College football

Seminole doesn't get sixth season

By BRIAN LANDMAN
Published January 25, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - Florida State guard Matt Meinrod, the former East Lake High star who saw his last two seasons shortened by injury, had his long shot bid for a sixth season of eligibility rejected by the NCAA.

"We knew it was a very, very slim chance, but you hold out hope," said Bob Minnix, FSU's associate athletic director for compliance, "and hope you get lucky."

Meinrod, 23, and the Seminoles didn't.

Under NCAA rules, if a player participates in fewer than 20 percent of the team's scheduled games (three for football) then has a season-ending injury or illness, he can apply to regain the season. Meinrod, the Seminoles' top lineman, broke his left leg and dislocated his left ankle in the opening half of FSU's fifth game, against Wake Forest. He lost almost all of the 2004 season when he tore his right ACL in the first half of the opener against Miami.

Minnix asked the NCAA, in the spirit of its professed "kinder and gentler" approach, to average Meinrod's participation for the two seasons and give him a sixth. "There were two cases very similar to his, but both had been denied," Minnix said.

Meinrod now must continue to rehabilitate and hope to impress NFL scouts. He had heard he might be a fourth- or fifth-round pick before the injury.

AUBURN: Cornerback David Irons was granted a sixth season of eligibility by the NCAA. He missed the 2004 season at Auburn and 2001 season at Butler County Junior College with knee injuries. He also considered entering the draft, but the NFL said he likely would be a second- or third-round pick.

FRESNO ST.: Steve Hagan was named offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He previously was the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the Browns from 2001-04. He was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Cal from 1999-00 and spent two seasons at San Jose State before that. He replaces Frank Cignetti, who became the offensive coordinator for North Carolina.

HOUSTON: Coach Art Briles signed a two-year extension through 2010. In three seasons, he is 16-20 with two bowl appearances.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Tight end John Hannah and tailback Brandyn Young left the team. Hannah, a freshman who played in three games before sustaining a high right ankle sprain, cited the departure of tight ends coach Rick Stockstill (to become Middle Tennessee coach) and a desire for a smaller school. Young, a freshman who did not play, was unavailable for comment.

ARKANSAS-SOUTHERN CAL: The teams' season opener in Fayetteville was moved up a week to Sept.2 and will air on ESPN. After a week off, the Trojans will play Nebraska at home Sept.16. Southern Cal also announced games against Idaho in 2007 and San Jose State in 2009. Arkansas also rescheduled two games in 2006. It will play Louisiana-Monroe in Little Rock on Oct.28 instead of Sept.2 and Utah State in Fayetteville on Sept.9 instead of Oct.28.

Information from the Associated Press and Houston Chronicle contributed to this report.

[Last modified January 25, 2006, 00:56:11]