Nevada RB Vai Taua ruled ineligible for Hawaii Bowl

[PonyPride]

Per Nevada athletic department:

TAUA RULED INELIGIBLE FOR BOWL GAME

RENO, Nev. - Junior running back Vai Taua has been ruled academically ineligible for the Sheraton Hawai`i Bowl, school officials announced today.

"I'm upset and disappointed that Vai didn't fulfill his obligations as a student-athlete," head coach Chris Ault said. "He has let his team down and I will evaluate his future with the program after the bowl game. Our focus now is on the upcoming game and our program is moving forward in that direction."

Taua fell short of NCAA requirements to participate in the postseason. He did not travel with the team, which arrived in Honolulu late Friday night. The Wolf Pack will play SMU on Dec. 24 at 5 p.m. (PST).

"This is disappointing for all of us, including Vai," athletics director Cary Groth said. "Like all of our student-athletes, Vai was aware of his academic responsibilities. We are all hopeful that this will be a positive learning experience for him moving forward."

The Nevada football program has one of the highest Academic Progress Rates (APR) among Western Athletic Conference schools at 945, according to the most recent data available. As a whole – the past four years – the Nevada athletic department has been the only WAC school to have every sport above the NCAA-mandated 925 score on the APR.

"We are very proud of our strong academic tradition at the University of Nevada," said Dr. Jean Perry, the faculty athletics representative. "Our student-athlete graduation rates are at an all-time high and we expect continued progress in the future.

Neither Coach Ault nor anyone else associated with the Wolf Pack football program will have further comment.

[Mama Bouche]

I'm a little slow today, but doesn't this mean that two of UNR's 1,000 yard rushers are out of the game? One injured, one ineligible. If true, I'll never hear the end of this from my UNR alum friend if SMU wins. Not a fair match, etc. etc. and I have to ski with the guy...

[NorthEastMustang]

Good news for us. Makes SMU covering that +15 point spread all the more likely.

[mrydel]

I think it would be better if they had about 3 starting OL ineligible rather than the RBs. When you have 3 running for 1,000+ there is something good up front.

[RGV Pony]

Don't know if ault is trying to send a message to his player, or if he's pissed, but he kind of sounds like an [deleted] in that writeup

[Stallion]

I wouldn't start celebrating too early. The backup Mike Ball has already had a great game (184 yards) as a reserve and was the No. 22 RB in the country as a Senior in High School. Ball has averaged 10 yards per carry 19 carries for 201 yards. Hasn't played in most games.

[Mestengo]

Now if we can just get the Wolf Pack to go out into the ocean with out foot wear......

[BUS]

Mrydel amd JJ say the same thing.

The O-line is SPECIAL. JJ said better than Marshall. Big and fast.

The line makes the RB. Ball is good and we will have to play our VERY best.

Go Mustangs

[Ikus]

Yes, Ball is talented and yes, the offensive line is very good, I gather.

But it still doesn't hurt to have the opponent's top two RBs out of the game. I'd call this potentially very big news.

[Ralph]

I'm sure the last remaining 1K runner is happy as can be, he gets all or most of the carries in a bowl game. I'm sure he is grinning ear to ear, a happy camper, and he will rise to the challenge. The QB also runs a lot and he is an excellent runner.

[CalallenStang]

I'm sure the last remaining 1K runner is happy as can be, he gets all or most of the carries in a bowl game. I'm sure he is grinning ear to ear, a happy camper, and he will rise to the challenge. The QB also runs a lot and he is an excellent runner.

The QB is the remaining 1K runner

[ponyscott]

Their coach is NOT happy and am certain stronger words to follow....that was stupid on his part and doesn't bode well for next season.

[Garret]

I'm sure the last remaining 1K runner is happy as can be, he gets all or most of the carries in a bowl game. I'm sure he is grinning ear to ear, a happy camper, and he will rise to the challenge. The QB also runs a lot and he is an excellent runner.

The QB is the remaining 1K runner

The OL and QB are the key to Nevada's offense. SMU would be *much* better off with both Taua and Lippinicott available and Kaepernick out. I'm guessing that RB Ball is very, very happy right now with the carries he's going to get.

[Pony_Fan]

got our hands full whoever is running. need some serious takeaways.

[ALEX LIFESON]

On the Nevada site, their fans don't seem concerned at all.