Wednesday, March 30, 2005

College Football Update

College Football: ASU returns to spring drills
The Associated Press
TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona State football team resumed spring practice Monday in the wake of a shooting that left a former player dead and running back Loren Wade jailed on suspicion of murder.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
The practice was closed to the media, and players and coaches were barred by the university from talking to reporters at least through Tuesday ``as part of the process for them to deal with the emotions that they have inside,'' athletic director Gene Smith said.
Wade, 21, was being held without bond on suspicion of murder in the death of Brandon Falkner, 25, of Tempe, who was shot in the head early Saturday as he sat in his car outside a popular hip-hop nightclub in south Scottsdale. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next Monday.
Witnesses said Wade saw his girlfriend next to Falkner's car. The two men began to argue, then Wade reached into the car and shot Falkner once in the head, police said. Maricopa County sheriff's deputies working off-duty as security guards at the club arrested Wade at the scene.
Athletics department administrators and grief counselors met with players and coaches Monday morning to talk about the shooting.
Wade has been dismissed from the team for violating the ban on players carrying weapons and was suspended from school because of suspected involvement in a felony.
In other Pac-10 football news Monday:
California receiver Robert Jordan and a freshman teammate were suspended by coach Jeff Tedford on Monday for their arrests during a traffic stop in February.
Jordan was suspended for the Golden Bears' season opener against Sacramento State on Sept. 3. Bernard Hicks, a defensive back who missed last season with a knee injury, will sit out the first three games.
• Southern California cornerback Eric Wright is being held out of spring practice, following his arrest for investigation of sexual assault.
Wright, a redshirt freshman from San Francisco, is scheduled to be arraigned April 20.

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