Illinois' Ellis, McPhearson kicked off after arrests, theft charges

Basketball player Rich McBride on Thursday pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and is scheduled to be sentenced May 1. The 6-foot-3 senior guard was arrested on Sept. 29 in Savoy, a small town just south of Champaign, and is scheduled to be sentenced May 1.

He was suspended for four regular-season games after the arrest and will face no further discipline, school officials have said.

Sophomore guard Jamar Smith pleaded not guilty last month to charges that he left the scene of the accident and drove while intoxicated during a Feb. 12 accident that left teammate Brian Carlwell hospitalized for four days with a severe concussion.

He will not play again this season.

Athletic director Ron Guenther said the past few weeks have been difficult for the university's athletic programs, adding that removing Ellis and McPhearson from the football team was the right thing to do.

"We have set a high standard for student-athlete behavior, and it should be," Guenther said. "Our kids get a tremendous amount of support from all areas of the department. Therefore after reviewing this incident, it was in the best interest of both parties that the athletes be dismissed and their scholarships not renewed."