MEDINA, Wash. - Rick Neuheisel maintains he did not break NCAA rules when he gambled on college basketball tournaments and believes he should keep his job as Washington's football coach.
Neuheisel addressed reporters Saturday at his lakeside home, two days after athletic director Barbara Hedges announced her decision to fire him.
"I remain confident that there will be no finding of any major infraction at the NCAA level," Neuheisel said. "And if the university could see their way to allow me to retain my job, I would guarantee them that if in fact there were a finding of a major infraction, I would resign immediately and ask not for one more penny from the university.
"I'd go further and promise that I would reimburse the attorney general's office and pay for all their costs associated with defending the university at the NCAA level."
The state attorney general's office serves as legal counsel to the university and all other state agencies.
Neuheisel admitted he gambled on the past two NCAA basketball tournaments but said he didn't realize he was breaking NCAA rules by participating in the pool with friends and neighbors.
He invested a combined $6,400 and reportedly won about $12,000, giving some of the money to charity. In his defense, he cited a department memo that said off-campus pools are acceptable.
Jim Daves, a Washington athletic department spokesman, had no comment in response to Neuheisel's statement.
Hedges announced Thursday she was firing Neuheisel for gambling on the tournaments and initially being dishonest with NCAA investigators about his involvement.
His lawyers have disputed both allegations and have characterized NCAA gambling rules as ambiguous.
His legal team includes Jerry Crawford, a specialist at handling cases before the NCAA infractions committee, and Bob Sulkin, described as Neuheisel's lead trial attorney.
Crawford said at a news conference Friday that remarks by faculty representative Robert Aronson in university e-mails bolstered their case. Aronson said Thursday the rule "is not the epitome of clarity."
"Despite obvious confusion in the way the NCAA rule is drafted, the university seeks to terminate Coach Neuheisel for violating a rule that their best lawyers and law professors don't understand themselves," Crawford said.
Neuheisel has until June 26 to respond to his termination notice.
No announcement has been made on Neuheisel's replacement, though offensive coordinator Keith Gilbertson is considered the leading candidate.
Gilbertson also has participated in a $3 pool on the Final Four. He told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer he informed Hedges of his involvement when he met with her Friday.
Hedges has said university officials are continuing to gather information about the 1999 pool and that Gilbertson's involvement should not affect his candidacy.
Track and field
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS: Florida's Candice Scott set a record and won her second national championship in the hammer throw with a toss of 229 feet in Sacramento, Calif.
Teammate Jukina Dickerson was third (216-2), and Erin Gilreath finished sixth (206-7).
Jacksonville heptathlete Andrea Pressley finished 13th with 5,184 points. Pressley, who was 12th after four events Friday, had a long jump of 18-33/4 and a throw of 125-8 in the javelin. She also ran the 800 meters in 2:30.93.
South Florida Jimmy Baxter of St. Petersburg ended his season finishing 11th in the high jump (7-1). The former Boca Ciega High star failed in three attempts at 7-3. David Jaworski of Southern California won (7-5).
Miami freshman Charlette Greggs finished eighth in the 400 meters to earn All-America honors in her second event.
Greggs, who earned All-America honors Friday as a member of the 4x100, finished in 52.19 seconds. She is the first Hurricane to earn All-America honors in the 400.
