Olympians Bubba Watson (67), Matt Kuchar (69), and Patrick R

Alabama?defensive back Maurice Smith claims that his locker was cleared out and his personal items were thrown in the trash after he informed the school of his decision to transfer, according to a letter written by Smith that was obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.Smith, who wrote the letter on July 1 to the Alabama appeal committee, stated that he was no longer allowed in the athletic facilities and among the personal items thrown out were my family photos, written goals, inspirational and sentimental items memorializing my deceased former friend, roommate and teammate, Altee Tenpenny, and items of personal value from my former teammates.Smith, a senior who has started two games in his career, is seeking to transfer to?Georgia. Since he is a graduate student, he would not?be required to sit out a year to regain eligibility.Alabama coach Nick Saban said he is blocking the transfer due to a policy prohibiting transferring within the conference. However, Saban did nothing to stop the transfer of former Alabama wide receiver Chris Black to Missouri earlier this year.Smiths mother, Samyra Smith, told the AJC that she didnt know why Saban was standing in the way of her son going to Georgia. Former Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart is entering his first season as head coach of the Bulldogs.I dont know what it is, she said. You just had a player leave, Chris Black, and hes at an SEC school, Mizzou. So dont tell me its about a violation of rules. I can read you the rules. I understand them well. Its not a violation of rules, or else the SEC wouldve stopped it, the commissioner wouldve stopped it. But its allowed.In a statement released Thursday, Alabama said the transfer of Black to Missouri occurred only because of unique circumstances.[Black] elected to have surgery in the middle of the season and left the program, Alabama said. Because of the timing of his departure, his scholarship was not renewed, and he requested to use the graduate transfer exception through the SEC. Our decision in this situation to support the SEC waiver was the exception and not the rule.We adhere to the SEC and institutional policies regarding issues of this manner. Waivers are not provided without compelling circumstances that present clear non-athletics reasons for the transfer. We remain happy to assist Maurice to enable a transfer to any non-SEC school, and have been doing everything requested regarding that throughout this process.Saban said at media days last month that he and the staff told Smith that he would be a significant contributor to the team, should he decide to stay. During the spring, Smith, a native of Sugar Land, Texas, worked with the first-team defense at nickel back.According to the AJC, Smith initially told Saban that, since he would not be released to an SEC school, he would transfer to Miami, which the coach agreed to. Smith, however, changed his mind and decided to pursue a transfer to Georgia.I felt confused and unfairly treated and did not pursue the release to UM, Smith wrote, according to the AJC. Although things appeared hopeless, I communicated with my parents who told me to follow my heart and if UGA was where I felt I would have success, I should not back down and should pursue it.He added: As it stands, the recent actions of the UA athletic staff have already sealed their intention to no longer include me as a part of the team. 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CROMWELL, Conn. -- Jerry Kelly played off the emotion of what he considers a home crowd Thursday in the Travelers Championship, shooting a 6-under 64 for a share of the first-round lead with Vaughn Taylor and Andrew Loupe.The 49-year-old Kelly played at the nearby University of Hartford. Headed to the PGA Tour Champions after this season, Kelly won the last of his three PGA Tour titles in 2009.Im not that man who has people constantly yelling wherever I go, Kelly said. I kind of take those good vibes and run with it. Its fun.Kelly started his afternoon on the back nine, sinking a 45-foot putt for eagle on his sixth hole of the day, the courses signature par-4 15th. The green was redesigned as part of a $3.5 million course renovation project this year and the front left pin placement was new.It was a question mark, how fast it was going to be and I judged it correctly, apparently, he said.Loupe and Taylor went out early, when relatively soft greens and little wind helped the scoring.Taylor, the 40-year-old who won for the first time since 2005 at Pebble Beach this year, strung together five consecutive birdies starting on the 12th hole and shot a 30 on the back nine.That was a nice little run and I needed that, Taylor said. I was playing well and just needed something to kind of get me going.Loupe, who at 27 is looking for his first PGA Tour win, had seven birdies and a bogey on the day. He pulled into a tie for the lead after a 128-yard approach shot on 18 gave him a 2-foot birdie putt.ddddddddddddJon Rahm, the 21-year-old Spaniard who turned pro in June, eagled the par-5 13th hole and was a stroke back along with Ben Martin and Marc Leishman.Ninety-three players shot par or better, including U.S. Olympians Bubba Watson (67), Matt Kuchar (69), and Patrick Reed (70).They are playing the first two rounds as a trio, and fans stood four and five deep at times to watch them, chanting USA! USA! as they arrived at the 18th tee.Reed was using the red, white and blue golf bag he received this week as part of his Olympic team gearAll three of us are very excited and eager to get over there, said Watson, the tournaments defending champion. We hear all the USA chants. But at the same time, you want to play well here.Besides the Americans, three other Olympians are playing in Cromwell.Denmarks Soren Kjeldsen and Germanys Alex Cejka each shot 68, and Irelands Padraig Harrington came in at an even-par 70.The tournament was moved from its traditional spot in June, a week after the U.S. Open, as the PGA Tour shuffled its schedule to accommodate the Olympics.But the schedule didnt affect the quality of the field, which includes 10 players ranked in the top 30 in the world, led by Watson, who came into the week ranked sixth.South Koreas Si Woo Kim had the shot of the day. The 21-year-old aced the 215-yard fifth hole on his way to a 69. ' ' '