Foster’s Season Is Suspended

DeShaun Foster, a Heisman trophy candidate and UCLA’s best hope to turn around a flagging season, has committed an NCAA violation and is ineligible to play in Saturday’s game against Oregon.

According to sources, the senior tailback was driving a late-model sports utility vehicle that belongs to someone close to the UCLA program, which constitutes an “extra benefits” violation.

Foster was declared ineligible after a meeting with Athletic Director Pete Dalis and a member of the NCAA enforcement staff. Dalis said that UCLA plans to submit a report to the NCAA by Friday and request that Foster’s eligibility be restored.

“He admitted that a benefit had come his way,” Dalis said. “I’m not sure that he was aware it was wrong.”

Foster, who is third in the nation in rushing and is expected to be a first-round NFL draft pick in April, did not attend practice Wednesday. He was unavailable for comment.

The vehicle was a topic of conversation among football and basketball players in recent days, but several football players said they were unaware Foster had been driving someone else’s car.

Coach Bob Toledo informed the team in the film room before practice that Foster was ineligible, saying, “You all know what the rules and consequences are, but sometimes somebody doesn’t think it is going to apply to him.”

The team, already reeling from two losses after starting the season with six consecutive victories, was stunned.

“I would think he is smarter than that,” quarterback Scott McEwan said. “I’ve never seen him in a car like that. I don’t know what to think.”

Foster’s mother, Cheryl, did not speak to her son Wednesday night and expressed surprise, saying, “He has his own car. I know absolutely nothing about this.”

Dalis said the NCAA was tipped off two weeks ago by “a couple of e-mails.” On Tuesday, the NCAA informed UCLA that a possible violation had taken place.

A UCLA spokesman indicated that “the standard penalty in extra benefits cases of this type is 10% of the season [one game],” although Dalis declined to speculate on when Foster wouldreturn.

“I’m very suspect of the conditions that prevail in these circumstances,” he said.

Dalis was adamant that Foster did not receive money from an agent. However, two sources said the vehicle is owned by an agent. Another source said it belonged to a former player.

Toledo said agents “are all over the place. You can’t keep them away. They’re in the tunnel of the Rose Bowl.”

The coach said Foster was contrite.

“He didn’t realize it was going to be like this,” Toledo said. “Those of you who have children always tell them what’s right and what’s wrong and you try to educate them. You tell them, ‘The fire’s hot, don’t put your hand in it.’ But a lot of times they want to find out for themselves and they put their hand in the fire.

“I’m extremely disappointed. He knows what’s right and he knows what’s wrong. He’s been disciplined and he’s been suspended and we’ll go from there.”

Dalis, who on Monday announced his retirement after 19 years, effective in June, sounded weary.

“I’ve said this before publicly--the NCAA rules are somewhat artificial in our society,” he said. “If this had happened in any other context of our society, no one would be questioning it. But because you’re an athlete, the rules are different.”

Foster has used poor judgment in the past. He was convicted on a misdemeanor marijuana charge in August 2000 and paid a $250 fine.

Sophomore Akil Harris will start in Foster’s place and redshirt freshman Manuel White also will play. Both have been effective. Harris has rushed for 144 yards in 19 carries and White has 153 yards in 30 carries.

“I’ve been ready all year,” Harris said. “I’m excited that I’m going to have the chance to step in and show what I’ve got.”

Foster is the second UCLA athlete in the last month to be suspended for receiving extra benefits.

Kristee Porter, an All-American in volleyball and a basketball player, has missed the last six matches because of an investigation that has widened after initially being attributed to benefits received from a part-time roommate.

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EXTRA FILES

The NCAA rule UCLA running back DeShaun Foster broke is under the following heading:

16.12 BENEFITS, GIFTS AND SERVICES

* 16.12.2.1 General Rule--The student-athlete shall not receive any extra benefit. The term “extra benefit” refers to any special arrangement by an institutional employee or representative of the institution’s athletics interests to provide the student-athlete or his or her relatives or friends with a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation.

* 16.12.2.2.3 Entertainment Services--A student-athlete may not receive services (e.g., movie tickets, dinners, use of car) from commercial agencies (e.g., movie theaters, restaurants, car dealers) without charge or at reduced rates, or free or reduced-cost admission to professional athletics contests from professional sports organizations, unless such services also are available to the student body in general.