February 9, 2012

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Report: Weslye Saunders not eligible for NFL draft

February 3, 2011 By

According to a report, former USC tight end Weslye Saunders has been ruled ineligible for the April NFL draft.  The report cited a paperwork snafu by Saunders in his petition to enter the NFL draft after what would have been his junior season.

Saunders was scheduled to attend the NFL scouting combine but his invitation has been rescinded since he is not eligible for the draft. 

It has been a rough year for Saunders.  He was linked to an NCAA investigation over the summer and was dismissed from the USC football team in September.  He did not play in a game this season.

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Saunders seeking reinstatement to USC football team

September 22, 2010 By

Former USC tight end Weslye Saunders, who was dismissed from the team last week by athletic director Eric Hyman, is asking to be reinstated according to a source close to Saunders.  Saunders met with Hyman Tuesday, and he’s also met with head coach Steve Spurrier.  Hyman did not give Saunders a definite decision on his appeal. 

According to the source, Saunders was told by the NCAA that he would recive a minimum six game suspension for his involvment with a sports agent.  Saunders is asking that he be allowed to return to the team after sitting out six games. 

But Saunders also had issues with Spurrier related to his living arraingment at the Whitney Hotel, where he still resides, and with allegedly lying to the coaching staff about why he was late for a pre-season practice and scrimmage.  Saunders told the source  that Spurrier indicated he would be willing to take him back after the six game penalty.

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Weslye Saunders dismissed by USC

September 15, 2010 By

The Weslye Saunders era at USC is officially over.  On Wednesday afternoon the university announced Saunders is no longer with the team. 

Below is the official release from USC:

University of South Carolina senior tight end Weslye Saunders has been dismissed from the football program, Athletics Director Eric Hyman announced today.

“Weslye Saunders is no longer part of our football program,” said Hyman. “Beyond that I will have no further comment.”

Saunders, a 6-5, 270-pounder from Durham, N.C., had been suspended indefinitely since August 23 following a violation of team rules.

Saunders has been in the headlines since the summer when he was linked to a sports agent.   Saunders was later identified as one of the players allegedly receiving a reduced rate to stay at a downtown Columbia hotel, which would be considered an impermissible benefit.

Saunders was suspended indefinitely by Steve Spurrier  prior to the Gamecocks season opener.  Saunders reportedly lied to the Gamecock coaches about his whereabouts during a team meeting.  He told the coaches he was meeting with NCAA investigators, which was not accurate. 

USC is ranked 13th in the country and will play host Furman Saturday night in Columbia.

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NCAA ruling on USC players could come today

September 8, 2010 By

Steve Spurrier told reporters on the SEC Coaches Teleconference today that he is under the impression he will get some news from the NCAA on the status of Chris Culliver, Jariel King and Weslye Saunders sometime today.

You can hear Spurrier’s comments on the NCAA investigation at about the 2:00 minute mark in the below audio.

AUDIO: Steve Spurrier on SEC Conference Call

“Haven’t heard anything official yet,” Spurrier said.  “I’ve hear there may be something official later this afternoon.  Maybe you can call our athletic director or… naw, I better not say that.  Wait til it comes out, okay?  I just heard there may be something official later on, but that’s all I heard.

Spurrier did not say if he expected to get good news or bad news from the NCAA.

“I don’t know anything, Spurrier said.  “I just think there may come something today or it may be tomorrow.  We’ll have to wait and see.  We are all waiting.”

Georgia is also waiting on news from the NCAA regarding star wide receiver A.J. Green.  The former Summerville star is being investigated by the NCAA for allegedly selling one of his game jersey’s to a Georgia booster.  Green did not play in the Bulldogs opener last weekend because of the incident.  Georgia is hoping to find out if he can play Saturday against the Gamecocks sometime today.

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Report: Weslye Saunders lied to USC coaches

August 24, 2010 By

I guess this is why Steve Spurrier was being so vague when he announced last night that senior tight end Weslye Saunders had been suspended for a “violation of team rules”.  Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier is reporting that Saunders was suspended for lying to the coaching staff about why he was late to practice on Saturday.

Here is the kicker: according to Haney,  Saunders actually tried to use the NCAA investigation as an excuse to bail on team obligations.

Saunders, a senior, missed multiple team meetings Saturday morning, the sources said. He appeared at the stadium some time before the team’s scheduled scrimmage, which began a little after 10 a.m.

Later, when coaches asked Saunders why he was tardy, Saunders told them it was because he was talking with NCAA officials. A quick check with the school’s compliance office showed that Saunders wasn’t telling the truth.

USC has been in close contact with the NCAA about the interviews it has conducted, on campus, with Saunders and other players.

Last night Spurrier didn’t elaborate on the reasoning but if you listen close he did seem to hint that it wasn’t related to the NCAA investigation of Saunders.

Spurrier’s Monday comments on Saunders

Spurrier

This is so stupid that I honestly wouldn’t believe it if it weren’t true.  It really would be hard to make up something like this.  Parlaying an NCAA investigation into your selfish actions into another selfish action  is pretty darn scandalous. 

This stunt ranks pretty high on the rapidly expanding playlist of dopey Wesley Saunders decisions.

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