Nevada starting running back ineligible for bowl game

Page Last Updated: Friday December 18, 2009 6:11am PST

Vai Taua.

When the Wolf Pack football team takes the field against SMU in the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve, they will be without their top two running backs.

News 4 has learned that Nevada starting running back Vai Taua has been declared academically ineligible and cannot play in the game. Taua didn't even make the trip to the islands. Vai was named outstanding offensive player this year at Nevada after rushing for over 13 hundred yards and ten touchdowns in 2009.

The candidates to replace Taua will be sophomore Lampford Mark and Redshirt freshman Mike Ball. Second string running back Luke Lippincott is out for the Hawaii Bowl against SMU with a broken toe.

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