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UW football: Bielema removes Smith from team

Jim Polzin  —  8/04/2008 7:21 pm

University of Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema has removed talented but troubled running back Lance Smith from the team.

Bielema made the announcement Monday night following the team's first practice of the season. It appears Smith, who has two seasons of eligibility remaining, will transfer to a Football Championship Subdivision program (formerly called Division I-AA) so he can be eligible to play immediately. 

Bielema suspended Smith last month after Smith was terminated from the first-offenders program. 

Smith was placed in the program last October after Dane County Circuit Judge Stuart Schwartz accepted Smith's guilty pleas to charges of battery and disorderly conduct that stemmed from an altercation between Smith and his girlfriend in July 2007.

Smith is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 14 for a sentencing hearing.

Smith missed five games last season as a sophomore as part of a suspension handed down by UW Dean of Students Lori Berquam.

"I really believe he feels a fresh start is going to be in his best interests,'' Bielema said Monday. "I'm trying to do everything I can. I know in the last 96 hours I've probably placed as many phone calls as I ever have in my life. There's a lot of people who would like to have him on their football team and that's what we're trying to pursue.''

Another notable player not on UW's 105-player training camp roster is junior cornerback Josh Nettles. Bielema said Nettles is working through academic issues and won't be with the team during fall camp.

Jim Polzin  —  8/04/2008 7:21 pm