UCLA Sports Information UCLA tailback DeShaun Foster
By Scott Bair and Hannah
Gordon
Daily Bruin Reporters
It’s over.
The book has been officially closed on DeShaun Foster’s UCLA career.
The Division I Reinstatement Committee upheld the NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement Staff’s decision to suspend the senior tailback for the remainder of the season.
“We’ve exhausted all of our avenues as a member institution,” UCLA associate athletic director Betsy Stephenson said. “We have no more recourse on DeShaun’s behalf. The committee’s decision is final.”
Cheryl Foster, DeShaun’s mother, declined to comment Thursday night. She said her son would speak on the matter at a press conference today.
UCLA’s appeal was heard during the committee’s standard Thursday conference call. After the NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement Staff presented the facts of the case, UCLA had the opportunity to argue mitigating circumstances. Finally Foster spoke, and the five-person committee had a chance to ask questions before deliberating.
Within two hours of the call, the committee informed UCLA of its decision to uphold Foster’s suspension.
Stephenson was not surprised. Cases offered supporting Foster’s appeal were countered with other cases that were consistent with the NCAA’s ruling.
“The case precedent was mixed,” she said.
Foster will, however, be honored with the rest of the UCLA senior class at Saturday’s game.
“I’m sure there will be mixed emotions,” head coach Bob Toledo said. “He needs to put it behind him. That is why he is coming on Saturday.”
Despite missing the last five games of the season, Foster finished with 1,109 yards on 216 carries. A Heisman Trophy candidate before the suspension, he remains the nation’s fifth leading rusher. He is third on the UCLA career rushing list with 3,194 yards and second in career touchdowns with 44.
“He’s done a lot of great things for this program,” Toledo said. “It’s too bad it had to end this way.”