Three quarterbacks from the 1995 Saluki football squad are no longer attending classes at SIUC due to academic and personal reasons.

Freshmen quarterbacks Reggie Kennedy, Rob Schroeder, and 95s starting sophomore quarterback Danny Smith have said goodbye to SIUC, but not all for the same reason.

Both Smith and Schroeder were dismissed from the team by coach Watson for violations of the academic policy.

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Kennedy left the Salukis to further his college playing time at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich..

Grand Valley’s football coach, Brian Kelly, said his staff had recruited Kennedy out of high school, and that may have influenced his decision to attend Grand Valley.

We had recruited Reggie out of high school, so we know about him and he was a young man we were interested in out of high school, Kelly said. When you’re dealing with a full scholarship or a partial scholarship school, they (full scholarship schools) generally win out.

He’s a hard working guy, and he’s going to help our football team.

Kelly said one reason Kennedy might have transferred to Grand Valley was the possibility of more playing time.

I think anytime you’re transferring, you’re not just transferring for the ability to play more, but I’m sure that’s part of the reason why, Kelly said. We’ve had transfers come in before and do nice jobs for us, so I knew his coming here would be one where he would be given the opportunity to start.

Grand Valley has been in the NCAA Div. II playoffs four of the last six years and Kelly said he felt Kennedy wanted a chance to be a part of a winning team.

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We’ve won a lot of games, Kelly said. I think he knows he can be involved in a team that is going to win a lot.

Coach Kelly said Kennedy appears to be happy in his new home.

In all appearances he seems to be happy, Kelly said. He’s in our conditioning and weight training program and he’s excited about the chance, and we’re excited about having him here to compete for a starting position.

Coach Shawn Watson does not believe the absence of the three quarterbacks will have a negative effect on the team, however.

We will remount, reload and just keep going, Watson said.

An example of the Salukis’ rebounding is the signing of Marcus Capone.

Capone, a transfer from Nassau Community College in Garden City, NY, has three years of eligibility left and will vie for the quarterback position next season.

I think Marcus is a talented young man. He’s athletic, he’s got a very good arm, and I think his best football is definitely ahead of him, Watson said. He’s a solid person and I like all of the things I know about him and his character.

Watson said he probably will not know who will be the Salukis starting quarterback for the 1996 season until August.

Neither Smith or Schroeder were available for comment.