Laurenzi situation appears still unresolved

AN INTERNET REPORT stating that starting Washington State nose tackle Anthony Laurenzi had been dismissed from the team got the crimson masses jumping this afternoon, but indications are that report looks to be premature.

Efforts by CF.C to reach Laurenzi were unsuccessful. A source close to Laurenzi however tells Cougfan.com that it was too soon to comment because the senior nose tackle has yet to meet with Mike Leach. Laurenzi is expected to sit down with the Cougars' head coach sometime this week following Leach's return to Pullman.

Asked for comment on this afternoon’s internet report stating Laurenzi had been dismissed, WSU SID Bill Stevens deferred to Leach, other than to say, “It is an internal manner and it will remain that way.”

Leach has not yet returned to WSU from Los Angeles, where he was taking part in the Pac-12 Media Day. Leach is not expected to arrive back at Wazzu until sometime Wednesday evening.

Leach said yesterday in L.A. that he would start addressing the matter after he returned. He was quoted by the Spokesman Review as saying dismissal was "definitely" a possibility.

WSUSportsBlog tweeted this afternoon, "Anthony Laurenzi has been kicked off the team." They followed up with a second tweet, "Can't say my source. But it's a reliable one. Won't be too long till we hear something." They did not immediately respond to a request by CF.C seeking clarification on who owns and operates the blog. Efforts to locate a homepage were unsuccessful and it appears to be a social media-only enterprise.

Editor's Note: WSUSportsBlog later responded to CF.C saying they have "been around since Late Nov & it's not so much a blog anymore but just news.... Author is Mark Allen."

Laurenzi, who wrote a weekly summer diary for Cougfan.com, on Sunday was arrested on suspicion of third-degree theft at an area Walmart.

Leach has dismissed two returning starters since arriving in Pullman, linebackers Sekope Kaufusi and C.J. Mizell. At nose tackle, apart from Laurenzi, pre-fall camp candidates to earn significant playing time include Kalafitoni Pole and Ioane Gauta.