NEWSLINE: No fifth year for Tuel

THE NATURE OF the questions from the NCAA and the uncertainty of when a final decision would be rendered have led Jeff Tuel to abandon his request for a fifth year and focus on the NFL Draft.

Jeff Tuel told Bud Withers of the Seattle Times that questions by the NCAA on whether a fifth year wold be granted seemed to depend on whether Tuel had been "mistreated" by the previous staff at Washington State or been forced back into action too soon.

"That's basically what they were wanting," Tuel told the newspaper. "I don't feel comfortable saying I was mistreated. I was never mistreated by them. It's (his decision) a combination of that, that how long this has been drug out. If it goes two, three more weeks and they say no, I'm kind of screwed."

Tuel made 26 starts in his Cougar career and leaves as the school career completion percentage record (.614). He threw for 33 TD passes and nearly 6,000 yards.

“I have had a great four years at Washington State and will always be grateful to the university, my teammates, coaches and especially the fans,” said Tuel in a statement. "I ffeel it is time .."

The full Withers story is here.