MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Lance Smith has been removed from Wisconsin's football team.

Coach Bret Bielema made the announcement Monday following the team's first practice of the season.

Smith has two seasons of eligibility remaining, but was suspended last month after he was terminated from the first offender's program in Dane County.

Smith was placed in the program last October after Circuit Judge Stuart Schwartz accepted Smith's guilty pleas to charges of battery and disorderly conduct.

The charges stemmed from an altercation betweeen Smith and his girlfriend in July 2007.

Smith missed five games last season as a sophomore as part of a suspension handed down by Wisconsin Dean of Students Lori Berquam.

Bielema says he believes removing Smith will be a "fresh start" in Smith's best interests.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)