Salt City Sooner
3/23/2009, 12:36 AM
Looking like less & less of a loss by the day. Hope he pulls it together & doesn't waste a golden opportunity:
BOULDER, Colo. — Colorado linebacker Lynn Katoa's brief and troubled time in the football program could come to an end as soon as the completion of the spring semester.
"We're trying to get him just to figure things out," coach Dan Hawkins said Friday. "His priority right now is just trying to get life and school figured out."
Fans should not expect to see Katoa on the field March 31 when spring practices begin.
When asked if Katoa will be on the football team next fall, Hawkins said, "I don't know that."
Two months ago, Hawkins had a more optimistic view of Katoa's situation. In a story on the athletic department's Web site Jan. 10, Hawkins said he expected Katoa and two other players who were academically ineligible last fall to be back on the field this spring.
"We are spending a lot of time mentoring him as a person and a student," Hawkins said at the time. "But we expect him back on the field. We're looking forward to seeing Lynn mature as a person and a student. When those things happen, then he'll be agreat football player."
School sources said Katoa did poorly in his fall classes and has not made significant improvement during the first half of the spring semester. Even if he remains on the roster and on scholarship through the summer, it is unlikely he can make up enough ground to be academically eligible next fall.
He came to CU as a five-star recruit in January 2008 and was arrested and charged with second degree felony assault less than two months later after entering an off-campus apartment and hitting a man in the head while holding a rock in his hand. Katoa was upset after seeing one of his friends attacked with a stun gun outside the apartment, according to police reports.
He pleaded guilty in July and agreed to a deferred sentence, which allows for the incident to be cleared from his record if he stays out of trouble for three years.
Prior to his case being settled in court, Katoa was suspended from campus by the school's Office of Judicial Affairs for the 2008 spring and summer terms and his inability to attend classes rendered him ineligible for the 2008 football season under NCAA rules because he failed to make any academic progress after enrolling.
Hawkins said Katoa has not been involved in any further off-the-field incidents, but in recent conversations, several of his teammates have referred to him being "suspended again."
CU spokesman Bronson Hilliard said privacy laws prohibit school officials or coaches from commenting on most disciplinary matters, including any possible suspension by the Office of Judicial Affairs.
Hawkins said Katoa remains on campus and enrolled in classes.
But, on his MySpace page Friday, Katoa listed his mood as "betrayed."
Katoa was among the most sought after linebackers in the nation in the 2008 recruiting cycle. He chose CU over multiple offers from other schools, including Oklahoma, Texas, Southern Cal and Louisiana State. At one point during his recruitment, CU sent seven coaches to visit Katoa at home in Salt Lake City, the most allowable under NCAA rules.
http://www.buffzone.com/news/2009/mar/20/lynn-katoa-colorado-football/
BOULDER, Colo. — Colorado linebacker Lynn Katoa's brief and troubled time in the football program could come to an end as soon as the completion of the spring semester.
"We're trying to get him just to figure things out," coach Dan Hawkins said Friday. "His priority right now is just trying to get life and school figured out."
Fans should not expect to see Katoa on the field March 31 when spring practices begin.
When asked if Katoa will be on the football team next fall, Hawkins said, "I don't know that."
Two months ago, Hawkins had a more optimistic view of Katoa's situation. In a story on the athletic department's Web site Jan. 10, Hawkins said he expected Katoa and two other players who were academically ineligible last fall to be back on the field this spring.
"We are spending a lot of time mentoring him as a person and a student," Hawkins said at the time. "But we expect him back on the field. We're looking forward to seeing Lynn mature as a person and a student. When those things happen, then he'll be agreat football player."
School sources said Katoa did poorly in his fall classes and has not made significant improvement during the first half of the spring semester. Even if he remains on the roster and on scholarship through the summer, it is unlikely he can make up enough ground to be academically eligible next fall.
He came to CU as a five-star recruit in January 2008 and was arrested and charged with second degree felony assault less than two months later after entering an off-campus apartment and hitting a man in the head while holding a rock in his hand. Katoa was upset after seeing one of his friends attacked with a stun gun outside the apartment, according to police reports.
He pleaded guilty in July and agreed to a deferred sentence, which allows for the incident to be cleared from his record if he stays out of trouble for three years.
Prior to his case being settled in court, Katoa was suspended from campus by the school's Office of Judicial Affairs for the 2008 spring and summer terms and his inability to attend classes rendered him ineligible for the 2008 football season under NCAA rules because he failed to make any academic progress after enrolling.
Hawkins said Katoa has not been involved in any further off-the-field incidents, but in recent conversations, several of his teammates have referred to him being "suspended again."
CU spokesman Bronson Hilliard said privacy laws prohibit school officials or coaches from commenting on most disciplinary matters, including any possible suspension by the Office of Judicial Affairs.
Hawkins said Katoa remains on campus and enrolled in classes.
But, on his MySpace page Friday, Katoa listed his mood as "betrayed."
Katoa was among the most sought after linebackers in the nation in the 2008 recruiting cycle. He chose CU over multiple offers from other schools, including Oklahoma, Texas, Southern Cal and Louisiana State. At one point during his recruitment, CU sent seven coaches to visit Katoa at home in Salt Lake City, the most allowable under NCAA rules.
http://www.buffzone.com/news/2009/mar/20/lynn-katoa-colorado-football/