BYU Suspends 2 From Liberty Bowl

Brigham Young running back Ronney Jenkins, the Western Athletic Conference's top rusher this season, and defensive back Heshimu Robertson will not play in the Liberty Bowl, coach LaVell Edwards announced Wednesday night.

Edwards declined any further comment on the situation, but a source close to the team, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Jenkins and Robertson had violated the Mormon school's honor code, which includes prohibitions on premarital sex and the use of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs.

"Heshimu and Ronney will not make the trip to Memphis," Edwards said in a press release. "We will sorely miss them because they both have played such a key role for this team."

Brigham Young is scheduled to play undefeated and No. 10-ranked Tulane in the Dec. 31 Liberty Bowl. The Cougars lost the WAC Championship game to Air Force 20-13 on Dec. 5.

The violations are Jenkins' second in 17 months, putting his future with the Cougars in serious jeopardy. He was suspended for the entire 1997 season because of undisclosed violations of the school's behavior code.

The sophomore rushed for a conference-best 1,307 yards this year, the second-best rushing season in school history, and was named to the All-WAC second team. He also scored 15 touchdowns, the second-most in school history. After just two seasons, Jenkins is already the sixth-leading rusher in school history with 2,040 career yards.

Jenkins was named the 1996 WAC Mountain Division Freshman of the Year, and after serving his year-long suspension, he re-enrolled at the school.

Robertson, a sophomore who transferred to BYU from Cerritos (Calif.) Junior College, made 31 tackles and one interception as a part-time defensive back. He was listed as a starting cornerback on the Cougars' depth chart for the Liberty Bowl.

The highlight of Robertson's first season at BYU was returning a blocked punt 72 yards for a touchdown against Fresno State.

© 1998 SportsLine USA, Inc. All rights reserved