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The Texas Tech football program has been through a lot over the past couple of months. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury was fired and Matt Wells took over the program. The new Red Raiders head coach is not having the best start in Lubbock as he had to suspend four players from the team, according to Lubbockonline.com.
Cornerback DaMarcus Fields, defensive tackle Joseph Wallace, running back Da’Leon Ward and wide receiver Corey Fulcher were the four players suspended. The suspensions happened right after the players had returned from spring break, but Wells did not suspend them for what they did over spring break. The new head coach said that the players were suspended because of internal matters that had to get straightened out first.
The players are suspended indefinitely and Wells does not know how long the suspensions will last.
“They could be back soon. They could be back in a while or could never be back. We’ll see,” Wells said. “We’ve got to get some things cleaned up off the field and we’ll get it done.”
Fields’ suspension hurts the most as he has started 23 games over the last two years and was disruptive in 2018 with 11 passes defended and two forced fumbles. Ward was the team’s primary ball carrier at times for the Red Raiders in 2018, finishing the season with 769 yards and six touchdowns. Wallace started seven games for Texas Tech in 2018 and had four tackles for loss.
Fulcher was the only player who did have a big impact in 2018 as he redshirted. Wells has had a no tolerance policy since he has taken over at Texas Tech and his handling of these suspensions is no different.
“We’re not going to lower the standard,” Wells said. “There’s a way to do things around here. It’s an honor, it’s a privilege to work and to play and to coach at Texas Tech. Nobody’s entitled, and I’m not inferring that those guys are. I’m just saying that we’re going to do things the right way around here, or we’re not going to play or practice or coach.”
The future of the Texas Tech players is still up for debate, leaving Wells with a big decision in how to handle the situation.
