I Bleed Blue and White

When does it end?  This is the question I keep asking myself after learning of yet another incident shedding a negative light on the Big East.  A few days ago, Louisville sophomore Terrence Jennings and senior Jerry Smith were arrested at an alumni homecoming party for an altercation they got into with a person at the party.  Not only are Jennings and Smith supposed to be key contributors to the Cardinals this year, but Smith is a team captain along with senior guard Edgar Sosa.  I think we all know the importance of leadership, especially from captains, after last year’s performance by Cunningham, Clark, Tchuisi, and Anderson.  So far this year, before the season even starts, the following Big East players have either been arrested, suspended, or both: Daryl “Truck” Bryant (WVU), Joe Mazzulla (WVU), Reggie Redding (Villanova), Gilbert Brown (Pittsburgh), and now Jennings and Smith.  These players get a chance to play in one of the best conferences, if not the best.  They get an opportunity at a great education and for virtually all of them, it’s a free education.  Not only that, but many have the chance to earn the big bucks at the next level and be set for the rest of their lives.  It just boggles my mind that these athletes continuously put their career/lives/education/etc. in jeopardy for stupid things.  I guess the Big East not only lost a lot of talent from last year, but also lost a ton of intelligence.  Who will be next to screw up?

Is it really that easy to get suspended these days or maybe it’s just too hard to follow rules?  Who knows, but today, Pittsburgh suspended redshirt junior Gilbert Brown for the fall semester due to academic problems.  So let’s see, that’s Joe Mazzulla (WVU), Darryl “Truck” Bryant (WVU), Reggie Redding, and now Brown to add on to the list of Big East players being suspended at one point or another.  Most of these players are upperclassmen as well, but evidently, they don’t get it.  In fact, Brown was honored after the season with one of the Pitt team awards.  No, this is not a joke, but he actually received the “Academic Excellence Award” after last season.  Academic excellence leads to suspension for academic reasons.  Interesting.

Overshadowed by DeJuan Blair, Sam Young, and Levance Fields last year, Brown was expected to step up and be a key cog for the inexperienced Panthers this year.  Pitt’s nonconference schedule is not incredibly difficult, but is certainly no cakewalk.  They play Iowa in late November, Wichita State and/or Texas in late November, and Indiana in early December.  Brown will be eligible for reinstatement on December 20th, just before Big East play begins.

Added by Chris:

…You may also know this man as the guy that Scottie elevated over for the game winning shot in Boston last year…for more on the suspension, check out Pitt Blather’s reaction…