JMU's Houston Rules Out Two Scenarios For Seven Suspensions
HARRISONBURG — Coach Mike Houston won’t say why seven of his players were suspended for James Madison’s national semifinal win over North Dakota State and next week’s FCS national championship game, but he did rule out two scenarios on Thursday.
“There have been a lot of rumors, there’s been a lot of speculation,” Houston said during an NCAA conference call. “I will say that none of them were arrested. There was no performance-enhancing drugs or anything like that.
“Those seven young men are good kids. They made a mistake. They are paying for that mistake.”
JMU (13-1) meets Youngstown State (12-3) for the championship at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on Jan. 7.
After the Dukes’ 27-17 win over the Bison, Houston confirmed that wide receiver Terrence Alls and linebacker Brandon Hereford were suspended and did not play. The school and Houston have declined to name the other suspended players.
Both juniors, Alls had 39 catches for 575 yards and five touchdowns. Hereford compiled 96 tackles this season.
“They made a mistake and they are paying the consequences,” Houston said. “As has been my policy anywhere I’ve been, I really don’t get real deep into personnel issues. So that’s going to be the only statement that I will make on that issue from now until after the championship game.”
Houston said all the players who took the field for the win over NDSU are expected to play next month. He added the seven players would remain suspended “well beyond” the title game.
Madison returned to practice Wednesday and will stay the week in Harrisonburg before departing for Frisco next Wednesday where the team will hold a practice Thursday and walkthrough Friday before playing Saturday.
Kickoff for the championship bout is set for noon in front of what is expected to be a pro-JMU crowd.
Michael Carpenter, the school’s assistant athletic director for ticketing and customer relations, said last week that JMU sold out its 4,000-ticket allotment for the title game and sold an additional 3,000 after Youngstown State returned most of its allotted tickets to the NCAA.
Toyota Stadium seats 20,500.