Twice-suspended Phil Smith won't be back in a Georgia Tech uniform this season. The football team and Smith parted ways Wednesday (quote courtesy of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution):

"(After) his violation of team rules at the bowl game, I think he and Coach (Paul) Johnson decided that it’s probably best for him to concentrate on his studies," associate athletic director Wayne Hogan said.

Smith was suspended twice in the 2011 season for violations of team rules (including being sent home from the Sun Bowl). He's a semester shy of graduating with a management degree from Tech, and if he enrolled at a graduate program, he could be eligible to play immediately at another university.

Georgia Tech won't take too much of a loss on the offensive line with Smith's departure - every other starter and back-up that saw significant time in the 2011 season will return next fall.

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