PROVO — Lance Reynolds, Jr., won't be back with BYU next season, after all.
The Cougars learned this week that the NCAA has denied another year of eligibility for Reynolds, a senior who is a two-year starter at center and was named second-team All-Mountain West Conference on Monday.
Due to an injury that sidelined Reynolds for most of the 2003 season, BYU was hoping the NCAA would grant him one more season.
Reynolds was not at practice Wednesday because he is rehabbing a hamstring injury. His younger brother, Dallas, another starter on the offensive line, said the NCAA's decision wasn't a big surprise.
"We're a little disappointed, but he's got a lot of things lined up in front of him, so it's not a dramatic setback. He'll be taken care of the next few years. We were hoping we were going to get (the extra year), but as time went on, it simmered down and ended up the way it was."
Lance Reynolds, Jr., suffered an injury during 2003 that prevented him from playing much that year. That same season, Reynolds switched from linebacker to center, and he got into the Boise State and UNLV games. Also that season, Reynolds participated in a junior varsity game against Georgia Military College.
His appearance in the JV game was one of the factors that kept him from receiving an extra year of eligibility, said his father, Lance Reynolds, Sr., who is BYU's running backs coach.
"He would have liked to have played another year, especially with his brother here," Lance Reynolds, Sr., said. "He's had a good year and he would have been excited to do that."
Still, he added, his son has a lot going for him right now. A couple of months ago, Lance Reynolds, Jr. and his wife, Becky, became parents to a son, Lance Reynolds III. Plus, Lance Reynolds Jr., graduates in December and has been invited to play in the Hula Bowl in January.
The fact that he'll put on a BYU uniform for the last time in the Las Vegas Bowl will make that experience even more special, Dallas said. "It will be a fun time — our last rodeo, I guess. It's going to be good to get out there and help each other out one last time."
BIG CROWD IN VEGAS: Las Vegas Bowl officials are anticipating their largest crowd ever when BYU and Cal square off on Dec. 22.
Tina Kunzer-Murphy, the bowl's executive director, told the Contra Costa Times this week that she is expecting 40,000 fans for the game.
"The phone has not stopped ringing since Cal was announced officially and, from our end, we are so pleased by it. Of course, BYU had a two-week start and its fans were buying a ton of tickets. We have more than 136,000 (members of the LDS Church) in the Las Vegas area and that has created a tremendous following. But we will find a way to jam them all in."
NOTES: The Cougars won't practice today as coach Bronco Mendenhall will be in Las Vegas for a news conference to promote the Las Vegas Bowl. BYU will return to practice Friday . . . Cornerback Nate Soelberg, who was a starter until he broke his arm against Colorado State on Oct. 15, will be available for the Las Vegas Bowl as will wide receiver Zac Collie, who sustained an injury against Wyoming.