Colleges

USF dismisses two players arrested on drug charges

By GREG AUMAN
Published May 3, 2005

TAMPA - Senior linebacker Devon Davis and sophomore defensive tackle Curtis Chance, held out of spring practice because of off-field problems, will not return to South Florida's football team in the fall, coach Jim Leavitt said Monday.

The two players were arrested in July, along with linebacker Torrean James, who left the program in August. They were charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Chance, a Dixie Hollins graduate, and Davis agreed to plea agreements resulting in probation, but will no longer be part of USF's program.

"Devon and Curtis will take their future endeavors in another direction, and I wish them luck," Leavitt said.

With their dismissal, USF has lost 24 underclassmen from its 2004 fall roster, including 14 scholarship players.

FAMILIAR NAME: Former Notre Dame and Bucs running back Reggie Brooks, who finished fifth in the 1992 Heisman Trophy balloting, has applied for a position on the coaching staff.

Brooks, 34, has limited coaching experience, having worked as a running backs coach in NFL Europe in 2003 and spent two months as an intern under Tony Dungy with the Colts that fall. He said that taste of coaching has given him a desire to get back into the sport.

Leavitt is looking for a successor to offensive coordinator Mike Hobbie, who resigned two weeks ago. If Leavitt were to promote running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Carl Franks, that would open a position more suited for Brooks.

MISSED AGAIN: Brian Fisher, USF's offensive MVP in 2003, missed a mandatory court date Monday - the third time in six weeks - resulting in a $10,000 warrant being issued for his arrest.

Fisher, already sought on a $7,000 warrant for a previous failure to appear, was due in court from a February arrest on a felony count of habitually driving with a suspended license and a misdemeanor count of giving a false name to an officer.

Despite his legal problems, Leavitt has not ruled out a return for Fisher, who has attended classes at Hillsborough Community College this year with the hopes of returning to USF for a final season in the fall.

CLEMSON: Defensive lineman Cory Groover was treated and released from a hospital after being shot in the left leg. Someone fired about 10 shots in the parking lot of a restaurant about 1:40 a.m. Sunday, police said. No arrests have been made.

TENNESSEE: Quarterback Rick Clausen fell about 10 feet off a walkway but was not hurt. The senior is vying with Erik Ainge to be the starter.

WISCONSIN: Tailback Booker Stanley was suspended from the team after his arrest at a weekend street party. He was charged with battery, disorderly conduct and resisting or obstructing an officer.

BASEBALL: Saint Leo left-hander Ronnie Lowe of New Port Richey was named the Sunshine State Conference's pitcher of the week for the second time this year.

BASKETBALL: Kentucky will report what officials call a "minor" NCAA violation regarding the proportion of athletes to nonathletes who live in Wildcat Lodge, best known as the home of the university's basketball players. Sixteen athletes and 12 nonathletes live at Wildcat Lodge. Athletics department spokesman Scott Stricklin said an NCAA rule implemented in the late '80s said the number of nonathletes living in a dorm must be at least one more than the number of athletes living in the same facility. ... Tampa women's team signed four recruits: guard Jennifer Burgmeier of Fayetteville, Ark.; center Whitney Porter of Orlando; guard Hailee Sullivan of Chicago; and center/forward Kymberly Taylor of Springfield, Va.

GOLF: Florida's Matt Every was named to the men's all-SEC first team. Brett Stegmaier and Richard Treis made second team. ... Florida State's Jaclyn Burch was named to the all-ACC women's first team.

SOFTBALL: Florida State is seeded No.2 in next week's ACC tournament at Maryland.

[Last modified May 3, 2005, 01:18:22]