In a move that is sure to be controversial among football purist, the Sun Belt Conference has suspended Troy linebacker De’Von Terry and safety Brynden Trawick for the first half of the Trojans game against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday for the physical hits made in the Arkansas State game last week.

Arkansas State defensive back Don Jones also received a two quarter suspension after he was ejected in the game for a personal foul against Troy receiver K.D. Edenfield, in which Jones slammed Edenfield to the ground.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE RELEASE:

NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference has suspended two Troy University football players for a half game each following their actions in this past Saturday’s game against Arkansas State.

Devon Terry and Brynden Trawick will both be suspended for a half game in Troy’s upcoming game at Middle Tennessee on November 24.

Terry was penalized for “unnecessary roughness” in a situation where he made a high hit to the head and neck area of an opposing player.  Trawick, meanwhile, was penalized for a “hit on a defenseless receiver” in which he made contact at the head and neck of an opposing player.

Though neither player was ejected from the game, both plays were subject to a postgame review based on the he NCAA Football Playing Rules Book which states that “when there is a foul called for initiating contact/targeting an opponent (Rules 9-1-3 and 9-1-4) that does not result in a player disqualification, there shall automatically be a video review by the conference for possible additional sanctions before the next scheduled game.”

Video of the play from multiple camera angles was reviewed Monday, November 19 by the Sun Belt Conference, NCAA National Coordinator of Officials and Secretary-Rules Editor Rogers Redding, as well as an additional panel of coordinators of officials.  The findings of the reviews were that both plays were indeed “targeting” fouls and that additional penalties needed to be assessed.

Troy University officials were notified on Monday that a review was in place regarding these penalties.  They were then notified on Tuesday that each player would be suspended one half game.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QUcqNg4TdU?rel=0&w=450&h=315]

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HERE is the story I wrote on player safety rules as they relate to Troy.

HERE is some video reaction to the calls that were made on Saturday against Arkansas State.

The Sun Belt Conference suspended Troy center Kyle Wilborn on Oct. 16. HERE is that release.

List of Sun Belt players suspended for various reasons this season:

WKU – Jonathan Dowling (Sept. 24)

WKU – Tyree Robinson (Nov. 13)

Ark St – Qushaun Lee (Sept. 26)

Ark St – Don Jones (Nov. 21)

Troy – Kyle Wilborn (Oct. 16)

Troy – De’Von Terry (Nov. 21)

Troy – Brynden Trawick (Nov. 21)

ULL – Justin Hamilton (Sept. 12)

SUN BELT’S RELEASE ON DON JONES SUSPENSION:

NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference announced today that Arkansas State University’s Don Jones has been suspended for the first half of the Red Wolves upcoming football game on Saturday, December 1 against Middle Tennessee.

Jones was ejected from the ASU game against Troy University on Saturday, November 17 for a flagrant personal foul. Sun Belt Conference bylaws state that “any coach or student-athlete ejected from a contest shall be suspended for a minimum of one contest” and that “the suspension shall be served during the institution’s next contest.”

ASU did appeal the suspension and based on the fact that Jones was ejected in the first quarter (and thus has already sat out three quarters), the suspension was lessened to one half game.