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Suspensions to two football players could cost team wins
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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Towson coach Gordy Combs said the indefinite suspensions of senior cornerback Eric Clark and junior linebacker Trent Covington, who were arrested on drug charges last Thursday, did not impact the team’s performance in a 20-3 loss to Hofstra on Saturday.
However, Combs said the loss of the Covington and Clark — roommates who were charged with one count of possessing marijuana and one count of possessing marijuana with intent to distribute— could impact how many games the Tigers win the rest of the season.
“Now our depth factor gets a little shorter. That’s where it hurts us,” Combs said in his first public comments concerning the players’ absence. “Over the course of four games in five weeks, and we’re a little nicked up, you get a little more tired in the game. That’s what you’re more concerned about.”
Combs said he doesn’t know when — or if — the players will return to the team or the university. Towson is 3-4 overall and in last place in the Colonial Athletic Association’s South Division with a record of 1-3 with four games remaining.
Clark, a native of Philadelphia, has logged significant minutes since his freshman season. This season, he rotated with junior Jimmy McClam and redshirt freshmen Jeremy Gardner and Ollie Thomas.
“We had a nice little rotation going there among the four of them,” Combs said. “Three of the four, except Eric, were playing special teams. From that standpoint, it was just another hit.”
Covington was used as a reserve on defense, but was one of Towson’s best special teams players. He was a former standout at Long Reach High in Columbia, where he was a quarterback and defensive back. He was twice named the team’s MVP, setting school records for passing yards in a game (260) and passing touchdowns in a season (17) for Coach Pete Hughes.
“I don’t know any details,” Hughes said. “I’m reading for the first time. I want to get all the details and talk to his parents first.”
Covington could not be reached for comment.
— swelsh@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
8:36 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Bradford’s record career almost didn’t happen"
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2:29 PM MST on Mon., Nov. 5, 2007
re: "Same miscues continue to plague Tigers"
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TUTiger said:
Congrats go out to Bradford, he deserves it. This guy can play with anybody. Go Tigers!
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Towson '06 said:
Coach Combs is the one to blame for this season; if he can't get the players motivated or correct the issues that we are having game after game then maybe he has served our school the best that he can and it is time that he and the program split ways.
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