Linebacker Attar cut from football team
By Daily Bruin Staff
June 5, 2002 9:00 p.m.
Audie Attar
By J.P. Hoornstra
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
[email protected]
UCLA football head coach Bob Toledo announced Wednesday that
senior linebacker Audie Attar has been dismissed from the team due
to violations of team rules.
“I feel this decision is in the best interests of the
program,” Toledo said in the statement. “It’s
unfortunate that I have to take this action, but this is not the
first time Audie has violated team policy.”
Attar was projected to start at weakside linebacker in the
fall.
“I think it was a premature decision,” Attar
said.
Although Attar plans to appeal the decision “right
away,” sports information director Marc Dellins confirmed
that Toledo’s decision was final.
Neither Attar nor the team would comment on the nature of any of
the violations.
Attar was previously suspended for the first game of the 1999
season against Boise State after participating in a fight with a
former UCLA baseball player the previous spring.
Last year, Attar played in all 11 games as a backup linebacker
and on special teams. His 11 tackles were tied for 17th on the
team.
Recruited out of Claremont High, Attar redshirted in 1998. He
made nine tackles and recovered one fumble in limited playing time
during his first season in 1999.
The following year, Attar saw more action on special teams and
played five games on defense. He started at strong safety against
Arizona State and made eight tackles.
Last season was Attar’s first at weakside linebacker.
Toledo indicated in the statement that Attar will remain on
scholarship as long as he remains in good academic standing.
In April, Toledo dismissed sophomore defensive back Chad Rogers,
a walk-on transfer from Air Force, after he missed two spring
practices to travel to the NCAA gymnastics championships with his
girlfriend, a UCLA gymnast.
Last season, senior tailback DeShaun Foster sat out the last
three games of the season because of an NCAA violation, and junior
quarterback Cory Paus was benched for the final game for violating
team rules.
With reports from Diamond Leung, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.
