March 1, 2005

Demetris Summers dismissed from team (updated)

South Carolina has confirmed that star running back Demetris Summers has been kicked off the football team for an undisclosed violation of team rules. He played in 11 games and started 8 in his freshman season in 2003 and was the second-leading rusher on the team. Summers was named to the All-SEC freshman team following that season. In 2004, Summers played in 9 games and rushed for 529 yards and 1 touchdown.

In high school, Summers was a Parade All-American and ranked as the #1 national running back prospect by some recruiting services. He was Mr. Football for South Carolina and holds the state records for career rushing yardage (9,076) and career touchdowns (127.)

In other unrelated news, an attorney for Woodly Telfort and Brian Brownlee filed a speedy trial motion for disposition of felony grand larceny charges in court today related to the theft of laptops, projection equipment and large framed action photographs from Williams-Brice Stadium. Brownlee previously applied for pre-trial intervention. Telfort is ineligible for pre-trial intervention. Syvelle Newton, Dondrial Pinkins, Freddy Saint-Preux and Rod Wilson have court appearances later this month on misdemeanor charges related to the same thefts.

The Gamecocks will play their spring game (which will be called the Garnet and Black game for the first time) on April 16.

UPDATE
The official announcement says that Summers was dismissed for violating an "athletic department policy."

Head coach Steve Spurrier's statement:

"There are certain policies and rules that our student-athletes must follow and unfortunately, Demetris chose to violate those," said USC head coach Steve Spurrier. "That's where we are with this and we'll move on from here."

UPDATE #2
Phil Kornblut of S.C. News Network reports:

The action was confirmed Tuesday night by USC sports information director Kerry Tharp. Spurrier informed his team at a meeting Tuesday that a player had been dismissed saying there are three ways a player can be dismissed from the team... fighting with a teammate, stealing and using drugs. Tharp later confirmed that Summers had been dismissed.

More information from the Associated Press:

Athletics department spokesman Kerry Tharp would not say what rule Summers violated, but said Spurrier is disappointed.

"Anytime you lose one of your athletes, anytime one of your athletes makes a decision like this, it can certainly disappoint you, no doubt," Tharp said.

Tharp did not know what the future holds for Summers, but said he will retain his scholarship for this semester.

[...]

Summers is the second standout running back to be kicked off the team in recent years. Derek Watson, who was the state's career high-school rushing leader before Summers' broke his records, was kicked off the team for a drug arrest in 2003 before his senior season.

Tharp said it was unfair to compare Summers to Watson.

"Those are different individuals and different situations. It's just unfortunate," Tharp said. "Hopefully, he'll complete his education. That would be my advice to him."

It's also not the first time Summers has been in trouble with the team. Last summer Holtz sent Summers and other promising players a message by banning them from working out with the team part of the summer. He eventually rejoined the team before the season began.

UPDATE #3
It has been reported that sources at South Carolina have said that Summers was dismissed for a second violation of the athletic department's drug policy. Summers' high school coach said Spurrier told him that he would help place Summers at another school.

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