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In brief
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 28, 2003
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration's Title IX commission appears set to recommend that the 30-year-old gender equity law in sports be made less rigid, the Associated Press reported Monday.
A commissioner said the "directions they are moving toward" include a less restrictive interpretation of the law's proportionality test. It also is expected to call for new surveys to gauge sports interest among student bodies.
The Department of Education's 15-member Commission on Opportunity in Athletics will debate and vote on recommendations during public meetings Wednesday and Thursday. It must submit its final report by Friday.
A draft copy of the report lists 24 recommendations culled from five public hearings. The most controversial would allow schools to have a 50-50 split of male and female athletes, regardless of the makeup of the student body.
S.C. hires ex-Bucs coach
Ex-Bucs wide receivers coach Charlie Williams was hired for the same job at South Carolina. Williams, 44, spent 1996-2001 in Tampa Bay. He replaces Joker Phillips, who left for a Kentucky job. Williams was receivers coach at Miami (1993-95).
SOCCER: Florida International's men's program received a two-year reprieve from school officials, reversing a decision to dissolve the program for budget reasons.
SOFTBALL: South Florida was picked to finish fourth in Conference USA by league coaches. Senior outfielder Renee Oursler and sophomore first baseman Carmela Liwag of Largo were named to the preseason all-conference team.
Azeri became the third female to win U.S. racing's highest honor -- horse of the year at Eclipse Award ceremonies in Los Angeles. Azeri had eight wins and one second-place finish in nine starts as a 4-year-old, including a win in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. War Emblem, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, was champion 3-year-old colt. Jerry Bailey earned his sixth award as outstanding jockey. Bobby Frankel repeated as outstanding trainer.