Phoenix ? Coach Bill Snyder apologized to Kansas State fans Thursday and announced senior quarterback Ell Roberson and other players would lose their scholarships for the spring semester because they violated team rules two nights before the Fiesta Bowl.

Snyder made the announcement in a letter on the same day the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office declined to press charges against Roberson, who was accused of sexually assaulting an acquaintance early New Year’s Day.

Prosecutors said Roberson could not have known the 22-year-old woman who accused him did not consent to having sex with him. Roberson acknowledged having sex with the woman, but said it was consensual.

Maricopa County Attorney spokesman Bill FitzGerald declined to elaborate.

“I cannot adequately convey to you how badly I feel for those within the Wildcat family who, through their allegiance to our university and athletic program, are suffering immensely,” Snyder said in the letter.

“A day has not gone by that I have not prayed that the Lord would ease the pain for our players, coaches, staff, the athletic department, the university faculty, student body, and administration, and the remarkable K-State fan base throughout the county. The accusation that was falsely made in this incident will live within each of us for a long time to come.”

Snyder said he has kept punishments for violations “within the ‘family.'” But because of the nationwide publicity the accusations against his quarterback garnered, he decided to make an exception.

Snyder said Roberson and the unnamed players who had violated team rules would lose scholarship aid for the spring semester, valued at about $8,500, forfeit their Fiesta Bowl rings and be ordered to perform public service by addressing youth groups within the community.

Snyder’s statement did not identify the other players who were punished. While a police report lists other players who violated curfew, Snyder does not elaborate on the violations that led to his decision to punish them.

Sports information director Garry Bowman said he didn’t know why the other players weren’t named.

“I guess coach Snyder decided not to include that information in the letter,” Bowman said, “but that would be speculation on my part.”