Feb. 20, 2009

RUSTON -- Louisiana Tech head coach Derek Dooley announced Friday that defensive tackle Rolando Melancon has been dismissed from the Bulldog football team for violation of team rules.

"We are disappointed in Rolando actions," Dooley said. "We have made considerable efforts over the past year to counsel and guide him to meet our expectations of conduct as both a student and an athlete at this University. Unfortunately, he has not made the progress that we had hoped he would make, and we can no longer allow him to be a member of this team."

The former Lutcher High School prep star originally signed with the University of Tennessee before enrolling at Louisiana Tech.