The U administration backed athletic director Chris Hill’s decision of denying Sione Havili’s petition to join the U football team.

U vice president for student affairs Barb Snyder ruled the U student-athlete code and its appeals process didn’t apply to Havili, for he was an academic non-qualifier out of high school. Snyder decided the U didn’t have jurisdiction.

The appeal came after Havili was denied the chance to be a Ute because of a prior felony conviction. Havili signed a letter of intent at BYU, but was called home from an LDS mission for involvement in a firebombing that resulted in a house burning to the ground. No one was injured in the incident.

After serving seven months in jail, Havili was released in December. He earned a 3.8 GPA at the U Spring Semester.

Still, athletic director Chris Hill stands by his decision.

“While I recognize Sione is working hard to turn his life around, I have not wavered from my original decision,” he said.

“Graduation from a junior college would potentially make him eligible at any NCAA school.”