UCLA suspends 2 players for Oregon game | College football

LOS ANGELES — UCLA has suspended receiver Josh Smith and F-back Morrell Presley for the Bruins' Oct. 21 game at second-ranked Oregon for violating team rules.

UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel, a former Washington Huskies coach, announced the suspensions Tuesday before the start of the Bruins' bye-week practices. He didn't specify the exact reason for the suspensions, citing student privacy laws, and declined to comment on reports claiming more players could be suspended after appeals.

"I'm disappointed in both kids and for both kids," Neuheisel said after practice on the Westwood campus. "Hopefully they'll learn the valuable lesson that can be learned from this type of discipline."

The Orange County Register reported the players were suspended for violating team drug policy.

At least two other players are in the process or are planning to appeal violations that would also lead to suspension. At least one of the appeals involves a positive drug test, the Register reported.

Asked if his team had a marijuana problem, Neuheisel said, "I have no comment on any of that."

Smith is the Bruins' top kick returner, averaging 27.4 yards on 14 kickoff returns.

"I apologized to the guys, let them know I was extremely apologetic," Smith said. "Sometimes you make decisions you're not proud of. I'm always going to remember how the salt tasted in my mouth, and I'm going to try to help other people not to make the mistakes I did."

Presley has started all six games at F-back, a key position in UCLA's Pistol offense, but has had trouble catching the ball. He has three receptions for 12 yards.

"I violated a team rule," Presley said. "Made a mistake and right now I'm paying a price for it."

Presley's suspension comes as the co-starter at the F-back, freshman Anthony Barr, has a calf injury.

Notes

• The Pasadena City Council has approved a $152 million renovation plan for the 88-year-old Rose Bowl stadium. The council also approved 30-year lease extensions with UCLA and the Tournament of Roses to continue playing at the bowl.

Construction will run in three phases beginning in January and ending in 2013 to avoid disrupting games.

• Georgia coach Mark Richt suspended tailback Caleb King, the team's second-leading rusher, for two games after King's arrest Monday for failure to appear at a court date for a speeding ticket in nearby Walton County.

• Notre Dame will have to make do without one of its best players for the rest of the season.

Kyle Rudolph, 6-foot-6, 265-pound junior tight end, needs surgery after severely injuring his hamstring and recovery could take six months.

Fighting Irish coach Brian Kelly said he hadn't discussed what the injury will mean for Rudolph's future as far as staying in school or declaring for the NFL draft. Rudolph said he hasn't had time to think about the future beyond his surgery.