Montana QB Kemp dismissed from team

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) - Montana quarterback Gerald Kemp has been dismissed from the team for what officials said was a violation of team rules, a move that comes several months after the university fired its coach and athletic director amid a number investigations into the program.

Interim Athletic Director Jean Gee told the Missoulian that Kemp's dismissal on Friday wasn't related to his arrest in October when police used a stun gun to subdue him and another player as officers tried to break up a loud party. Both Kemp and cornerback Trumaine Johnson pleaded no contest in December to disorderly conduct charges.

Kemp passed for 218 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 223 yards and two scores as a junior in 2011. His departure leaves four quarterbacks on the Grizzlies' roster, including incumbent starter Jordan Johnson, whose status with the team also has been questionable in recent months.

In March, a woman accused Jordan Johnson of sexually assaulting her in February. No charges have been filed, and Johnson's name remains on the Grizzly roster.

Gee said Kemp's dismissal was coach Mick Delaney's decision and had nothing to do with the October arrest. No other details were given. The school didn't announce Kemp's dismissal, but his name didn't appear on a team roster on Friday.

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether the university, campus police and Missoula police and prosecutors improperly handled reports of rape and sexual assault, including allegations involving football players. The Department of Education also is looking into a sexual discrimination complaint filed in January that named the football program.

In May, school officials announced that the NCAA had opened an investigation into the program. Officials haven't said what the investigation involves, and university President Royce Engstrom has said he didn't know.

Then-Athletic Director Jim O'Day and head coach Robin Pflugrad were fired on March 29. No official reasons were given.

And last month the school announced that vice president for external relations Jim Foley had stepped down from that position but would continue working for the school. Foley's emails helped fuel the ongoing controversy over the handling of rapes reported at the school.

Emails released in May showed that Foley questioned whether a female student could be punished for speaking publicly about how the school was handling her report of being raped.