Black former QB off team for good.
http://indiana.scout.com/2/861370.html
Bloomington -
Kellen Lewis has played his final game for the Hoosiers.
HoosierNation.com has learned that Lewis has been dismissed from the IU football team for violating unspecified team rules.
Indiana University confirmed the dismissal in a press release tonight.
"We are disappointed to have to make this decision," IU Coach Bill
Lynch said in a prepared statement. "When you have expectations of
those on your team that are not met, you need to do what is ultimately
in the overall best interest of your program."
Lewis' exit is the final chapter in a career that included a
meteoric rise early on, and now an equally dramatic fall. After
shattering virtually every school passing and total offense record as a
sophomore, Lewis' last 13 months have included a four-month team
suspension, a sub-par junior season, a position switch, and now his
dismissal from the team.
As a fifth-year senior, Lewis doesn't have the option of
transferring to another Division I school to resume his playing career.
With only one year of eligibility remaining, the Jacksonville, Fla.,
native's only option is to enroll at a D-II school if he wants to
extend his collegiate career.
The 6'1", 185-pounder finishes his IU career ranked No. 2 in
school history in total offense (8.072 yards), No. 3 in passing yards
(6,395) and No. 1 in passing touchdowns (48). He also owns the school's
single season marks for passing yards (3,043), passing touchdowns (28)
and total offense (3,779), all set during his sophomore season when he
helped lead the Hoosiers to a 7-6 record and an Insight Bowl berth.
But after that record-setting season, things began to unravel
for Lewis. He was suspended indefinitely before the start of spring
practice in 2008, and according to numerous sources came extremely
close to being dismissed permanently at that point. While the reasons
behind that suspension were never spelled out, he admitted to a
lifestyle that included "too much partying."
Lewis was reinstated shortly before the start of fall camp
last July, but he was a shell of himself in the nine games he started.
He threw for only 1,131 yards and six touchdowns in an injury-riddled
season that saw him split time with
Ben Chappell, and the Hoosiers took a huge step backwards during a 3-9 campaign.
Lewis' final season in Bloomington was supposed to be at a new
position, as the IU staff moved him to wide receiver before the start
of spring practice. Lewis showed steady improvement as the team's No. 1
slot receiver during the spring, culminating in a five-catch, 52-yard
performance in the spring game. While he was expected to spend most of
his time at wideout in the fall, IU was also sprinkling in some
offensive sets where Lewis would line up in the shotgun and be used as
a run/pass threat as well.
In another prepared statement, IU Director of Athletics Fred Glass supported the decision to dismiss Lewis.
"Today's action underscores that no individual student-athlete,
regardless of talent or popularity, is above the expectations of
Indiana University," Glass said.
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