Appeal filed on Raji status

Boston College has filed an appeal with the NCAA to reinstate senior defensive tackle B.J. Raji, who was declared academically ineligible last week.

"We filed an addendum with the NCAA and they will review it in the next few days," said BC athletic director Gene DeFilippo yesterday. "How long the process will take, I do not know."

Raji was suspended because he had fallen three credits short in his academic progress, something the NCAA is more strict about with seniors than freshmen or sophomores. Raji had academic problems last spring, which he thought he rectified with a pair of summer school courses.

BC is hoping to get a waiver that allows him to play while he is making up the credits. But if the appeal is turned down, it would effectively end Raji's season, leaving him the option of using a redshirt season and coming back next year or simply putting his name in the NFL draft pool.

Better foot forward

Football coach Jeff Jagodzinski says the job of kicking off is wide open between Steve Aponavicius and freshman Billy Bennett. Aponavicius had won the job in camp but had a tough day in the opener against Wake Forest, sending three out of bounds. "I'm going to take a look at Billy," said Jagodzinski. "I'm going to give him a chance to show what he can do. We can't have what we had last Saturday. It's ridiculous - three balls out of bounds. It puts our defense in a bad situation. We can't do that to them." Jagodzinski said he would consider using both, with Bennett most likely handling kickoffs and field goal attempts from 40 yards and longer, while Aponavicius would handle extra points and shorter field goal attempts . . . The Eagles came out of the victory over Wake Forest with a few bumps, but nothing major. Jagodzinski expects running back L.V. Whitworth to see some action this Saturday against North Carolina State. Jeff Smith, who missed most of training camp with what is being termed a concussion, was undergoing tests yesterday, but could be available for kickoff returns. Linebackers Robert Francois and Mike McLaughlin both missed practice but are expected to be ready by Saturday.

He'll stay on sideline

Asked if there was anything special about North Carolina State coming to town with former BC coach Tom O'Brien, Jagodzinski said, "I don't think he's going to take a snap. He probably burned all of his eligibility at Navy." . . . BC cracked the coaches' poll, earning the No. 25 spot. The Eagles are No. 26 in the Associated Press rankings . . . Quarterback Matt Ryan, who threw for 408 yards and five touchdowns against Wake Forest, and DeJuan Tribble, who had three interceptions, were named ACC Offensive Back and Defensive Back of the Week . . . Yesterday was the first day of classes for the fall semester at BC . . . BC officially announced that basketball coach Al Skinner had signed a six-year contract extension, which will put him above $1 million a year in his total compensation package.