Aug 28, 2014 12:11 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

The University of North Carolina (UNC) has suspended four football players for the team's opener Saturday against Liberty.

According to the Associated Press, UNC Tar Heels head football coach Larry Fedora announced the suspensions Wednesday, citing a "violation of team policy." Des Lawrence, Brian Walker, Donnie Miles and M.J. Stewart will sit out the game this weekend.

The suspensions came a day after unnamed sources told Yahoo Sports of an alleged hazing incident on the team that ma have elevated to an assault. UNC's athletic department was admittedly aware of the situation, but did not release any details. The sources said freshman walk-on wide receiver Jackson Boyer was left with a concussion after some incident took place in a Chapel Hill hotel room.

''We're going to hold all of our guys accountable for everything they do on the field and off the field,'' Fedora said after practice Wednesday, according to the AP. ''And we also have very high expectations for guys in this program, and they didn't meet those expectations.''

The alleged incident involving Boyer occurred in early Aug., during the team's preseason football camp. Boyer's teammates came into his room for some sort of hazing ritual, which evidently escalated to assault. Boyer's father also acknowledged that some sort of incident took place, but he told Yahoo he was "really not ready to comment."

UNC has a no tolerance policy on hazing, which the school defines as "action that causes or permits an individual, with or without consent, to engage in activities that subject that individual or others to risks of physical injury, mental distress, or personal indignities of a highly offensive nature, in connection with recruitment, initiation, or continued membership in a society, fraternity or sorority, club, or similar organized group, whether or not recognized by the University."

The suspensions were apparently in response to Yahoo's report, but Fedora's statement made no mention of hazing or assault. UNC's investigation into the incident involving Boyer is ongoing.

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