Expected to be a massive force -- literally at 6-5, 355 pounds -- in the middle of Arizona State’s defensive line as a JUCO transfer, Mike Pennel was instead suspended for the Sun Devils’ Week 2 game because of a (sing along with me) violation of unspecified team rules.
Three weeks later? Lather, rinse, repeat.
First-year Sun Devils head coach Todd Graham announced that the defensive tackle has been indefinitely suspended from the football program. The reason? Like you actually need to ask.
“I’m not lowering our standards, period,” Graham said of the latest punitive measure to hit the mammoth lineman, according to the Arizona Republic. “Bottom line, that’s what it is. We’re never excited about stuff like (this). It’s difficult, but at the end of the day, we’re going to do things one way. We’re going to do things the right way.”
For his part, Pennel seemed to have a come-to-Jesus moment -- “Now all I can do is pray” -- with himself on Twitter following his latest suspension.
“It’s unbelievable I’ve done this to my family, teammates , and the #ASU fans... Ill be a better person from this I have no choice but to be,” Pennel wrote. “You have to embrace change for it to happen... When your down to nothing god is up to something.”
Pennel has played in three of ASU’s five games this season.
(Photo credit: Arizona State athletics)