Minnesota’s second-leading receiver has been dismissed.
Gophers coach Tracy Claeys said Brian Smith was no longer part of the team on his weekly coach’s show on 100.3 FM in Minneapolis. Via the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:
“Unfortunately, he had a little violation of team rules, or a big violation of team rules and has been dismissed,” Claeys told KFAN. “There’s always consequences for the choices that you make and what you do, and it’s very unfortunate, and I hate to do it as a coach. That’s the worst thing in the world that you do when you’re trying to help out kids.”
Claeys added: “I feel bad about it, but it’s one of those things. Like I said, the warnings have been there, and eventually, you’re responsible — all of us are responsible — for the decisions that we make and what we choose to do.”
Claeys’ declaration that Smith was no longer part of the team came after his weekly press conference.
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Smith has 17 catches for 279 yards in 2016. Only Drew Wolitarsky (40 catches for 514 yards) has more catches and yards. Smith, a junior, was leading the Gophers in yards per catch (16.4).
A walk-on, Smith redshirted in 2013 and didn’t play in 2014 or 2015. His best game of the season came in an overtime loss to Penn State where he had seven catches for 101 yards.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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