UPDATE: Jay-nard Bostwick has not been suspended. For more, read here.
Gator Country has learned from multiple sources that five players will be suspended for the 2013 season opener against Toledo. Junior cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy, junior defensive tackle Darious Cummings, sophomore wide receiver Latroy Pittman, redshirt freshman offensive lineman Quinteze Williams and freshman defensive tackle Jay-nard Bostwick will all be sidelined after reportedly breaking team rules prior to the game.
Loucheiz Purifoy was expected to play a major role for Florida not only in the season opener, but also throughout the year. He is listed as one of the starting cornerbacks as well as a player who will be used at wide receiver and on special teams. Purifoy is Florida’s best gunner on punt and kick coverages and will also return kicks for the Gators this season.
In an unrelated incident, Purifoy was arrested in February for misdemeanor possession of marijuana but the charges were dropped and the team did not punish him.
Darious Cummings is another player that would have heavily factored into Florida’s gameplan on Saturday. Cummings, a JUCO transfer, is listed as the backup defensive tackle and can also play nose tackle. The big defensive lineman is embedded in the defensive line rotation and would have played a big role against Toledo.
Latroy Pittman and Jay-nard Bostwick were both jockeying for positions as reserves and this suspension will not do them any favors as far as wining over the coaches and earning them more playing time. Pittman — an early enrollee from a year ago — has earned praise from the coaching staff about his work ethic and Bostwick, a young freshman, has also earned praise from the coaching staff.
Quinteze Williams was moved from the defensive line to the offensive line and while he is not really being factored in as a player who would have contributed this season, you still don’t like to see players get suspended for games whether they’re a starter or not.
These five players will miss the opening game against Toledo but are expected to be back and to be available when the Gators travel down to Miami to take on the Hurricanes next week.
Selfish f*ckers.
Agree with that last poster 100%, and cast my vote for kicking every G*D D*MN one of ’em off the team, including prima donna Purifoy. I don’t a have a zillion posts on Gator Country, but I’m a 40-year fan of the program, with 2 degrees from and the school, and as some will remember, I go wayyyyy back on the GC message boards beginning in 1996 when the site first was launched. Bottom Line, I’M DONE’ with the “new mentality” that seems to permeate Gator squads in recent years involving “ME ME ME”, a total lack of character, no discipline, and no dedication whatsoever to the concept of TEAM FIRST! One would think that the Hernandez saga would be a wake-up call, but evidently, there are still vermin and parasites on the team who don’t give a Rat’s Ass about leadership, maturity and responsibility. KICK ‘EM OFF THE TEAM, COACH BOOM! NOW!!!!
We got to do better.