By Joshua Mason
Daily Bruin Staff
The status of UCLA senior tailback DeShaun Foster for
Saturday’s game against USC has become even more unclear.
According to athletic director Peter Dalis, the university has
put together their report for the NCAA, though it won’t be
submitted to them until Tuesday morning at the earliest. The
university had originally planned to file and submit the report
last Friday.
The report will include the facts of the case and a request that
Foster’s eligibility be restored.
Athletic department officials don’t expect a decision to
be made until at least 48 hours after the report is filed, Dalis
said.
“We don’t know how long it will take right now, but
(the NCAA) is usually pretty quick to respond to these
things,” Dalis said.
In light of the information gathered for the university’s
report, Dalis said that he was no longer “confident” in
his previous statement that Foster’s violation would likely
result in just a one-game suspension.
“We’re just going to wait for their response,”
head coach Bob Toledo said in Monday’s press conference.
“Until I get further information, he’s not involved
with this team.”
Though Foster’s suspension does not include missing
practice or team meetings, Toledo said that it was his own decision
to keep Foster from participating in team drills.
As to whether Foster would be the starter should the NCAA issue
a decision by Friday, Toledo commented that he wouldn’t.
Should Foster be reinstated tomorrow, Toledo was not sure whether
he would be made a captain for Saturday’s contest.
“My feeling is that he’s not going to be
back,” Toledo said. “If he does come back, then
it’s a bonus.”
Foster’s investigation centers around a Ford Expedition,
which the Los Angeles Times reported was allegedly loaned to Foster
by Eric Laneuville, a 49-year-old actor, director and producer who
starred on Steven Bochco’s 1980s television show “St.
Elsewhere.”
Reports have also indicated that Foster had been driving the
Expedition for six weeks, and there remains speculation as to
whether Laneuville is connected with an agent.
Even if Foster is not found to be linked to an agent, his
alleged involvement so far constitutes a violation of the
NCAA’s “extra benefits” rule, which states that
an athlete can’t receive benefits that a normal student would
not receive.
As he did in the past week, Toledo emphasized his disappointment
with Foster’s judgment call in regard to the allegations.
“I can’t tell you how many things we do to educate
these guys,” Toledo said. “We talk until we’re
blue in the face, to be perfectly honest. I’m very
disappointed after all the things we go through.”