Dismissed Gamecock Saunders suspended by NFL

Question

Weslye Saunders

PITTSBURGH, PA (WIS) - Former University of South Carolina tight-end Weslye Saunders has been suspended for the first four games of the 2012 NFL season, according to WPXI.

The league has yet to announce the reason for Saunders' suspension, but a third violation of the league's substance abuse policy or testing positive for a performance enhancing drug would result in four-game suspensions.

Before being kicked off the Gamecock football team in September of 2010 for violating team rules, Saunders was regarded as a top prospect for the 2011 NFL Draft. Instead, he went undrafted and signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

During his rookie season, he had four catches for 29 yards and one touchdown in 6 starts.


Leading up to his dismissal from the Gamecocks, Saunders had been questioned by the NCAA at least twice about his relationship with an agent and attendance at a party in Miami. He later admitted to lying during that questioning.

Saunders, along with other football players, was also involved in an investigation into improper living arrangements while at USC. The NCAA said that he and at least 11 other student-athletes received reduced rent to the tune of $47,000 at the Whitney Hotel in Columbia from 2009 through 2010.

According to the NCAA, some players received rates as low as $14.59 per day.

Saunders has not commented on his suspension.

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by Clemson Goat.

Answer 1

He must have found 14 dollar a night hotel rooms

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by 4forcu.

Answer 2

Why is $14 a night in a nice hotel bad?

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by 81graduate.

Answer 3

testing positive for a performance enhancing drug would result in four-game suspensions....Hummm

In October 1988, Sports Illustrated published a lengthy article on alleged steroid abuse in the football program at the University of South Carolina. The article, titled "The Nightmare of Steroids" and written by University of South Carolina football player Tommy Chaikin in collaboration with Sports Illustrated's Rick Telander, alleged the widespread use of steroids in the football program at the school.[1] Following the article, a federal grand jury indicted four University of South Carolina football coaches in connection with steroid distribution to players.[2] Three of the coaches pleaded guilty in plea-bargain arrangements[3] and the fourth was acquitted.[4] The episode was listed among "some of college football's biggest scandals" by sports reporter Tom Weir of USA Today.[5]

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by Clemson Goat.

Answer 4

You'll find out in about a week

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by 4forcu.

Answer 5

ESPN.....
Steelers reserve tight end Weslye Saunders was suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2012 season for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

His suspension begins Sept. 1, but he will be allowed to participate in offseason practices and the entire preseason. According to the Tribune-Review, Saunders is believed to have taken a stimulant prescription drug unknowingly or without receiving a medical waiver from the NFL.

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by Clemson Goat.

Answer 6

If you are old enough to remember that, then surely you know Clemson had a steroid scandal. It resulted in a death. I feel bad that either of the South Carolina schools have this in our past.

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by hubstar55.

Answer 7

so true

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by 4forcu.

Answer 8

My question ...is it still in the past...It may not be the roids of the old days.....but still some type of enhancing drug

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by Clemson Goat.

Answer 9

I assume your question is in regards to the Saunders situation? He has not worn a Gamecock uniform for a couple of years now, was kicked of the USC team and is a native of North Carolina.

I find it hard to associate his problem with his time at USC.

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by hubstar55.

Answer 10

HMMMMMMMM! Pittsberg. Isn't that where Steve Courson played? A 35 year pipeline from Columbia to Pitt.

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by sgacock.

Answer 11

HMMMMMMMM! Pittsberg. Isn't that where Steve Courson played? A 35 year pipeline from Columbia to Pitt.



HUH ? Did I miss something

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by 4forcu.

Answer 12

The death was related to pain killers not roids.......He was a cross country runner by the name Jaspers....

This post was edited on 2/16 10:43 AM by Clemson Goat

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by Clemson Goat.

Answer 13

I have no idea about that young man but I lived near Clemson at the time, and Clemson had their own steroids issue at the time- as of course South Carolina did as well.

It's been said by some in the media that steroids were a problem on 75% plus of football programs back in those time periods - sadly.

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by SGamecock3.

Answer 14

Clemson was only accused of giving out steriods.
The death of that young man was pain killers and the coots ran with the steriods thing

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by 4forcu.

Answer 15

I inferred the steroids led to the young mans death and that is probably not true but his death did lead to the discovery of steroid use at Clemson, which was the point I was trying to make. Goat posted the USC steroid link as if it has been an ongoing occurrence exclusive to USC. It was neither exclusive nor ongoing.

I am not sure what your post means."Clemson was only accused of giving out steriods." Are you saying it was merely an accusation and did not happen, with nothing ever coming out of it but the accusations?

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by hubstar55.

Answer 16

They were NEVER a discovery of steriod use at Clemson!!!

Clemson was accused but no one EVER discovered use. Myth

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by 4forcu.

Answer 17

It was admitted.

Narewski saved the campus police some legwork when he told them in an interview that he had given Jaspers the bute, which, he said, he had obtained from Colson. In a separate interview, Colson told the Clemson police that he had originally obtained the drug from Tennessee to treat a personal back ailment. Beyond that, Narewski and Colson had steadfastly refused to discuss their alleged involvement in the prescription pipeline?until last week. Then Colson's lawyer, John T. Gentry of Pickens, S.C., broke the silence. In an interview with SI, he admitted that Colson had distributed bute to Clemson athletes. Colson's motive, said Gentry, was "to help the kids, not harm them." Gentry said he fully expects the grand jury to indict Colson. When that happens, he says, his client is prepared to plead guilty. Gentry concluded, "There are no defenses to rely on for trial purposes because it's clean and open that Sam has dispensed [prescription] medication."

That was taken from the article I am linking. There are others. It was no myth.

Look, it happened at Clemson AND it happened at USC (and other schools that never got caught). It was a black eye for both programs and I, for one, am sorry it ever happened at either school.

I could link other articles if you wish further documentation.

Link: read about it if you want

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by hubstar55.

Answer 18

Jaspers toxicology report indicated he died from painkillers .....Go read TI articles on Danny Ford....It was covered in the 1985 article about sled finding traces of painkillers in Jaspers system nothing more....

This post was edited on 2/17 5:21 PM by Clemson Goat

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by Clemson Goat.

Answer 19

So, are you saying there was NO steroid use at Clemson and NO findings in the investigation? Clemson did not fire the President and force the AD to step aside? No coaches faced charges and none entered plea deals?

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by hubstar55.

Answer 20

What I am saying no football player died from roid use as you indicated in your earlier post.....

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by Clemson Goat.

Answer 21

OH, OK. I corrected that in my 3rd? post in this thread though I never said or inferred he was a football player. His death DID lead to the discovery of a drug ring (that was not exclusive to Clemson) and steroid use at Clemson.

Again, both programs did bad things during that time, very bad things.

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by hubstar55.

Answer 22

No proof was ever found

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by 4forcu.

Answer 23

4forcu - come on now. This is not exactly new information here. It wasn't like this wasn't news. I guess people just forget what they want to forget.

McKnight said a Canadian coach at Clemson, Peter Cross, provided the tablets of Dianabol, a popular steroid at the time. When Cross went to Clemson, he recruited Charlie Francis to replace him as a sprint coach at the Scarboro Optimists Club outside Toronto, where Ben Johnson trained.

McKnight said the program at Clemson was the idea of Coach Sam Colson and included at least one other Canadian athlete, Raymond Daley.

Colson and another Clemson coach, Sam Narewski, were fined, ordered to do community service and received suspended jail sentences after pleading guilty in 1985 to seven counts of dispensing steroids and other prescription drugs to university athletes.

Jack Harkness, a former Clemson assistant strength coach, pleaded guilty the next year to two charges of distributing steroids to athletes and was fined $2,000.

This post was edited on 2/17 9:24 PM by SGamecock3

This post was edited on 2/17 9:25 PM by SGamecock3

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by SGamecock3.

Answer 24

Clemson never had a football player test pos

I didn't say anything about the track team

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by 4forcu.

Answer 25

I am sorry but I don't get your point. Since Clemson had no FOOTBALL players test positive for steroids, (only other sports) somehow Clemson is supposed to be of higher character than a school that had football players test positive?

BTW/ I've never tested positive on a drug test but that does not mean I've never smoked a joint.

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by hubstar55.

Answer 26

Oh, I don't know if ANY player in any sport at Clemson has ever actually tested positive for steroids. Just thought I would throw that out there before I was asked to provide proof.

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by hubstar55.

Answer 27

Don't put words in my mouth. I pointed out that USC started the rumor that the kid from the track team died of roids and that the football team was as bad or worst than USC.

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by 4forcu.

Answer 28

I put no words in your mouth, I simply asked if you were implying Clemson was a better program, morally, because no football player ever tested positive for steroids.

I've never seen the rumors started by USC fans you speak of, though it would not surprise me if they existed.

IIRC, I've read articles in mainstream media stating steroids and/or bute were made available to members of the Clemson football team at the time. Does that mean the problem was as prevalent as at USC? No, nor does it mean USC is/was better/worse as a program.

You have no moral "high ground" to stand on in this matter. As I have stated many times, it was a black eye for both programs that I wish had never happened.

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by hubstar55.

Answer 29

I never said anything about morale high ground.

And yes i think Clemson was qand is a better program than USC LOL but what would you expect from me?

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by 4forcu.

Answer 30

Actually you wrote



Originally posted on The Bad Apple by SGamecock3.

Answer 31

I am not sure about USC either as far as failing tests go- if we want to play that game.. There was no routine drug testing for steroids in the 70s and 80s iat most schools (most starting around 1990).

Course that doesnt mean it wasn't done- as we all know it was going on at most colleges. Heck old timer nfl folks say about 70% of nfl teams had problems with sterioids. It's a sad reality of football in those days

This post was edited on 2/21 6:38 PM by SGamecock3

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by SGamecock3.

Answer 32

And I stand by that!!!

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by 4forcu.

Answer 33

This post was edited on 2/22 3:00 PM by SGamecock3

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by SGamecock3.

Answer 34

In October 1988, Sports Illustrated published a lengthy article on alleged steroid abuse in the football program at the University of South Carolina. The article, titled "The Nightmare of Steroids" and written by University of South Carolina football player Tommy Chaikin in collaboration with Sports Illustrated's Rick Telander, alleged the widespread use of steroids in the football program at the school.[1] Following the article, a federal grand jury indicted four University of South Carolina football coaches in connection with steroid distribution to players.[2] Three of the coaches pleaded guilty in plea-bargain arrangements[3] and the fourth was acquitted.[4] The episode was listed among "some of college football's biggest scandals" by sports reporter Tom Weir of USA Today.[5]

Link: mash here

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by Clemson Goat.

Answer 35

We both made this list...

Link: Both top 10 programs

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by hubstar55.

Answer 36

We did not make this list...

Link: Top 5

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by hubstar55.

Answer 37

I needed a good laugh. The track team is relevant. That's a good one.

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by topdecktiger.

Answer 38

Goat- not sure why you linked the Tommy Chaiken story in response to my post above. That response really doesn't make any sense with regards to what I wrote.

(I was at USC when the story broke. I was on campus and was talking to a football player the night before it broke and actually told him the story was going to be published the next day in Sports Illustrated).

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by SGamecock3.

Answer 39

? I'm confused. Are you laughing because it was ONLY a track team member that died?

I'm sure his family thought he was relevant even if he did run track.

Please tell me that is not what you found funny.

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by hubstar55.

Answer 40

Hub- I honestly don't think some folks actually did realize that Clemson has their own steroid deal in the 1980s. I think that's obvious from some of the responses.

I'd guess steroids were on every college campus in the 70s and 80s. Some got bad press because of it- some didn't. (Steve Courson is quoted as saying that he would talk to NFL rookies when they got to the league and a lot of them would admit to him they had already used them while in college).

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by SGamecock3.

Answer 41

It wasn't just the track team that got the AD in trouble.


March 9, 1985
Bill McLellan , who has been reassigned amid criticism over steroid misuse by Clemson athletes. Robinson, a 12-year athletic department member, was named acting athletic director when McLellan took a leave on Feb. 15.

This post was edited on 2/22 10:41 PM by SGamecock3

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by SGamecock3.

Answer 42

Yes, you are confused. The first step is admitting the problem.

What I find funny is that you think the track team taking steroids equates to the football team taking steroids. Track & field is totally irrelevant, and if South Carolina cheated in T & F and beat us 100 years in a row, I really wouldn't give a damn. This whole thread got started about football, and your response is to go dig up dirt on the TRACK TEAM from 20 years ago.

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by topdecktiger.

Answer 43

Ok, supersleuth, go find the records of the probation the NCAA gave us for steroid use.

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by topdecktiger.

Answer 44

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by SGamecock3.

Answer 45

I don't really remember, it's been a long time but I don't think we got probation for steroids either.

Also, just so you know, it was admitted/reported that steroids were given to some members of the Clemson football team at the time IIRC.

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by hubstar55.

Answer 46

What does NCAA sanctions have to do with this discussion?


South Carolina didn't receive NCAA sanctions for steriods either.

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by SGamecock3.

Answer 47

Yeah, three guys. The whole thing was about the track team, it was the track coaches that got fired, a couple of football players are involved on the fringe, and you want to say that somehow make it even with the steroid deal at South Carolina.

And by the way, what the hell does any of this have to do with the topic of the thread???

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by topdecktiger.

Answer 48

About as much as this has to do with Wesley Saunders.

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by topdecktiger.

Answer 49

We don't know if they were on the "fringe" or not. That's your spin on the story. They got more than "fired." They pled guitly in court.

Ask Clemson Goat. He brought up the Tommy Chaiken steroid story from the 1980s above before anyone else mentioned steroids.


Then of course - other folks reminded him that Clemson had their own steroid deal too.

This post was edited on 2/22 11:24 PM by SGamecock3

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by SGamecock3.

Answer 50

Yeah, and do you WHY he brought it up? Because South Carolina has a former player who just got suspended, and the article suggested performance-enhancing drugs. That would be the relevance of the post. Now let me throw you a little curveball here. Do you why he didn't bring up Clemson's steroid "scandal?" Got any idea? It may just be that there wasn't a story about a former Clemson player getting suspended for possible performance enhancing drugs. That might have been the factor that tipped the scales. Now does that mean Clemson is somehow morally better than South Carolina? No. What it means is there is no relevance to Clemson because the player was from South Carolina. This is what we like to call "context."

Originally posted on The Bad Apple by topdecktiger.