Mississippi State QB Fitzgerald suspended for opener
Joe Moorhead’s debut as Mississippi State’s head coach added some unexpected intrigue after he announced starting quarterback Nick Fitzgerald
is suspended for Saturday’s game against Stephen F. Austin because of a “violation of team policy.”
Moorhead — who talked about the decision during Monday’s press conference — also said that defensive lineman Cory Thomas
won’t play against the Lumberjacks.
Moorhead did not elaborate on the reason for Fitzgerald’s suspension, saying only that the violation occurred in March. He added that Fitzgerald will be the starter when the 18th-ranked Bulldogs play their second game on Sept. 8 at Kansas State and praised the senior quarterback’s behavior since last spring.
The suspension delays the return of Fitzgerald, a third-year starter who suffered a gruesome dislocated right ankle in last year’s Egg Bowl. Sophomore Keytaon Thompson
will start in Fitzgerald’s absence.
Arizona dismisses LB Marchiol after video surfaces
Arizona transfer linebacker Santino Marchiol has been dismissed from the team after a video surfaced of him appearing to use a racial slur to describe former teammates at Texas A&M.
Wildcats coach Kevin Sumlin— a former Oklahoma offensive coordinator— said during his Monday news conference that Marchiol is no longer with the team, but did not give a specific reason why.
The Dallas Morning News reported last week that a video showed Marchiol using a racial slur to describe teammates while he was at Texas A&M.
Marchiol transferred to Arizona this year after Sumlin was fired by the Aggies and took the job in Tucson. Marchiol told USA Today last week that he was given cash on two occasions by a Texas A&M assistant coach to entertain recruits on official visits.
Texas A&M is investigating the claims.
UCLA suspends 6 players
UCLA has suspended six players for unspecified rules violations for its season opener against Cincinnati.
Chip Kelly is making his debut as UCLA’s coach on Saturday.
Offensive lineman Boss Tagaloa, tight end Devin Asiasi, running back Soso Jamabo, defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa, defensive back Mo Osling and defensive lineman Moses Robinson-Carr will not play against Cincinnati because of unspecified violations of athletic department policies.
Tagaloa and Asiasi are each suspended for the first three games of the season. Jamabo will also miss the game at No. 7-ranked Oklahoma next week.
Clemson, LSU each name starting QB
•Veteran Kelly Bryant is Clemson’s starting quarterback, holding off promising freshman Trevor Lawrence.
The second-ranked Tigers open the season Saturday at home against Furman.
Bryant started last season and led Clemson to a 12-2 record and a third straight Atlantic Coast Conference championship and College Football Playoff appearance.
Lawrence was the country’s second-best college prospect, according to ESPN.
•LSU has named Ohio State transfer Joe Burrow
as its starting quarterback when the No. 25-ranked Tigers open their season Sunday night against No. 8 Miami in Dallas.
Tigers coach Ed Orgeron says the competition between Burrow and sophomore Myles Brennan
was “tight,” and he would have been fine starting either. Orgeron adds he won’t hesitate to switch between the two should one falter.
Burrow is a graduate transfer with two years of NCAA eligibility remaining. He played in 10 games as a backup at Ohio State.