Car Salesman’s Friend Sparked Foster Probe

E-mail that tipped off the NCAA to DeShaun Foster’s use of a 2002 Ford Expedition in violation of rules was written by a female friend of a car salesman who leased the vehicle to actor-director Eric Laneuville, The Times learned Friday.

Acting on information from a succession of e-mails, the NCAA determined that Foster had received an “extra benefit” and made him ineligible for today’s game against Oregon.

UCLA will not submit its response to the NCAA findings until next week because school officials have been unable to determine whether Laneuville has ties to an agent or booster.

Foster, the nation’s third-leading rusher, cannot be reinstated until the NCAA is convinced there are no such ties. He also must pay restitution equal to the value of the benefit. Foster drove the $30,940 vehicle for about a month and the lease payment is about $600.

A source at the car dealership said Foster was not present at the time of the lease and that Laneuville did not mention the Bruin tailback, who is expected to be a high first-round NFL draft choice in April and sign a multi-million-dollar contract.

According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, Laneuville already owned four vehicles at the time he leased the Expedition.

Laneuville, 49, is an award-winning director who also has numerous acting credits, the most recognizable being the role of orderly Luther Hawkins in the 1980s television program, “St. Elsewhere.” His first significant role was as Larry, a student on “Room 222” in 1969.

He turned to directing about 15 years ago. Among his credits are “Bull,”--the TNT network’s first original series--and a half-dozen movies, from “The George McKenna Story,” a 1986 release starring Denzel Washington, to “Trapped in a Purple Haze,” a 2000 release about suburban heroin addiction.

It is unclear how Laneuville became acquainted with Foster, who is a friend of several younger actors.

Calls to Laneuville and his literary agent were not returned.

UCLA Coach Bob Toledo said every football player is educated on NCAA rules, including “extra benefits,” which are anything provided an athlete that is not available to any student.

Players sign a statement acknowledging they know the rules regarding benefits and contact with agents.

Toledo said he also meets with players who have NFL potential one-on-one to discuss “every possible scenario.”

Foster, Toledo said, should have known that accepting a benefit such as a vehicle was a violation, regardless of whether Laneuville has ties to an agent.

Because Foster drove the vehicle for several weeks, there is speculation that UCLA might be forced to forfeit victories over California on Oct. 20 and Washington on Oct. 13.

The victory over Washington, in which Foster rushed for a school-record 301 yards, is the Huskies’ only loss and could be pivotal in determining the Pacific 10 Conference championship.

However, a Pac-10 spokesman said forfeits are unlikely based on previous extra benefit cases.

No games have been forfeited in the Pac-10 in 20 years, when several schools were found to have provided extra benefits to players and helped in obtaining phony academic credits to keep players eligible.

Those games were forfeited after the conclusion of the season, however.

Despite being ineligible, Foster was among eight semifinalists announced Friday for the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the nation’s top running back. The winner will be announced Nov. 27.

Foster has rushed for 1,109 yards and 12 touchdowns in eight games.