Brady Hoke: Status of suspended Michigan players Fitz Toussaint, Frank Clark remains unchanged
Suspended tailback Fitz Toussaint's status with the Michigan football team has not changed, Brady Hoke said Thursday.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Wolverines coach Brady Hoke said Thursday during an interview with Dan Dakich of ESPN 1070 that a decision could be made soon.
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Toussaint, Michigan's starting tailback after rushing for more than 1,000 yards last year, was arrested in July on a drunken-driving charge. His arraignment has yet to be set, according to court officials.
His replacement, should one be needed when Michigan opens the season Sept. 1 against Alabama, is expected to be little-used sophomore Thomas Rawls.
Clark, who was expected to vie for a starting spot at weak-side defensive end, is accused of stealing a laptop from a campus dorm in June and is facing a second-degree home invasion charge. He's due back in court Sept. 11.
If Clark misses time, sophomore Brennen Beyer likely will start at end, and his backup will be either linebacker Jake Ryan or true freshman end Mario Ojemudia.
Hoke said neither player practiced Monday. Since there's been no change in the players' status, it's likely neither has hit the field for the Wolverines during their first week of practices.
Michigan's next workout is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, and Hoke is slated to speak to the media after it.
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
chapmaja
Sun, Aug 12, 2012 : 4:58 p.m.
There is one more thing to consider regarding Frank Clark. His case is also subject to the University judiciary punishment because it occurred on campus. He is facing criminal charges and most likely also is facing university sanctions as well. Those could range from removal from on campus housing (tresspass order against him entering on campus housing), to suspension / expulsion from the school. This is a private process that may or may not have become public and that the university is not allowed to disclose publically. Fritz's issue is different because it was off campus, not on campus, and therefore is a team/athletic department/ legal issue with no invovlement of the school judiciary.
Blu n Tpa
Sun, Aug 12, 2012 : noon
Tom, just a couple of things here. First, IF 'bama can control the line of scrimmage and stops Michigan's running game the coaches will adjust. It won't be the first time Michigan had to change the game plan while playing 'bama at a neutral site. (Orange Bowl Michigan overtime victory vs 'Bama early last decade) Another point would be, who won the game you referenced in your post, UM vs VaTech? OH MY GOSH, MICHIGAN WON! So it was nice of you to stop by and add your comments but next time bring something that has more substance. TiM Go Blue!
Tom
Sat, Aug 11, 2012 : 12:31 p.m.
Hoke "the Joke" needs an excuse for a Bama loss. The loss of Fitz could give him one. Clark needs to be gone for the season. That seems to be the in state precedent for laptop theft. You team averaged 1.6 yards per carry with Fitz and DumRob vs. the hapless Hokies! 3 weeks from today Bama will shred your team. Prepare for it.
MRunner73
Sat, Aug 11, 2012 : 10:32 p.m.
I am prepared to remind you in three weeks if the outcome of the MI vs "Bama game is not what you have envisioned.
Meangoblue
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 12:47 a.m.
Anybody out there think these two fellas got a shot at maybe the RIMington trophy or even maybe THE HEISMAN!!!! MEEEEEEEEEEEEANchigan football is back and sure to please!! As a heisman is pulled from the fromunder Cheese!!!
ted
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 12:21 a.m.
This Alabama game will be the ultimate measure of Al Borges once and for all. He has had 9 months to come up with a game-plan and install it. This game will be the deciding factor of whether Borges is a genius or a fraud. If this offense is shut down by Alabama, the decision will be made not to keep him around after the season is over.
chapmaja
Sun, Aug 12, 2012 : 5 p.m.
So if Michigan gets shut down by Alabama, but then runs off 11 straight games of 40 point offensive explosions he should be let go because they didn't perform well in what is basically a road game against the top team in the country (LSU without Honey Badger is not as good as Bama).
Tom
Sat, Aug 11, 2012 : 12:33 p.m.
"Big Al' failed miserably vs. both MSU and VaTech. Why would you expect anything more vs. Bama? Get real! Where's the threat?
TheWay
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 6:53 p.m.
So his worth as an OC comes down to how well he runs an offense he has never run before (until last season, that is) against one of the better defenses in the country? Ok. Listen, I'm not a huge Borges fan because I'm worried he'll fall off a cliff like he did at Auburn while he was there. But is just absurd to judge a guy based on 1 game.
ted
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 4:53 a.m.
He HAS all the pieces NOW for the read option offense. If he is unable to capitalize on that then he is a failure.
TheWay
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 4:40 a.m.
This game, win or lose, will definitely NOT be the "ultimate measure of Al Borges once and for all". We won't know "once and for all" about Al until he has his recruits here and his offense fully installed.
ted
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 12:29 a.m.
If he thinks he can line up against the good defenses and try the pro-style ram it down their throat approach he is a lot less intelligent than I even thought he was.
Scott
Thu, Aug 9, 2012 : 9:56 p.m.
One would imagine the decision of Frank will occur the day after his trial is decided. But who knows. The decision on Fitz will be determined by how well Rawls plays. If Rawls is a hammer and healthy then Hoke will have greater freedom to come down harder- which he probably wants to do without seriously weakening the team. It was a DUI. Serious but not intentionally criminal. Some gray area here. But I'm sure Hoke knows that the harder he comes down on first time offenders the stronger the message that is sent to everyone on the team. We've all seen in the Slocum case that sometimes second and third chances fail.
joggin
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 4:43 p.m.
You are right Hoke is not Dantonio. Dantonio has never given a player 15 chances after violations.
TheWay
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 4:39 a.m.
I really hope Fitz's punishment isn't affected AT ALL by Rawls' performance. Hoke isn't Dantonio.
1998pa
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 12:31 a.m.
I'm not trying to be argumentative, but honestly, would you feel that way about a DUI committed by a player from OSU or MSU?
81wolverine
Thu, Aug 9, 2012 : 8:20 p.m.
I think the Coach needs to make or at least announce some decision on the two players sooner rather than later. Leaving their status up in the air is not good for the players or the rest of the team at this point, in my opinion. Hopefully, Coach Hoke knows what he's doing here. Not having Touissaint for the Alabama game is bad news for Michigan for sure, if that's what happens. Rawls may be good, but he has very little game experience. And against a tough defense, it's almost always better to have an experienced player. But, we'll just have to see what happens.
PillowRock
Thu, Aug 9, 2012 : 11:51 p.m.
81wolverine: I think the Coach needs to make or at least announce some decision on the two players sooner rather than later. ================= I disagree. There is no reason that Hoke needs to make any decision public. And I wouldn't be entirely surprised if there was already some decision about Fitz that is conditional in some way (and that Fitz & the team would know about), but won't be announced to the public / press until it reaches a point where all of the conditions have been fulfilled one way or the other. On Clark, I really don't see why there would be any change until the entire legal process concludes. Even then, I wouldn't expect a public announcement until after Hoke has been able to speak with Clark face-to-face (even if, as in the Stonum case, that means not making a public announcement until a day or so after the player gets out of jail).
Tag
Thu, Aug 9, 2012 : 8:20 p.m.
Has to be a truly difficult situation for Coach Hoke..... Suspend Fitz, and it COULD cost the team the game versus Bama. Don't suspend Fitz: look poor in the public eye and send the wrong message to the team regarding consequences. Seems like Coach Hoke waits for the legal process to play out before he mitigates punishment. I like the idea of not starting Fitz, maybe sit the entire first half of the Bama game. I'm certain he should loose his starter status. Good luck Coach and Go Blue!
Billy Bob Schwartz
Thu, Aug 9, 2012 : 8:14 p.m.
Old story. It will be news when Brady tells us something new.
Hailmary
Thu, Aug 9, 2012 : 6:55 p.m.
I leave the decisions of punishment up to the coach after all isn't that what he is paid for to do ? These players made big mistakes which seems to be the norm across board in college ball. I think it all starts in recruiting the players that are the right fit for Michigan and the appropriate fit for Michigan.
Hailmary
Thu, Aug 9, 2012 : 6:57 p.m.
If Michigan decides to sit Fitz, I understand.