UCLA Purse-, er, Backpack-Snatchers Are Bruins No More
Three incoming UCLA freshmen football players facing felony theft charges for stealing another student's backpack have been dismissed from the team and released from their letters of intent by Rick Neuheisel.
UCLA Purse-, er, Backpack-Snatchers Are Bruins No More
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almost 3 years ago Update 0 comments
UCLA Releases Three Arrested Bruins-To-Be From Letters Of Intent
UCLA's dastardly trio of freshman "purse snatchers," kicked off the Bruins last month, are free to pursue playing time at other schools, according to the university's sports information department:
Paul Richardson, Shaquille Richardson and Joshua Shirley, the three UCLA football players arrested on suspicion of theft in June, have had their letters of intent ruled null and void.
The three are free to be recruited by other schools and can play immediately.
One aspect of this story that initially puzzled us has been made clearer now: It was actually a backpack that was stolen, although "backpack snatchers" doesn't sound as catchy, and its contents, presumably a laptop, were valuable enough to constitute felony theft. SB Nations's Bruins Nation takes issue with the stated nature of the release in the L.A. Times, but are otherwise reasonably satisfied with the outcome:
From my understanding the second line is not accurate. Those three may be free to be recruited by other schools, however, they cannot play immediately. Note that all of them were already enrolled during UCLA summer school sessions. So no matter what they will have to sit out for a year should they chose to transfer immediately somewhere else. So the issue of being released from LOI is kind of moot in technical sense.
That said, the release on its face was a good move on the part of UCLA.
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What would be preferable is for these three student athletes to go through JC, reflect on their mistakes, take responsibility and rejoin the Bruins seeking redemption. However, the initiative has to come from them.
Catch up on all the latest UCLA gossip at Bruins Nation.
almost 3 years ago Update 0 comments
UCLA Purse-Snatchers Are Bruins No More
Three incoming UCLA freshmen football players facing felony theft charges for stealing another student's purse, of all things, have been summarily booted from the team by Rick Neuheisel. Their coach will not, however, necessarily be depriving them of a college education:
Paul Richardson, Shaquille Richardson and Josh Shirley will not be allowed to continue summer school and will not be permitted to enroll at UCLA for Fall Quarter. If they meet certain requirements set by Neuheisel, they may be allowed to enroll in January.
SB Nation's UCLA community reacts:
[This] is a pitch-perfect, appropriate and measured response. It is appropriate because it takes away from these three young adults (they are just not kids any more) one of the things they probably cherish most at this point of their lives: the privilege to play football on a scholarship at the greatest university (at least in our minds) in the country. It sends a message to these guys and rest of the team that representing those four letters is not something they are entitled to because of their God given talents. It's a privilege.
The response is also measured because it gives them an opportunity to come back to UCLA, provided they show in tangible ways they have learned from their mistakes and are worthy of being Bruins.
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We hope these guys learn from their terrible mistakes even if they don't end up making their way back to Westwood.
Catch up on all the latest UCLA gossip at Bruins Nation.
