Kai Maiava banned for home opener

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UCLA starting center Kai Maiava has been suspended for the Bruins' home opener against San Jose State because of an unspecified violation of team rules, coach Rick Neuheisel announced Tuesday.

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Maiava, a senior, sat out of practice Tuesday but did some conditioning work on the side and will return to the line next week.

"I'm not real happy about the situation but at the same time I'm not going to sit here and cry about it," Maiava said. "Everybody makes choices, everybody makes mistakes. I'm a growing man now and I'm going to learn from them."

Maiava was the team's center in 2009 but sat out last year after suffering a broken ankle during the fall scrimmage. He started and played every down in UCLA's opening-week 38-34 loss to Houston.

He joins a long list of Bruins who have been suspended for violating team rules in the last year. Tackle Mike Harris missed last season's opener, receiver Josh Smith and fullback Morrell Presley sat out against Oregon, and receiver Ricky Marvray and offensive lineman Sean Sheller sat out against Arizona.

Peter Yoon covers UCLA for ESPNLosAngeles.com.

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Peter Yoon

ESPNLosAngeles.com

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• Has covered sports in Southern California for 15 years
• Previously a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times from 1995-2008.
• Covers UCLA for ESPNLosAngeles.com