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Bulldogs tailback tied to counterfeit investigation

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State freshman tailback Nick Turner reportedly is part of an investigation into the passing of counterfeit $100 bills at a Starkville nightclub.

No charges have been filed against Turner, said Starkville Police Chief David Lindley.

Authorities said the bogus bills were passed at the Remington Hunt Club, a Starkville nightspot, Tuesday night. Club owner Bill Norris, who notified police after discovering five counterfeit bills near closing time, said Turner, 18, was escorted from his business in handcuffs by Starkville officers.

"I hope that Nick Turner did not know the money was counterfeit," Norris said. "And it's my hope that he is innocent."

Starkville police detective Bill Lott acknowledged Thursday police are looking into the passing of counterfeit currency but declined further comment. Mickey Nelson, a Jackson-based agent of the Secret Service, said his office is investigating.

Nelson said there have been several reports of phony $100 bills being passed in the Starkville area.

Though Turner hasn't played in MSU's past two games after spraining an ankle Sept. 28 at LSU, he is on State's 68-player travel roster for tonight's game at Memphis.

"When Chief Lindley determines what to do, I will handle this situation accordingly," coach Jackie Sherrill said. "Our players are responsible and accountable for their actions."

HOUSTON: Athletic director Dave Maggard denied a report that coach Dana Dimel and his staff have been told they will be dismissed at the end of this season. Responding to a report by radio station KILT that Dimel had been informed at a Thursday staff meeting he would be terminated, Maggard said no decision has been made.

"That is absolutely not true," Maggard said. "Dana and the football staff have been told nothing of the kind. We are all unhappy with the way things have gone this season. We are all working to make it better in the six remaining games."

The Cougars (2-4), who host Army today, have lost 14 consecutive C-USA games and are 5-23 midway through Dimel's third season.

OREGON: Defensive end Roderkus Wright was suspended indefinitely for breaking an undisclosed team rule. Wright, a 6-foot-4, 266-pound backup, also was suspended the first two games for similar reasons. Wright had six tackles in four games this season, including three sacks and a forced fumble.

SUN BELT ADDITION: Utah State is the newest member of the Sun Belt Conference. A timetable has not been set on when membership takes effect for all Utah State sports, but they likely will compete fully in the league no later than the 2005-06 academic year.

The football program begins conference play in 2003. Utah State is a member of the Big West Conference in most sports other than football. Since the Big West discontinued its sponsorship of football after 2000, USU has competed as a Division I-A independent. Utah State joins 13 other Sun Belt member institutions, including Florida International.

Friday's game

BOISE ST. 67, FRESNO ST. 21: Making an impressive return after six weeks off, Ryan Dinwiddie threw five touchdowns in less than three quarters, and host Boise State had a school-record 688 yards.

Dinwiddie completed 19-of-22 for 406 yards, and Brock Forsey added 132 yards rushing and two TDs for the Broncos, whose crowd of 30,924 was the largest to watch a sporting event in Idaho.

Fresno State freshman Paul Pinegar passed for 371 yards and three touchdowns. Dinwiddie, who broke an ankle against Arkansas in the second game of the season, came in early in the second quarter after starter B.J. Rhode led the Broncos to a 13-0 lead.

Lou Fanucchi had eight catches for 178 yards, and Nick Calaycay kicked four field goals for the Broncos, who have topped 50 points in four straight games. Their total yardage topped the school record of 664 set against Eastern Washington in 1995.

Boise State took a step toward seizing control of the WAC title race. The Broncos next face San Jose State for sole possession of first. The Spartans are 2-0 in the league entering today's game at Nevada.

Dinwiddie had TD passes of 13 and 39 yards to Rocky Atkinson, followed by a 43-yarder to Fanucchi, a 16-yarder to David Mikell and a 4-yarder to Tim Gilligan.

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