Justin Thorpe Suspended for 5 Games
Update: After we posted this, JMU Athletic Director made the announcement that both Justin Thorpe and Chase Williams are suspended indefinitely.
CSNWashington is reporting that JMU’s starting QB, Justin Thorpe, has been suspended 5 games for failing a drug test. There aren’t too many details at this time, but JMU is supposedly going to issue a release with more information later this morning. Rumors of Thorpe’s suspension were brought to our attention last night by reader @MikeOShea33. He tweeted us and the DNR’s Mike Barber to let us know that he heard from a well informed source that JT was going to be suspended. This prompted Barber to hit the phones and start reporting. It prompted us to panic.
I don’t want to judge Thorpe or call him a bad guy. Thousands of kids on campuses all across the country probably did drugs of some sort over the weekend. Thousands of kids don’t have the opportunity to quarterback a football team with rapidly building expectations though. This just sucks. The Dukes had a great win on the road against a conference rival on Saturday. Thorpe only threw the ball 4 times, but he made great decisions and took another giant step forward. Fans were finally coming around to Justin and starting to think big things for this Dukes squad. Now redshirt freshman, Jace Edwards is presumably going to be the starter this Saturday against Richmond. Many fans were calling for him to start heading into this season. They’re going to get their wish.
In Friday’s preview, I predicted that the Dukes would win comfortably on Saturday and are the CAA favorites Sunday morning. I never thought they’d be breaking in a new starting QB on Monday.
“That marijuana make you lazy.” Anyone know who originally said that…?
That sucks. What is even more disappointing is that all these kids know the NCAA randomly tests you throughout the year. I played for JMU in the 90’s and the way it worked then is they inform you to report to testing with very little notice (less than 24 hours)–definitely not enough to mask any drugs in your system. He just needs to be smarter than this.
This does suck because while Thorpe may not be throwing it that much anyways, its his running threat that is what is going to be missed. Plus of course his intimate knowledge of the offensive playbook/scheme. So Cosh isn’t really ready over Edwards?
Cosh is still recovering from a broken hand I believe. Jace has good reviews apparently, but will MM actually let him throw it enough?
Jace will get the nod more than likely but Cosh is not the one with the broken hand. It was freshmen wr/qb Andre Coble. I believe Coble and Jace will split reps. Coble having amazing speed could fulfill the option threat that has been the core staple of our offense
are we talking roids or EPO or what? maybe he ate a poppy seed bagel from Greens.
Well, Bourne made the announcement so it is now official. I don’t think they’ve released the name of the drug, but all the unofficial chatter says that it was weed. Chase Williams, a back-up LB, was also suspended.
It’s worth noting that Bourne said it was an indefinite suspension and not 5 games as reported by CSN Washington.
the NCAA tests for weed? wow that is dumb.
I think the NCAA does test for it, but I believe this test was actually an internal test administered by JMU. It’s Justin’s second failed test, that is dumb.
Maybe he’s got cataracts.
Come on Bourne. Why test right before homecoming? Get your head out of your @ss and test before the first home game against joe blow.
What’s the story on Cosh? Why can’t he get on the field? Does MM really loathe the forward pass that much?
LD, I cannot disagree more. Test randomly every week. It is called integrity. You don’t just to it as a token thing, make it reliable and meaningful. Which game it is before doesn’t matter.
I’m pretty sure LD was just kidding around, but yeah, we all want the program to maintain its integrity. That’s the one good thing here.
As far as Cosh goes, I don’t think it’s anything Mickey has against the kid. All reports are that he simply didn’t play very well in preseason practice, so he ended up 3rd on the depth chart. He’s young and he’s got time to improve.
What a shame…Thorpe had the world in his hands and he blew it, maybe literally. Same story can be told many times over. What a waste.