Syracuse suspends safety for year

Published Nov. 18, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Syracuse safety Phillip Thomas has been suspended for one year for a violation of athletics department policy.

The university offered no further explanation in a one-sentence email.

The move comes in an off week for the Orange (5-5, 1-4 Big East), who have two games remaining in the regular season. They host Cincinnati a week from Saturday and close the season at Pitt on Dec. 3 needing one victory to become eligible for a bowl game.

Thomas has started all 10 games for the Orange, leads the team in tackles with 82 and ranks first in the Big East with six interceptions.