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Little Caesars Pizza Bowl: Purdue Players Facing Legal Issues On Eve Of Bowl

As Purdue prepares for the 2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl the Boilermakers are facing some major off the field issues. Starting linebacker and leading tackler Dwayne Beckford has already been ruled out for the game after being arrested Friday morning for a DUI. Now two other starters could be affected by legal issues off the field. Starting defensive end Gerald Gooden and starting outside linebacker Will Lucas were both arrested on Monday according to Gold and Black.com:

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Gerald Gooden and Will Lucas arrested Monday, according to police records. Both charged with theft, rec stolen property

Purdue has also lost an offensive starter in wide receiver O.J. Ross, who has been suspended indefinitely and will not make the bowl trip. If Lucas and Gooden join Beckford on the bench the Boilermakers will be without three defensive starters.

According to Mike Carmin of the Lafayette Journal & Courier, however, the incident appears to stem from unpaid University parking tickets:

police said Gooden and Lucas were arrested for removing wheel locks placed on their cars for unpaid parking tickets.

Lucas and Gooden will not face charges, but could face discipline from the University.