in at his former girlfriend's home, school and police officials said Wednesday.
South Carolina athletic spokesman Kerry Tharp said Smith was suspended indefinitely. Coach Steve Spurrier said it was unlikely Smith, 20, would return to the Gamecocks.
Photo courtesy of
USCsports.com
Smith was charged with first-degree burglary, criminal domestic violence and simple assault, trespassing after notice, dest
ruction of public property and damaging property of another. Smith had a hearing at the Lexington County Judicial Center where a magistrate outlined the charges against him, sheriff's Capt. John Allard said.
If convicted of the burglary charge alone, Smith faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Smith remained in the Lexington County jail Wednesday awaiting a bond hearing, Allard said.
Smith is the latest Gamecock to face criminal charges or get dismissed from the team in what has been a chaotic offseason.
The bad marks began in the last regular-season game when South Carolina players brawled with Clemson players - a fight that made national headlines - late in the season-ending game.
When the Gamecocks learned two days later th
ey would not go to a bowl game as part of the penalty for fighting, about $18,000 worth of computer and video equipment and framed photographs were taken from Williams-Brice Stad
ium. Six players, including returnees Syvelle Newton, Freddy Saint-Preaux and Woodly Telfort, were charged in the thefts.
Star running back Demetris Summers, counted on to be a force in Spurrier's "fun-'n-gun" attack, was dismissed for violating an unspecified team rule, although several reports say the reason was drug-related.
Then starting defensive lineman Moe Thompson and redshirt freshman Kevin Mainord were charged with breaking into dorm rooms while female students slept and stealing televisions and DVD players. Thompson went nearly a week before surrendering to police and facing charges of first-degree burglary.
Spurrier sa
id that if the charges against Thompson, Mainord and Telfort, one of two players charged with a felony in the stadium thefts, prove true, they will be kicked off the team permanently.
"We thought we were at the end and then this comes up," Spurrier said Wednesday of the new
charges. "Hopefully, this is the end. I don't know, maybe there will be more."
Smith's case appeared to be more violent than the others, according to the Cayce Police Department report.
Police responded just after midnight when Smith's ex-girlfriend called 911. Kendra Betsill told police Smith had knocked in a bedroom window at her apartment complex. When the officer arrived, he heard Betsill and Smith yelling, according to the report.
Betsill told police Smith broke in and chased a man out of her apartment. She said she closed the door to keep Smith out, but the player came in again through the bedroom window.
Betsill said Smith threatened her and grabbed her by the nec
k, choking her with his hands. Smith had previously been warned against trespassing at Betsill's apartment, according to the police report.
After Smith was handcuffed and placed in a patrol car, officers said he kicked out the passenger window. The other man, identified in the report as Mr. Hayes, told poli
ce Smith hit and kicked him several times.
The report estimated Smith caused about $300 worth of damage.
Spurrier says it can't always be helped when players make bad choices off the field. "Hopefully, our fans out there won't see that as a reflection on the entire team," he said.
-------------------
Spurrier must be thinking he'd be better off coaching in the prison leagues. In fact, that's where all his players eventually end up getting "drafted".