NCAA Wastes No Time Rejecting Foster’s Appeal

An NCAA committee made short work of DeShaun Foster’s appeal Thursday, rejecting it less than an hour after hearing arguments on behalf of the Bruin tailback from UCLA administrators and attorney Robert C. Berry.

Foster, a senior, was declared ineligible Nov. 7 after the NCAA determined that for six weeks he received the use of an “extra benefit,” a 2002 Ford Expedition that belonged to Hollywood director Eric Laneuville.

The NCAA later placed the value of the benefit at about $900 and suspended Foster for the rest of the season, including a bowl game. The appeal was an effort to reduce the penalty.

“I felt like it wasn’t the correct decision, but I’m not surprised,” Berry said. “Once the staff made its decision, it’s tough to reverse it. DeShaun wanted to make it clear he was trying to get back on the team.”

Berry said he is unsure whether Foster will take further action, although there is nothing more that can be done through UCLA.

“Maybe he’ll just start preparing himself for the pros,” he said.

Foster rushed for 1,109 yards this season, ranks third on the UCLA all-time list with 3,194 yards and is projected as a first-round NFL draft pick in April.

“He’s done a lot of good things for this program,” Coach Bob Toledo said. “I hope people won’t hold this against him. It’s too bad it had to end this way.”

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A Bruin defensive backfield beset by injuries is beginning to come into focus.

Cornerback Matt Ware, who suffered a separated shoulder against USC, is expected to play Saturday against Arizona State.

However, safeties Marques Anderson (ribs) and Jason Stephens (foot) probably will not play.

The seniors have expressed a desire to play in their last home game at the Rose Bowl but have not practiced this week.

The injuries have nagged them for weeks. Anderson reinjured his ribs on the first series against USC and did not return. Stephens did not play in the second half.

In the absence of Anderson and Stephens, Ben Emanuel and Kevin Brant will start and freshman Jibril Raymo will be first off the bench.

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Linebacker Robert Thomas, who leads the Pacific 10 Conference with 106 tackles and 24 tackles for loss, was named to the Football Writers Assn. All-America team.

The honors are beginning to pile up for Thomas, a senior, who is projected by scouts as a mid-to-late first-round NFL draft pick. He is one of three Butkus award finalists, a Football News All-American and a first-team all-Pac-10 pick.