Big news, and this one hurts.
It looks as if two of Virginia Tech's best playmakers won't be suiting up this Saturday against Georgia Tech, and no, I'm not joking.
According to an earlier press release from Hokiesports.com, starting defensive end Chris Ellis and wide receiver Josh Morgan won't be allowed to play against the Yellow Jackets, as they have both been suspended by head coach Frank Beamer due to a 'violation of team policy.'
Beamer himself said he wouldn't further comment on the issue, but a few of my classmates today were discussing what actually Ellis and Morgan did to deserve such a stern punishment, but that was on the way out before I had learned of the suspension. From the small earful that I was able to catch before our lecture began, it sounded like another ignorant Hokie player action, along the Marcus Vick lines. I'll be double checking on what really went down, so more on that to come...
Anyways, here's exactly what Hokiesports.com leaked out today in their earlier online press release:
In making the announcement, Beamer said there would be no further comment on the situation.
Ellis, from Hampton, Va., started the first four games this year, recording 12 tackles, including a sack, and four quarterback hurries. Morgan, from Washington, D.C., is Tech's second-leading receiver with 10 catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Morgan also has two blocked punts this year.
The replacement starters have not been determined.
Here are the specifics of the incident, as provided by the Blacksburg Police, through Kyle Tucker of the Virginian-Pilot:
Then, the summary said, Morgan backed away into the crowd as an officer approached him. The report continued: "Morgan refused to stop as ordered. Morgan then refused to submit to arrest by not following the officer's commands. Morgan was subdued by a signal burst of (pepper) spray."
That is when Ellis became involved. From the arrest summary: "Ellis was the leader of a crowd that was challenging the police after the arrest of Ellis' friend. Ellis refused all commands to cease incitement and interference. Ellis was arrested."
Almost every Blacksburg native or Hokie student should be familiar with this area, as it is located right outside one of the Burg's most popular party spots, Cinco De Mayo's, the infamous club that serves as a common gathering place not just for Hokies in general, but for Hokie football players at that.
Cinco's, as it is commonly referred to, like the majority of all other clubs in the area, closes at approximately 1:45 a.m., so I could see exactly why Morgan, Ellis, as well as a rowdy congregation (fresh off the party scene) were outside on Draper Rd. at the time of the incident.
In my mind, without question, the biggest factor that led to the arrest of Morgan and Ellis', apart from being provoked, was the surrounding layout of the location. Just outside the door of Cinco's is the aforementioned Draper Rd., a street that divides the club from an adjacent block of buildings, featuring several restaurants, bars, and clubs.
Just two weeks ago I was in this area. It was around 2 a.m., and I was with a friend of mine standing outside of Cinco's, which we had just left. Other students were leaving the club as well, and as we mingled, crowds were beginning to form on both sides of the road. In some cases, people were standing literally in the middle of the street.
You could tell people were enjoying themselves -- talking amongst each other, catching up on things and discussing what had gone on earlier in the night. People were cracking jokes, laughing and having an overall good time. I remember noticing Ellis and Morgan were outside amongst the crowd too, and from what I remember, they were doing the same, just minding their own business.
Having said that, this is where the layout came into play. With people crowding Draper on both sides, every now and then the periodic car would try to squeeze its way down the street, which was literally jampacked with people. These drivers were frowned upon by those congregating outside of the clubs, for with each approaching car, everyone amongst the street would have to move out of the way accordingly. After a few vehicles, this got to be an annoying task.
Another reason these drivers were frowned upon was due to the fact that EVERYONE standing there amongst the street was well aware that these approaching drivers could simply go a different way. The roads of downtown Blacksburg surrounding Draper are full of backstreets and bypasses which are much quicker and more convenient, so why weren't these drivers taking a different route? That question was beginning to get on the nerves of many.
Bottom line, these drivers weren't in any hurry. They weren't trying to rush somewhere at two in the morning. They weren't trying to make curfew. These drivers, which specifically chose to drive through this crowded, compact strip of pavement (which separates two of the area's biggest clubs), came exclusively for the sole purpose to show off their rides, or their co-passengers, or their dog, or whatever they could think of, just for a means to impress.
On top of that, though these drivers knew Draper was going to be along the lines of a near-road block, they still chose to make their way down, and as if they were in a significant hurry (which they weren't), honked at the hundreds of students standing amongst the street.
Some drivers even had the audacity to open their windows and even speak, or better yet, yell towards those located in their way amongst the street. This concept in itself could have been enough to cause several confrontations. I know that when I was out there, it was definitely beginning to get me heated.
Which brings us to what most likely happened to Morgan and Ellis this past weekend. An idiot truck-driver, for whatever reason, was probably in a rush to get through Draper, and out of frustration, angered Morgan in some way, perhaps honking at him or individually yelling at him to move. Of course, with this situation, you could probably factor in a curse word or a vulgar term in here or there, and as a result, you'd have a heated guy on your hands, regardless of whether they're a football player or not.
Odds are, it's at this point when Morgan confronted the driver, and things most likely got out of hand. Ellis then 'did his thang', and was reported to have 'riled' up the crowd against the will of a police officer who stepped in to intervene. As a result, the two were arrested, and later given one-game suspensions by head coach Frank Beamer.
That being said, on this one, I'd have to go with Morgan and Ellis. Their acts are most likely justified, and to be fair, they didn't really do anything. Morgan was arrested after he was obviously provoked. Ellis was arrested for riling up the crowd, aka being a cheerleader. Big whoop. As if these things don't happen all over the country every weekend. Handle it accordingly, and be on with it.
So as a result of Sunday morning's fiasco, the Hokies lose two of their best players going into their first true test of the season. I can only imagine how ecstatic Yellow Jacket fans, as well as quarterback Reggie Ball are upon hearing the news, especially after the monster game Ellis had last year.
This is a tough loss for the Hokies. Personally, I couldn't be more pissed. I mean damn, as if Georgia Tech wasn't going to be tough enough already. Now this.
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