Mikalauskas plans to appeal dismissal

By Whitey Reid

Published: August 19, 2008

On the court, Lars Mikalauskas has always been known as a player who leaves his heart on the hardwood and never backs down from a challenge.

Apparently, that’s the same approach the Lithuanian plans on taking with the biggest off-the-court hurdle of his college career — his dismissal from the Virginia basketball team.

On Tuesday, a day after UVa coach Dave Leitao announced that Mikalauskas would no longer be a member of the program, sources told The Daily Progress that “The Pride of Lithuania” planned to return to the states early next week and go through an appeals process with the university. The exact nature of his appeal is not known.

When reached by phone in Lithuania, Mikalauskas said he would have no comment on his situation until he had sorted things out.

Bill Ramsey, Mikalauskas’ high school coach at the Blue Ridge School, confirmed that Mikalauskas’ appeal is in the works but chose not to go into detail.

“He loves UVa and everyone there,” Ramsey said. “Virginia is a very special place to him, and he feels terrible that he let his coaches and teammates down.

“He’s hoping to meet with coach Leitao and see if there’s anything he can possibly do to earn another chance.”

To win an appeal, a student, among other things, must prove that he has suffered a hardship. Recently, former Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell lost such an appeal.

Virginia Athletic Director Craig Littlepage was not permitted to talk about the Mikalauskas case, but he spoke in general terms about the university’s appeals process.

“There are any number of cases where a student could find their good standing in jeopardy,” Littlepage said. “Students at the university who have circumstances that warrant some level of sanction are given an opportunity to appeal whatever decision has been made…

“I don’t have the numbers, but my understanding is that [trying to win an appeal] isn’t an exercise in futility.”

If Mikalauskas were to win, he would have to convince Leitao to reinstate him.

Leitao being receptive to a Mikalauskas mea culpa could be a long shot, since this isn’t the duo’s first tussle. This past season, Leitao suspended the 6-foot-8, 245-pounder for an exhibition game against Carson-Newman for “reasons internal to the team.”

There has never been any debate about Mikalauskas’ commitment to the team on the court. Last season, he could have elected to have surgery that would have ended his campaign early and netted him a medical redshirt. Instead, he played with a cumbersome shoulder harness and helped Virginia avoid a last-place conference finish.