Miami suspends fifth player for bowl game

MIAMI, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Long snapper Chris Ivory has become the fifth Miami-Florida player suspended before the Hurricanes Emerald Bowl contest against California.

The 6-foot-2 inch, 227-pound freshman from Belleview, Fla., did not make the trip to San Francisco for Saturday's game after violating an unspecified team rule.

Others suspended for various reasons this month were starting quarterback Robert Marve, linebacker Jordan Futch, and tight ends Tervaris Johnson and Richard Gordon.

UM spokesman Kerwin Lonzo told the Miami Herald that Ivory, a redshirt freshman, recently was named the Hurricanes' walk-on of the year.

He snapped for punts in the past 11 games, but against Cal, he will be replaced by Jake Byrne, one of the team's two backup quarterbacks.

Ivory snapped for punts in the opener and also was the snapper for field goals and extra points.

The Hurricanes are 8 ½-point underdogs for the battle between the unranked teams, but will try to avoid a season-ending three-game losing streak.