If nothing else, Ruffin McNeill runs a tight ship.
The latest example of that came Tuesday, with the East Carolina head coach announcing that he has indefinitely suspended wide receivers Danny Webster and Quataye Smyre. The junior and redshirt freshman, respectively, were suspended for the ambiguous “violations of unspecified team policies.”
“While this situation is contrary to the progress we’ve made and certainly not indicative of the many right choices we make as a collective group, I’m disappointed any time we have to address issues like this,” McNeill said in a statement. “We always talk about being accountable as a program and any behavior that contradicts that is unacceptable. Our priority is to put people in a position to succeed.”
Of the two, the loss of Webster will leave the bigger hole in the 4-1 Pirates offense.
Webster started four of the first five games this season, and is currently third on the team with 18 receptions for 144 yards. He’s also returned two punts for 24 yards and a kickoff for 22.
This is Webster’s second suspension in a little over a year. In August of last year, McNeill announced that Webster was one of three ECU wide receivers (what is it with ECU at that position?) who would be suspended for the opener.
Smyre, the release notes, has played in the last two contests and has three receptions for 19 yards.
Late last month, McNeill indefinitely suspended nose tackle Terry Williams, who has been a two-year starter for the Pirates.
In March of this year, ECU’s leading rusher in 2012, Vintavious Cooper, was indefinitely suspended for the whole of spring practice for what was described as “an on-campus drug-related citation.” McNeill’s message apparently got through to the running back as Cooper was reinstated and currently leads the team with 372 yards rushing.