Iowa St. loses three starters to grades

BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Three Iowa State starters, including both safeties, were ruled ineligible for the Humanitarian Bowl against Boise State on Tuesday because their grades were not good enough.

Safeties JaMaine Billups and Marc Timmons and offensive guard Collin Menard made the trip with the team but were not in uniform for the game.

Iowa State spokesman Tom Kroeschell made the announcement about 90 minutes before kickoff, saying the three starters were ineligible because of Big 12 regulations that took effect this season. A player must get a C in at least six hours of coursework to be eligible for a bowl.

Billups, a junior, switched from running back to safety this season and became one of the Cyclones' top defenders. He led the team's defensive backs with 97 tackles, intercepted a pass, recovered two fumbles and blocked two kicks.

Timmons, a junior, made 36 tackles and intercepted a pass. Menard, a 6-foot-3, 306-pound junior, became a starter this season after transferring from Iowa Central Community College.

 

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