CEDAR FALLS - The college football careers of Johnny Gray and Victor Williams officially ended Monday when Northern Iowa head coach Mark Farley dismissed the two senior wide receivers from the team.

Gray and Williams were arrested Friday on possession of marijuana charges. Gray was charged with possession with intent to deliver and violation of the Iowa drug tax stamp law. Both are felonies.

Willams was charged with serious misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

Farley suspended both Panthers Friday before the road game at Indiana State. Sunday, he met with Gray and Williams and immediately released Gray. Following another meeting with Williams today, the UNI coach then dismissed him as well.

"Our football program is held to a very high standard, both on and off the field," said Farley at UNI's weekly press luncheon. "We will do our best to make the decisions to make sure we meet those standards both on and off the field."

Farley declined to share any further details on his meetings with Gray and Williams. He said that the decision on Williams was the "more difficult to do."

"Both were thought of in totally different formats, at least by myself. That's why Victor's was more challenging and more difficult to make the decision on what to do."

Both players will remain in school. They are scheduled to graduate in December.

Farley said this has been hard on him.

"I am a fan as much as a coach to this team. Those guys have been in this program for a while. That's what makes it more difficult. I think it makes it more difficult for their teammates to accept," he said. "I've always preached to our team that the program comes first. Nobody is bigger than the program. And that will remain the same as long as I'm here."

UNI director of athletics Troy Dannen endorsed Farley's decision to dismiss the players.

"He took a very stern and I think very appropriate response in defining what he wants that (football) program to be," said Dannen.

He said it was critical that Farley come to a swift decision in what to do with the players.

"One, just for the team to know who is on the team, for the coaching staff to be able to plan for the future. And it's fair to the student athletes involved. They need to know what their status is," Dannen said.

Court records state officers with the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force and Cedar Fall police executed a search warrant at Gray and William's West 18th Street home Friday and found a "large quantity" of marijuana weighing at least 42.5 grams.

Police also located packaging materials, a digital scale, notes and money in Gray's bedroom and in a downstairs area, records state.

Gray allegedly admitted to police the marijuana was his, records state.

Williams, who was home when police came, was found to be in possession of what was described as a "personal use" amount of marijuana, records state.

Both are from Florida and have posted bond.

Staff writer Jeff Reinitz contributed to this report

Contact Jim Sullivan at (319) 291-1434 or jim.sullivan@wcfcourier.com