Sports Illustrated is reporting that former LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu might have violated NCAA rules by promoting a nightclub while he was still a member of the team.
The magazine reported that Mathieu appeared in a video made by a group of his friends that goes by the name Era Nation in which he promotes a party at a Baton Rouge, La., club called The Palace on March 10.
His pictures were also on fliers promoting the event called “Era Nation Album Release Party For Tyrann Mathieu.” The flier also featured photographs of former LSU star Mo Claiborne, now with the Dallas Cowboys, and current LSU defensive tackle Anthony Johnson.
NCAA rules prohibit student-athletes from allowing their names or pictures to be used in advertising the sale of a product or service.
LSU spokesman Michael Bonnette said the school is aware of the promotional material with Johnson’s photograph but does not believe he committed an NCAA violation.
“We are comfortable that Anthony did not know about it,” Bonnette said.
Claiborne was done playing for LSU at the time the flier was distributed. As it turns out, so was Mathieu.
He was dismissed from the LSU football team in August for failing a drug test, and entered a treatment program run by former NBA player John Lucas.
Instead of transferring to another lower-division school to play this season, Mathieu re-enrolled at LSU but is not playing football.
Any NCAA issues could affect his ability to return to football with LSU or another school next season.
STANFORD STILL LOSES
The national coordinator of NCAA football officials, Rogers Redding, says the replay officials’ decision to uphold the ruling on the field for the last play of the Stanford-Notre Dame game Saturday was correct.
Field officials ruled Stanford running back Stepfan Taylor’s progress had been stopped before he reached the ball across the goal line for what would have been a potential tying touchdown on fourth-and-goal in overtime. Notre Dame won, 20-13.
Redding also said that from the replay he saw, he “would have to let that call stand.”
EXTRA POINTS
A Lubbock County (Texas) prosecutor says part of the reason a felony burglary case against Texas Tech linebacker Daniel Cobb was dropped is because he agreed to a protective order sought by the alleged victim. … Minnesota confirmed the cancellation of two football games against North Carolina, on the road in 2013 and at home in 2014. The Gophers, who are trying to soften their non-conference schedule during a rebuilding effort, will instead pay an $800,000 buyout fee to not play the Tar Heels. … Ohio University offensive lineman Mike Lucas was arrested and charged with felonious assault in Athens, Ohio, for his part in the beating of a freshman.
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