Vandals Dismiss Ineligible Player

Idaho has dismissed defensive tackle Ma’o Niko from its football team after learning Niko was ineligible.

Niko misrepresented his athletic history on forms with Idaho, the Big West Conference and the NCAA, according to UI athletic director Mike Bohn.

Niko played at L.A. Harbor College in 1991, then served a two-year Mormon mission before enrolling at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. He played for Ricks in 1995, sat out 1996 and played again in 1997, according to a UI press release.

Niko is ineligible because his NCAA time clock has expired. After a student-athlete’s first competition, he or she has five years to play four seasons, according to NCAA rules.

Niko didn’t mention playing at L.A. Harbor College on his paperwork, Bohn said.

“There’s no way to check, unless you check with every institution across the country to see if an individual has participated,” Bohn said. “That’s just not common practice.”

Attempts to reach Niko at his family’s home in Carson, Calif., were unsuccessful. Ricks A.D. Garth Hall didn’t return a phone message.

UI coaches became aware of the situation after receiving a telephone call from a coach at another school. Niko left Moscow early in the week to attend a funeral in California.

Bohn said Idaho will report the violation to the NCAA, which will determine if the Vandals must forfeit their wins over Eastern Washington and San Jose State.

Niko started against Eastern Washington then lost the starting job to freshman Wil Beck. Niko’s playing time has diminished the last three games. The 6-foot-2, 310-pound Niko made two tackles.

“While Ma’o did start one game and played in all four, it is our belief that he did not play a major role nor was he a deciding factor in any game,” Bohn said. “Because of this and the fact Idaho did nothing wrong while using all deliberate efforts to verify his eligibility, it is therefore not our intention, pending direction from the NCAA, to forfeit any games at this time.”

UI coaches have talked to Niko, Bohn said. “I think he understands that he obviously misrepresented his previous athletic and academic record.”

Grizzlies return to schedule

Idaho has adjusted its 1999 football schedule, adding former Big Sky rival Montana to replace national power Kansas State.

“Kansas State was trying to play a TV game and they wanted to move us,” UI athletic director Mike Bohn said. ‘It ends up being a real positive for us to rekindle the Montana rivalry.”

Idaho will play Montana in Missoula next season. Bohn hopes to schedule additional games with the Grizzlies.

Idaho was to make $250,000 against Kansas State. Financial arrangements are being worked out with Montana, but it’s believed the Vandals could make as much as $150,000.

Hoops in Nampa

The Idaho men’s basketball team will meet Western Oregon Nov. 19 in Nampa’s Idaho Center, part of the push for games near the school’s large Treasure Valley alumni base.

Idaho is trying to schedule games with Wyoming, Oregon and BYU at the 12,500-seat Idaho Center, Bohn said.

The Vandals beat Idaho State 83-63 last season in front of almost 2,900 fans in the new arena. This year’s game against Western Oregon falls two days before the Idaho-Boise State football game at Bronco Stadium in Boise.