Dwayne Beckford was dismissed from the Purdue football team Wednesday, according to multiple reports.
Purdue coach Danny Hope made the announcement to reporters following Wednesday’s practice.
Hope initially announced the senior middle linebacker had been suspended indefinitely in a news release late Monday.
Beckford, 22, was charged with two counts of possession of paraphernalia and one count of possession of a synthetic drug in Tippecanoe Superior Court 4, the Lafayette Journal and Courier reported Tuesday.
Beckford finished second on the team last year with 91 tackles and was named All-Big Ten honorable mention (media). He was suspended and did not play in the Little Caesars Bowl game after he was arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated Dec. 16.
He did not participate in spring drills but eventually returned to the program.
AUTO RACING
Edwards says he’s not joining Penske
Carl Edwards dismissed a rumor that he will join Penske Racing next season. Edwards is in the first year of a new contract with Roush Fenway Racing, but there has been speculation he is trying to negotiate an out to take the opening at Penske.
FOOTBALL
Irish AD disputes ex-star’s statement
Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick took exception to comments by former Irish running back and current radio analyst Allen Pinkett, who said a team needs to have some bad guys because it provides an edge. In a radio interview with Chicago’s WSCR-AM, Pinkett said: “I’ve always felt like, to have a successful team, you have to have a few bad citizens on the team.” In a statement before the team left for Dublin for Saturday’s game against Navy, Swarbrick called Pinkett’s comments “nonsense.”
SAC taking part in ‘Crucial Catch’
The SAC will take part Friday in Crucial Catch, a nationwide screening reminder campaign and breast cancer awareness. The four football games, involving the eight SAC football teams, will include a fund-raising campaign in which fans can contribute funds to the American Cancer Society. Fans are also encouraged to wear pink to the games, which include Concordia at Wayne, North Side vs. Bishop Dwenger at Zollner Stadium, Snider at Northrop and South Side at Bishop Luers.
Paterno had FBI file
Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno’s voluminous FBI file contains threatening letters sent to him and his staff years ago but nothing about his former assistant Jerry Sandusky.
Semipro Cardinals set playoff date
The Indiana Cardinals semi-pro team will play its playoff game against the Spartans at 4 p.m. Sept. 8 at Portage Middle School. The Indiana Cardinals are 8-2.
Ex-Bowling Green player sues school
A former Bowling Green redshirt player has sued the university, head football coach Dave Clawson and team trainers over head injuries he says he received during practice that could have been prevented and were not treated properly. Cody Silk says he had short-term memory loss and other symptoms after suffering “multiple concussions.”
HIGH SCHOOLS
Carroll hosting 2 upcoming events
The seventh annual Carroll Classic boys soccer tournament will be at 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday and will include Warsaw, Homestead, Blackhawk Christian, Carroll and defending champion Bethany Christian. The Carroll Invitational will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday with tennis teams such as Canterbury, Indianapolis Cathedral, Homestead, Delta and Carroll.
HOCKEY
NHL labor update
The NHL and NHLPA remained at an impasse in the latest round of collective bargaining talks as the deadline for a lockout looms. The players’ association took issue with the latest NHL proposal that commissioner Gary Bettman called “meaningful” and “significant.” Donald Fehr, the NHLPA’s executive director, is expected to make a counterproposal as early as toay.
