Pigg's hopes of playing
denied by NCAAThe Rainbows' wide receiver will have to sit out this season
By Paul Arnett
Star-BulletinThe NCAA is not an organization that gets in too big a hurry or is interested in making any landmark decisions. That's why University of Hawaii head coach Fred vonAppen wasn't surprised to hear that wide receiver Jauron Pigg's eligibility petition to play this year was denied yesterday.
VonAppen predicted it in August.
"Coach called me in and we talked about it today," Pigg said after last night's practice at Cooke Field. "He said they turned me down, so, what can you do?
"It didn't really matter anyway because there were only two more games this season. So, I'll just have to sit this one out."
Pigg has two years to play two. Originally recruited by Stanford out of Indiana in 1994, Pigg turned out to be a better track prospect than a wide receiver for the Cardinal.
He was on the football team for one year, and ran track for two. Stanford head coach Tyrone Willingham gave Pigg his unconditional release in August, which raised the UH coaching staff's hopes that he could play in 1997.
Part of Pigg's challenge was the NCAA transfer rule that states an athlete must sit out one year if he goes to another Division I school. Granted, he ran track last spring, but Pigg's argument was he hadn't been a member of the football team in one year, and should be allowed to compete right away.
"He and his attorney were also trying to get three years to play three," vonAppen said. "Since he played only one year of football, their argument was that he should have three years.
"But the NCAA didn't buy into it. I know Pigg and his attorney thought they had a chance. I never thought so because this isn't an organization that recognizes anything outside of its own rules."
Pigg conceded that he was disappointed by the ruling.
"I thought I had a chance in the summer for something to happen," Pigg said. "I never thought that it would take this long to decide. It's been tough sitting this one out. But you can't go against what the NCAA says."
BOURLAND LEAVES TEAM: Redshirt freshman Jerimi Bourland will transfer at the end of the semester, becoming the third recruited quarterback out of Texas to leave the program over the last two years.
The other two are Hunter Young and John Gurasich, who left last summer. Bourland was moved to wide receiver a few days into fall camp in 1996. He asked vonAppen last week if he would help him transfer to another school.
"I have a friend who coaches at Abilene Christian, who is interested and they might want to strike a deal," vonAppen said. "He's been super. He's done everything we ever asked of him."
Bourland moved to quarterback a month ago after Carey separated his shoulder. He was third behind Josh Skinner and Johnny Macon. After Carey returned three weeks ago, Bourland was moved back to wide receiver by vonAppen.
SKINNER LIKELY STARTER: Skinner will probably start this weekend against Northeast Louisiana, but vonAppen said Carey could see some playing time.
"It's a little too early to say for sure, but the inclination would be to start Josh," vonAppen said. "We'll have to discuss how we would rotate them, if we rotate them at all this week."
Skinner started last week, but Carey came in during the second quarter and played the majority of the game. He was a bit rusty, throwing four interceptions. But he did complete 15 of 33 passes for 157 yards. Skinner was 5 for 10 for 93 yards. He also tossed two interceptions.
"We thought it was only fair since the starter of record before he got hurt was Tim," vonAppen said of the decision for Carey to play in last Saturday's 38-14 loss at San Jose State.
"We wanted to give him a chance to get back in because we're not going to know what he can do in a game situation until we put him back in.
"We may have put his feet to the fire too soon. He tried to force some things that weren't there. I think he was disappointed in his performance and we'll have to see how they practice before reaching any final decisions."
