ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—Washington State defensive end Kalafitoni Pole is academically ineligible and will not play in the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday, the Spokesman-Review learned Wednesday evening. After traveling with the team to New Mexico on Tuesday, Pole was sent home once the team learned of his academic status.

More after the jump.

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“When a player is ineligible and at the bowl site, they have to be flown home as soon as is realistically possible,” WSU athletic director Bill Moos said.

Last week was finals week at WSU and students’ final grades were due on Tuesday at 5 p.m. To be eligible players are required to earn at least six credit hours and must meet minimum grade-point average requirements.

 Pole, a junior, has 26 tackles for the Cougars this season and a pair of sacks. He also blocked a field goal attempt in WSU’s 10-7 win at USC, one of the Cougars’ two blocked kicks this season.

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