June Jones takes questions at a press conference early last year. (Stuart Palley)
In what is perhaps the most significant disciplinary action taken by the SMU football program since the death penalty in the mid-1980s, nine players were released from their scholarships Tuesday by head coach June Jones.
In a written statement, Jones cited the players’ apparent “failure to adhere to our department policies and/or team rules” as justification for their releases.
The list of cuts includes a true freshman (offensive lineman Andrew Robiskie), two redshirt freshmen (running back Ben Goldthorpe and linebacker Julian Herron), four sophomores (defensive end Jordan Johnson and Anthony Sowe, cornerback De’Von Bailey, and linebacker Taylor Bon) and a junior (linebacker Alex Odiari).
A spokesman for the athletics department said that the players will stay on scholarship through the end of the semester, and Jones said he has made arrangements for the players to continue their playing careers at other schools if they wish to transfer.
“We are sensitive to the fact that these decisions impact people’s lives,” Jones said in the statement. “We wish these young men the best in their future endeavors.”
Herron played in 11 games last season and recorded 17 tackles, the most among the released players. Sowe (eight games, 10 tackles), Odiari (four games, seven tackles), Bailey (nine games, four tackles) and Johnson (four games, six tackles) also saw playing time.
Just a week ago, SMU signed 26 players to national letters of intent; the scholarship limit for Division I teams is 85. The Mustangs, who finished last in Conference USA in the 2008 season, had the eighth best recruiting class in the 12-team conference.
In just one season as SMU’s head coach, Jones already has established his reputation as a disciplinarian. Four players, including leading receivers Aldrick Robinson and Emmanuel Sanders, were suspended for the last two weeks of the season because of team infractions.
Before the 2008 season began, Jones made headlines when he suspended junior quarterback Justin Willis for spring practice. Willis had been the starting quarterback during his freshman and sophomore seasons, but he did not start last season.
