Three SMU Starters Suspended

SMU head football coach June Jones has suspended three of his starters for the final two games of the season under his "three strikes" rule.

Receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Aldrick Robinson and linebacker Justin Smart are out for the rest of the season, The Dallas Morning News reported in its online edition.

Under Jones' "three strikes" rule, a player can pick up a strike for missing or being late to practice, team meetings and study halls, among other violations.

Jones told the newspaper that the suspensions would serve notice about what it takes to build a winning program.

A call Wednesday night by The Associated Press to the university was not immediately returned.

Robinson has 1,047 yards on the year and Sanders has 958, ranking them No. 4 and No. 10 in the nation in receiving yards. Smart is second on the team in tackles with 74.