NCAA turns down Idaho receiver Winston

Orlando Winston’s football career at the University of Idaho is officially over.

Winston’s appeal for a rare sixth year of eligibility was denied by the NCAA Division I student-athlete reinstatement staff in April. Idaho appealed the decision to the student-athlete reinstatement committee, which voted earlier this week to uphold the April ruling.

“It’s disappointing,” Winston said, “but when one door closes another opens up.”

Winston, one of the most productive receivers in Vandal history, redshirted when his mother died just before the 1999 season opener. He also missed the 2000 season when he was suspended for violating former coach Tom Cable’s team rules.

“Everything spiraled after (his mother’s death),” Winston said. “She was the first to go and several other relationships went, too.”

“Even though he was suspended, we argued that the suspension was a direct relationship of conflict and depression he was suffering following the death of his mother,” UI assistant athletic director Dee Menzies said. “The NCAA didn’t see it that way.”

Winston’s circumstances were different than most sixth-year eligibility cases that involve an athlete missing two seasons for physical reasons.

“Those are easily documented, but his case was less than ideal” regarding documentation, Menzies said. “I wasn’t hopeful when they denied it (in April). We would have had to come up with some new information that we didn’t have. It’s disappointing for him because he’s very close to graduating and he’s obviously turned his life around.”

Idaho had to wait until Winston completed his eligibility before it could file the appeal.

Winston led Idaho with 55 receptions for 807 yards and seven touchdowns in 2003. He had 122 career receptions for 1,632 yards, narrowly missing the top 10 list in both categories.

“I feel bad for Orlando,” UI head coach Nick Holt said. “He worked hard during the off-season with us and it’s too bad that he wasn’t granted that extra year. I would have loved to have him be part of the program.”

Minus Winston, Idaho is thin on experienced receivers. The Vandals will probably rely on returning receivers Jimmy Labita, Wendell Octave, Bobby Bernal-Wood and Jeff Stowe, who is on schedule in his recovery from tearing his ACL last season, Holt said. The four receivers combined for 90 receptions last season, led by Stowe’s 30.

“We were expecting the worst, so I guess we kind of expected it,” Holt said of the NCAA’s decision. “That’s why he didn’t go through a lot of spring ball. So somebody has to step up and we have to count on some of these guys that have played to contribute more.”

Winston, a Seattle native, said he wants to complete his degree. He needs just three more credits. He plans on pursuing a pro career, possibly in the CFL or NFL-Europe.