OKLAHOMA CITY — All- America wide receiver Dez Bryant has been ruled ineligible by Oklahoma State, four days before the 15th-ranked Cowboys open their Big 12 schedule against Texas A&M.
The university announced Wednesday that Bryant “failed to openly disclose to the NCAA the full details of his interaction with a former NFL player not affiliated with OSU.”
Oklahoma State said it had begun the process of asking the NCAA to reinstate Bryant for the violation of bylaw 10.1(d), which prohibits players from knowingly providing false information to the NCAA regarding a possible rules violation.
However, NCAA spokeswoman Stacey Osburn said no student-athlete reinstatement request had been received from OSU. She said it is NCAA policy not to comment on current, pending or potential investigations.
“I made a mistake by not being entirely truthful when meeting with the NCAA,” Bryant said. “I sincerely regret my mistake.”
A top NFL prospect, Bryant caught 87 passes for 1,480 yards and 19 touchdowns last season while also scoring twice on punt returns. This season, Bryant leads the team with 17 catches for 323 yards and four touchdowns.
Bowden gets endorsement
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State University president T.K. Wetherell said embattled coach Bobby Bowden’s job is safe for now.
Wetherell said the coaching situation will be re-evaluated at the end of the season. He reiterated offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher will be the next coach when Bowden leaves.
“FSU does not make coaching changes in the middle of the season,” Wetherell said. “What message would it send to anyone — friend or foe — to do that at this time?”
Bowden, 79, has indicated he plans to coach through the 2010 season. Fisher’s present contract calls for the school to pay him $5 million if he is not the head coach by January 2011. The Seminoles (2-3) are off to their slowest start since Bowden’s first year at the helm in 1976.
Footnotes.
The status of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow (concussion) for Saturday night’s game at LSU apparently will be a game-day decision.
• BYU safety Shiloah Te’o, who was charged Sept. 18 with driving under the influence, was kicked off the team for an undisclosed violation of team rules.
• Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli rejoined practice on a limited basis after missing two days with a right knee injury, but it appears Nate Costa will get the start Saturday at UCLA.
