Once again, Purdue has lost a starter due to off the field issues before the 2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. Fifth year senior wide receiver and punt returner Waynelle Gravesande has been declared academically ineligible for what would have been the final game of his football career and did not make the trip to Detroit with the team:
#Purdue coach Danny Hope said WR/PR Waynelle Gravesande not eligible for bowl game. "He fell short academically"#boilermakers
Gravesande joins receiver O.J. Ross as an academic casualty for the bowl game, as well as Dwayne Beckford (legal issues) and Ralph Bolden (torn ACL). Gravesande had 18 receptions for 177 yards on the season and returned 22 punts for 129 yards.
Coach Hope has ruled that starters Will Lucas and Gerald Gooden will play in the bowl game after an incident earlier in the week involving their car. The pair had removed a parking boot placed on Gooden's car due to unpaid parking tickets. Hope stated the two will face internal punishment, but will not be suspended.
Purdue total list of starters out for the game is as follows:
Running Back Ralph Bolden - torn ACL
Linebacker Dwayne Beckford - Arrested for DWI
Offensive Guard Ken Plue - Season-long suspension
Wide Receiver/Punt Returner Waynelle Gravesande - Academics
Wide Receiver O.J. Ross - Academics