Millersville University football coach Joe Trainer is pleased the nine players suspended during an investigation of an alleged sexual assault were back on the practice field Wednesday, but he said the healing process has just begun.

The university reinstated the players, who were suspended from the team two weeks ago after allegations they were involved in a sexual assault at an off-campus party.

"The declaration of no guilt feels good, albeit the healing is something that is just beginning," Trainer said Thursday.

He said the players, five of whom are starters, were happy to be back at practice.

"They are excited to get back to some normalcy," Trainer said. "These players make an impact on our success in determining the outcome of the game."

Trainer said the team stayed strong throughout the ordeal.

"I'm extremely proud of how the kids handled the distraction," Trainer said. "Taking the focus away from football can be unsettling. Finally, the focus is back on football."

In a statement released Thursday, the university said the investigation concluded that no further action should be taken against the players.

That means the students will not face sanctions as a result of separate investigations by Lancaster city police and university officials into a reported sexual assault of a 19-year-old female student Sept. 1 at Hershey Heritage Apartments in Lancaster Township.

Police dropped their investigation last week when the woman stopped cooperating with investigators and said she would not testify against the players.

On Sept. 13, after Lancaster city police notified school officials of the alleged sexual assault, the university ordered the players to turn in their uniforms and have no contact with the team.

The university declined to name any witnesses interviewed during the investigation.

Trainer told the team the fact that they are football players brought more attention to the alleged incident.

"Unfortunately for our situation, it's front-page news," Trainer said.

"We continue to remind our guys that we are always in the spotlight, and there's a certain segment of the population that want to see athletes fail. Athletes come under fire, and problems are put under a microscope."

Trainer said he is proud of the university football organization.

"We are conscientious of who we invite to be part of this outstanding program," he said.

Peg Kauffman, MU's athletic director, said the incident has made athletes take pause.

"It has heightened awareness of things of this nature," Kauffman said.

But she said she considers the incident to be in the past.

"We've dealt with it," Kauffman said. "I"m going to focus on the positive things our students do on the athletic fields and on the courts and in the community."

The team will play at East Stroudsburg Saturday in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

E-mail: mpennino@lnpnews.com