The final round of football suspensions for violating the extra benefits policy was announced by the Ball State University athletics department on Monday.Ball State will without five players for this weekend's game at Western Michigan and one more suspension will be served in the Homecoming game against Toledo on Oct. 15."We just got final word from the NCAA," athletics director Bubba Cunningham said. "We submitted it and it's done."One of this weekend's suspensions is junior cornerback Ricky Rakestraw, who hadn't previously been suspended. The other four - sophomore defensive end Cortlan Booker, senior safety David Gater, sophomore defensive end Temidayo Macarthy and senior tailback Charles Wynn - have all served at least one game.Ball State also announced Gater will be suspended for the following weekend's Homecoming game against Toledo.The university began investigating into violations of the extra benefits policy in the spring. The policy allows athletes with this scholarship to have their textbooks bought by the university. Athletes who violated the policy did so by buying textbooks not required for their classes. Fourty-eight athletes were named in early-September, and that number has since grown to 53. Cunningham said that while the investigation for violations by members of the football team is done, the department is still looking into other sports.With the suspensions, the Cardinals lose four defensive players and one offensive starter at Western Michigan.
"You still don't have four very good defensive football players," coach Brady Hoke said. "You're talking about three starters being out and probably the bulk of our offense in Charles Wynn being out."
Booker has only played in one game this season - starting against Bowling Green - and was suspended the other three games. He was the only player originally announced as suspended for the Western Michigan game.
Gater has played in three of four games, missing the Iowa game. Macarthy started against Bowling Green and Auburn and was suspended for the other two games. Rakestraw played in the first three games.
Wynn sat out the Iowa and Boston College games and started against Bowling Green and at Auburn. He began the year as the expected starter at tailback. He's carried the ball 31 times for 138 yards, a 4.1 average.
"Things aren't going to heal overnight," Hoke said. "It's going to be a process."
Bryan Smith, who was originally suspended by Ball State for the Boston College game, was allowed to play after the NCAA said he did not need to sit out.
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