SpaceGhost Posted December 20, 2007 Report Share Posted December 20, 2007 http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls07/news/story?id=3162942 Reports: Two Buckeye cornerbacks suspended for title game Associated Press Updated: December 20, 2007, 1:17 PM ET COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Top-ranked Ohio State will be without two cornerbacks -- one a starter and the other a top reserve -- who have been suspended for the Allstate BCS Championship Game against LSU, according to media reports. Donald Washington, a sophomore who has started every game this season for the Buckeyes (11-1), and backup Eugene Clifford were suspended for violating team rules, WCMH-TV and The Columbus Dispatch reported Wednesday. Athletic director Gene Smith declined Thursday to confirm the suspensions and said there was "work to be done" before he could confirm them. Washington, in particular, played a key role in an Ohio State defense ranked among the best in the nation. He had 34 tackles, tied for seventh-best on the team with second-team All-American lineman Vernon Gholston, and also had two tackles for minus yardage, one sack, one interception and one fumble recovery. Washington, 21, started at nickel back a year ago and moved into the starting spot at field corner this spring. In a 48-3 win over Kent State on Oct. 13, the Indianapolis native returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown and recorded his first career sack. With him out of the lineup, redshirt freshman Chimdi Chekwa will most likely move into the starting position. Clifford was a prized recruit last spring after receiving all-state and several national honors during his days at Colerain High School. He was listed as Malcolm Jenkins' backup at border corner on the Buckeyes' latest two-deep chart. Clifford had played in four games, totaling eight tackles. The Buckeyes' final workout before the holidays was on Wednesday. They will be off until returning on Dec. 26, then will practice for a week before flying to New Orleans on Jan. 2. Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimTaylor751647545500 Posted December 20, 2007 Report Share Posted December 20, 2007 With him out of the lineup, redshirt freshman Chimdi Chekwa will most likely move into the starting position. Not really concerned there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinner Posted December 20, 2007 Report Share Posted December 20, 2007 so why wre they suspended? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewhop Posted December 20, 2007 Report Share Posted December 20, 2007 so why wre they suspended? +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Apex Posted December 20, 2007 Report Share Posted December 20, 2007 OSU is being very tight lipped about it for some reason, my dad works there and was unable to find out yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimTaylor751647545500 Posted December 20, 2007 Report Share Posted December 20, 2007 Looks like the local media jumped on this a bit prematurely. Washington WILL be playing. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls07/news/story?id=3162942 COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Top-ranked Ohio State suspended backup cornerback Eugene Clifford for violating team rules and said Thursday that Clifford will not play in the Allstate BCS Championship Game against LSU. WCMH-TV and The Columbus Dispatch reported Wednesday that Buckeyes cornerback Donald Washington also was suspended for the title game, but an Ohio State spokesperson said Thursday that is not the case. Ohio State issued a statement Thursday afternoon announcing Clifford's suspension. Clifford was a prized recruit last spring after receiving all-state and several national honors during his days at Colerain High School. He was listed as Malcolm Jenkins' backup at outside corner on the Buckeyes' latest two-deep chart. Clifford had played in four games, totaling eight tackles. The Buckeyes' (11-1) final workout before the holidays was on Wednesday. They will be off until returning on Dec. 26, then will practice for a week before flying to New Orleans on Jan. 2. Information from The Associated Press and ESPN college football reporter Joe Schad was used in this report. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Posted December 20, 2007 Report Share Posted December 20, 2007 Grades ill bet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conesmasher Posted December 20, 2007 Report Share Posted December 20, 2007 Huh, so where is the discrepancy? Was the "source" incorrect or did OSU change their minds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supldys Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 Yeah washington is playing. Sucks to lose clifford, but we have so much depth in the secondary, I think we'll be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotCarl Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 Looks like the local media jumped on this a bit prematurely. Washington WILL be playing. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls07/news/story?id=3162942 I read it on SI.com earlier this morning that they were both suspended. Maybe they decided winning the BC game was more important than whatever they were going to suspend him for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 I read it on SI.com earlier this morning that they were both suspended. Maybe they decided winning the BC game was more important than whatever they were going to suspend him for? Or maybe nothing was ever confirmed when the media started reporting it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 Or maybe nothing was ever confirmed when the media started reporting it Gosh no, the media would NEVER do such a thing as that!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buteo Posted December 21, 2007 Report Share Posted December 21, 2007 when the media reported the story, clifford's decision was finalized by the coaching stuff. Washington was still being questioned and interviewed about the situation and the media jumped to the conclusion that he would be suspended too. Chekwa is a hell of an athlete and will do fine in replacing clifford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ Posted December 22, 2007 Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 when the media reported the story, clifford's decision was finalized by the coaching stuff. Washington was still being questioned and interviewed about the situation and the media jumped to the conclusion that he would be suspended too. Chekwa is a hell of an athlete and will do fine in replacing clifford. Chekwa already played over Clifford Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buteo Posted December 22, 2007 Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 Chekwa already played over Clifford when they bring in a nickel package they use clifford and put jenkins at safety. This is why losing clifford was going to be a big deal, as clifford is much much much more physical than chekwa. During normal cover 3 or man then they rotated pretty evenly imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supldys Posted December 22, 2007 Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 Did you say clifford was more physical than chekwa? I swear Chekwa gets 2 or 3 passing interference calls a play, in punt formation, on the line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ Posted December 22, 2007 Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 when they bring in a nickel package they use clifford and put jenkins at safety. This is why losing clifford was going to be a big deal, as clifford is much much much more physical than chekwa. During normal cover 3 or man then they rotated pretty evenly imo. No they didn't, they brought in Chekwa and rotated Jenkins to safety. Clifford played mainly on special teams. When in this Nickel coverage they would commonly throw at Chekwa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buteo Posted December 22, 2007 Report Share Posted December 22, 2007 No they didn't, they brought in Chekwa and rotated Jenkins to safety. Clifford played mainly on special teams. When in this Nickel coverage they would commonly throw at Chekwa yea your right. Im getting them confused Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.