BYU football: Joe Sampson, Zac Stout suspended for violating team rules, leave school
Zac Stout (#10) and Bryan Engstrom practice with the BYU football team at BYU in Provo on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
PROVO — BYU senior safety Joe Sampson and backup linebacker Zac Stout were suspended for a violation of team rules, coach Bronco Mendenhall announced Thursday night. Both players have withdrawn from school and will not return this season.
Sampson started eight games this season, recording 33 tackles. He had 56 tackles in his two-year Cougar career. Stout played in one game at inside linebacker this season and made one tackle. In 2010 as a freshman, he had 21 tackles in 10 games in 2010, then missed the 2011 season due to injury.
Sophomore Craig Bills is expected to start in place of Sampson when the Cougars face Idaho on Saturday.
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Jeff Call has been a sportswriter for the Deseret News since 1997. He is the BYU beat writer and has been covering Cougar sports since 1993, when he served as sports editor at the Daily Universe. Call has written several more ..
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Elmer,
It's okay to feel bad for people who squander their opportunities, even if it's their own fault, and especially if they are young.
These kids just don't get it. If you don't want to live the honor code, don't play for BYU. It's pretty simple guys. Live up to the commitment you signed up for, or don't be shocked when you dismissed from the team!
Elmer Fudd
We feel bad for them because we feel bad for anyone who makes a bad mistake. We don't feel bad for them because of the consequences. Hopefully the consequences can be the beginning of learning, growing and healing. More..