Senior Matt Huners, who has started all 12 games this season at offensive guard and has graded out as one of USF's best offensive linemen, will miss Saturday's St. Petersburg Bowl against Memphis because he is academically ineligible.
Huners, a fifth-year player from Palm Harbor, graduated last spring but did not earn enough postgraduate credit hours during the fall semester to maintain his eligibility. He started all but one game at left guard this season, shifting to right guard in USF's loss to Cincinnati.
"There's no excuse for it," USF coach Jim Leavitt said. "There's a rule and he knew about it. Matt was well aware of this for a long time, and we've been prepared for it. This is no new shock to us."
Offensive line is a position already thinned by injuries this season, and with Huners out, the Bulls will start sophomore Jake Sims, who has been limited in practice since breaking a bone in his right hand in practice last week.
Sims, a former walk-on put on scholarship this fall, will step in at right tackle, with right tackle Marc Dile shifting to left tackle and left tackle Ryan Schmidt moving inside to Huners' spot at left guard. Freshmen Danous Estenor and Jeremiah Warren would be the most experienced linemen available in case of any additional injury.
Times sportswriter Greg Auman, who covers USF, will post news and thoughts on the Bulletin and we invite your participation in the comments area.
Too bad about Huners.
As for Chalko...in your comment, "they can't take someone insulting their pathetic excuse for a FBS team"...
you may want to add a BCS FBS team. There is a huge difference.
Posted by: Chris | December 19, 2008 at 07:13 AM
Since Huners has already graduated, Sage1, there shouldn't be much, if any, impact on either the APR or GSR. I think you may see some of the "injured" players later being revealed as academically ineligible for the Spring term, however!
Posted by: Marty | December 19, 2008 at 07:04 AM
Greg:
It is a shame for Huners to miss his last game for academic reasons especially since he has graduated and was working on a masters degree. I think the additional impact will be how his ineligibility will affect the teams NCAA APR and GSR, you have any insight into that?
Posted by: Sage1 | December 19, 2008 at 06:23 AM
Huners had already graduated, which is really great, but just a shame that he's going to miss this final game, and maybe a shame, too, that he isn't taking advantage of the opportunity he had in the fall and upcoming spring to do some graduate work.
Posted by: Ken | December 18, 2008 at 08:34 PM
Chalko is nowhere near as funny or annoying as "cee" was. Cee was an original and the best. All the rest are imitations, and poor ones at that.
Chalko, you're taking a path that is well-traveled. Try coming up with some new material instead of repeating the same tired insults...
Posted by: Dave W | December 18, 2008 at 05:33 PM
I know he's a UCF fan (allegedly), but I for one am happy for the presence of one Mr. Chalko. Watching my fellow Bulls fans go postal is hilarious considering that's exactly what he's trying to accomplish.
Good show, Chalko. Carry on.
Posted by: RR | December 18, 2008 at 04:27 PM
Leavitt said there would be no other players lost to academic issues besides Huners.
Can't really edit out comments just because they're negative. They spell out the policies for blog comments pretty clearly -- one no-no is posting as someone you're not ...
Posted by: G.A. | December 18, 2008 at 04:18 PM
I guess some of you did NOt take reading comprehension classes at UCF.
Huners GRADUATED in ther Spring, It was POSTGRADUATE credits he was short of.
Posted by: CR | December 18, 2008 at 04:14 PM
I don't go to anyone else's board because I only care about USF. Apparently Chalko needs another team to root for.
Posted by: Windbane | December 18, 2008 at 04:12 PM
What whining brats. These Bullcrappers love to flood the UF and FSU blogs to talk crap but waaaaaaaah, they can't take someone insulting their pathetic excuse for a FBS team. Someone call the waaaaaahhhhhhmbulance!!!
Posted by: Chalko Jr. | December 18, 2008 at 03:54 PM
Matt, you missed your tutoring session last night. Please call me and reschedule.
Posted by: Mrs. Moffitt | December 18, 2008 at 03:48 PM
Greg, can we get someone to edit all of chalko's rediculous pro-UCF comments? This guy is a total loser and is constantly on this blog. Mrs. Chalko, please get a life.
Posted by: Chalko sucks like UCF | December 18, 2008 at 03:39 PM
It's good to get the sophomore some playing time.
Matt should've taken a few extra classes. Oh well.
Posted by: Tom | December 18, 2008 at 03:27 PM
Greg,
Is Huners the only academically ineligible player or are there others to be announced later?
Posted by: Marty | December 18, 2008 at 03:17 PM
Oh well, it's a shame he won't be able to play in his last game. It's probably good because we have to get our younger lineman ready for next year. Good luck Saturday! Go Bulls!!!!!!!!
Posted by: M Smith | December 18, 2008 at 01:36 PM
Chalko,
How about predicting the score of the UCF bowl game this season??
Posted by: Bull Daly | December 18, 2008 at 01:27 PM
Haha, that's the funniest thing I've heard since Grothe was mentioned in the Heisman converstation, hahahah!!!! Memphis 30 USF 21
Posted by: Chalko | December 18, 2008 at 01:08 PM
Now we will only win by 40
Posted by: flsportsfan83 | December 18, 2008 at 01:01 PM
You have GOT to be kidding me.
Just mind boggling.
How on earth does a senior let himself go out in this way??
Posted by: RR | December 18, 2008 at 12:51 PM
I feel an upset in the making!!!!
Posted by: Chalko | December 18, 2008 at 12:48 PM