Numerous Charleston Southern Players Suspended For FSU Game Due To NCAA Violations


At least 30 Charleston Southern players will serve suspensions, some for Saturday’s game at Florida State, due to NCAA violations.  The list includes the entire starting offensive line.


Charleston Southern players are furious over an apparent misunderstanding that has led to nearly half the roster being given a one-game suspension that some will serve Saturday against Florida State.

The entire Buccaneers’ starting offensive line is among at least 30 players that must sit out one game, according to players who took to social media to express their displeasure with the school and the NCAA. Charleston Southern self-reported the violations last week, and head coach Jamey Chadwell will serve his suspension Oct. 8 against Albany State.

Running back Ben Robinson wrote that he and his teammates were informed Thursday of the one-game suspension and were given the choice to sit out against the Seminoles or Charleston Southern’s Big South Conference opener Sept. 24 at Monmouth.

Robinson also wrote that the players have been suspended for using money designated for books on other supplies. From Robinson’s Facebook page:

“So basically about 30+ players on my team including me have been suspended for using book money to buy other things in the book store like pencils, binders, and electronics, out of our school bookstore. We would have left over book money and the workers in the bookstore advised us to spend the money because we would not get it back, so we did. Now the school and NCAA are saying that is against the rules. So we all have to pay a fine and sit out a game.”

Wide receiver Colton Korn and offensive lineman Frank Cirone also are suspended and took to social media. They blamed the school for not informing them of the rules and not standing by them for what appears to be an honest mistake.

Charleston Southern is ranked No. 7 in the FCS and is expected to compete for a playoff spot. Many players chose to forgo their opportunity to play at Florida State in order to be eligible for the first conference game, which is far more important in the grand scheme.

The Seminoles were labeled 37 ½-point favorites before the suspensions became public.


UPDATE – Charleston Southern released a statement later Friday that states a total of 32 players will receive a one-game suspension, including 14 who will sit out against Florida State. Sixteen players’ bans were “staggered over the first two weeks of the season,” and two others will serve suspensions at a later date.


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