By Scott Bair and Vytas Mazeika
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
UCLA’s report to the NCAA on senior tailback DeShaun
Foster’s “extra benefits” violation has not been
completed and will not go out until next week, according to UCLA
sports information director Marc Dellins.
Athletic director Peter Dalis said earlier that the university
would submit the report on Friday.
“We’re still in the information-gathering
phase,” Dellins said.
The delay makes it unlikely that Foster will be reinstated
before the Bruins’ contest against crosstown rival USC on
Nov. 17.
The investigation centers around a Ford Expedition, which the
Los Angeles Times reported was allegedly loaned to him by Eric
Laneuville, a 49-year-old actor, director and producer who starred
on Steven Bochco’s 1980s television show “St.
Elsewhere.”
Laneuville’s agent declined to comment on any connection
between his client and Foster. Laneuville could not be reached for
comment.
Foster admitted to the possible “extra benefits”
violation when questioned by an NCAA investigator, according to
Dalis on Wednesday.
Albert Foster, DeShaun’s father, declined to comment on
Friday afternoon about his son’s situation. Foster also could
not be reached for comment.
There are also conflicting reports regarding former UCLA and
current Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Freddie Mitchell and a
conversation the Orange County Register reported he had with
Foster.
The Register reported Friday that Foster told Mitchell, a former
UCLA teammate of Foster’s, that the car was obtained from a
“family friend.” According to the Eagles’ media
relations office, Mitchell said that he denied making those
comments and speaking to anybody from the press about this.
The NCAA defines “extra benefits” as any special
arrangement with an institutional employee or booster due to their
status as a student-athlete.
The “extra benefits” violation would be much more
serious if Laneuville is connected to a sports agent.
With reports by Scott Schultz, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.