Lyman went over NCAA playing limit
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) -- California wide receiver Chase Lyman's appeal for a sixth season of eligibility was denied by the NCAA on Thursday.
Lyman played about 30 minutes more than the limit allowed by the NCAA's standard guidelines to earn another year of eligibility. A player usually must miss at least 80 percent of two seasons to qualify for an extra season.
He had operations on both knees an ankle, hamstrings and a hand, and an appendectomy. Cal hoped Lyman would qualify under an NCAA rule allowing the guidelines to bend for extraordinary circumstances.
Lyman was plagued by injuries throughout his career with the Golden Bears, catching just 54 passes for 1,089 yards and nine touchdowns. He starred in the Insight Bowl as a junior, catching five passes for 149 yards in Cal's victory over Virginia Tech.
He caught 14 passes for 414 yards and five touchdowns in his first four games last season, but was lost for the year with a torn left knee ligament in Cal's loss to Southern California.