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US: Winthrop college football team suspended [Sat Aug 27th, 2005]
Rock Hill, South Carolina (AP) -- The entire Winthrop men's football team has been suspended at least two games for their involvement in an off-campus gathering with underage drinking.
Each of the 27 players will be suspended for two to four games, and players will serve suspensions in groups, possibly five or six at a time, to avoid forfeiting any games, athletic department spokesman Jack Frost said.
"All I can say is that they were involved in some activity where underaged drinking occurred and alcohol was available," Frost said.
Injured players will serve suspensions when they get healthy, and red-shirted players will serve their suspensions next year, Frost said.
The suspended groups will be determined by coach Rich Posipanko. Suspensions will begin with Saturday's friendly at Charlotte and are scheduled to end after the Oct. 7 match against Coastal Carolina. Winthrop open the regular season at Appalachian State on Sept. 1.
The Eagles, who returned eight starters after a 7-12 record a year ago, was picked to finish third in the Big South Conference preseason poll. Winthrop made the NCAA tournament in 2002.
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