NCAA Suspends Wisconsin Players

M A D I S O N, Wis., Sept. 1 -- Things could’ve been worse for theWisconsin Badgers, but only if they lost their first game.

The NCAA suspended 26 Wisconsin football players Thursday forone to three games for receiving unadvertised discounts at a shoestore after initially declaring 81 Badgers athletes ineligible forthe infractions.

The fourth-ranked Badgers still found a way to beat WesternMichigan 19-7 in their home opener Thursday night despite the benching of 11 players. The suspensions were announced hours before the game.

The suspended players included starting cornerback JamarFletcher, receiver Nick Davis, offensive lineman Ben Johnson, linebacker Bryson Thompson and team captain Chris Chambers. They were suspended for three games forreceiving benefits of more than $500, school officials said.

Another 15 players, including running back Michael Bennett,defensive tackle Wendell Bryant, cornerback Mike Echols andlinebacker Bryson Thompson, were suspended for one game and orderedto do 12 hours of community service.

‘Tremendous Disappointment’

“I think you have tremendous disappointment. You have to feelfor them,” Wisconsin athletic director Pat Richter said. “We feltthis was not warranted.”

The suspensions stem from reports last month that members of thefootball and men’s basketball teams may have received specialcredit arrangements at The Shoe Box in Black Earth, Wis., that werenot available to other clients.

Another 21 players, including starting quarterback BrooksBollinger, who was not suspended, were ordered to perform 24 hoursof community service for the discounts they received.

Women’s soccer player Wynter Pero was suspended for two gamesand ordered to do 24 hours of community service.

All will be required to repay the discounts they received.

More Investigations

The school has also investigated allegations that some athletes mayhave exchanged university-issued shoes for merchandise but found noevidence of that so far, said Melany Newby, vice chancellor forlegal and executive affairs.