The suspended players must pay a fine and choose whether to sit out of Saturday’s game against Florida State University or another game against a conference opponent, according to Robinson.
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The school said it is continuing an internal review and working with the NCAA and Big South Conference.
Chadwell said they found out Thursday afternoon that more players needed to serve suspensions.
That’s the claim laid out by running back Ben Robinson, who says that he and his teammates were told by bookstore staff to spend their leftover loot in the use-it-or-lose-it shopping session. It has led to players being suspended for using scholarship money allocated for books to purchase other items at the school bookstore.
Charleston Southern University players posted their frustrations over missing a game on social media. Charleston Southern is 0-16 against FBS teams and has lost by an average margin of 43.4 points.
The Buccaneers, ranked No. 7 in the Football Championship Subdivision coaches poll, lost to North Dakota State 24-17 in overtime on August 27 and beat Kentucky State 57-7 last Saturday.
Florida State’s focus now turns to its ACC opener next weekend at No. 13 Louisville – a matchup that is currently scheduled for noon, but may still become ESPN’s game of the week.
“You can second guess yourself all day, and I’m sad it happened – if it happened – I mean, getting injured”, Fisher said of James.
In Fisher’s seven years as coach, Florida State has defeated the seven FCS teams it has faced by an average of almost seven touchdowns (48.3 points).
Charleston Southern will be without 14 starters including 10 of their regular starters.
For the Seminoles, Wharton alum Auden Tate added some Tampa flair when he caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Francois in the third quarter to push the score to 49-6.
Francois though got off to a quick start, completing 10 of his first 12 passes.
Fisher is also hoping that using Cook more as a receiver will allow the running back to take less of a beating. With Cook as an additional receiving threat that should draw more single coverage for receivers Travis Rudolph, Bobo Wilson and Kermit Whitfield.
As a freshman, James had the second-most tackles (91) and tackles for loss (9.5) for the Seminoles with 4.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. They then trounced Kentucky State, 55-7, in Week 2 in advance of Saturday’s game against the Seminoles. Copeland, a junior, is out for the rest of the season.
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“Obviously, we’re missing some people that are some good players for us”, Gamecocks coach Jamey Chadwell told local television station WCIV-TV before boarding a bus headed to Tallahassee, Fla. “We have to build his confidence because he is going to be a big part of what we’re doing going forward”.
