Colleges
Former Washington coach sues school, NCAA
By Times Wires
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 22, 2003
SEATTLE - Former Washington football coach Rick Neuheisel sued the university and the NCAA on Thursday, alleging he was wrongfully fired for participating in a college basketball gambling pool.
The lawsuit alleges the school fired him in an effort to avoid an NCAA investigation. It seeks unspecified monetary damages and "such other relief as the court deems just and proper."
"The university is confident that its termination of Coach Neuheisel was consistent with the terms of his contract and that this lawsuit against the university has no merit," said a statement issued by the school.
An NCAA spokesman did not return a call.
The suit was filed on the day audio tapes were released of his questioning by NCAA investigators. They show Neuheisel lied when initially questioned by the NCAA about whether he gambled.
Neuheisel, who later acknowledged his involvement in neighborhood pools, was fired last month for participating in the pools and not being forthcoming with NCAA investigators.
The tapes support handwritten notes released last month.
"I never placed a bet on anything," Neuheisel said early in the tapes, recorded June 4 when investigators first met with him.
A short time later, he was asked if he had any concerns about going to the event in 2002 and 2003. Teams of neighbors pooled money and bid on teams in an auction-style setting.
"I won't go again if that's the question," Neuheisel said. "No, I didn't have any concerns at all. I know we can't gamble. I know I can't place a bet or anything like that, but I wasn't. I was just there watching."
Later, he said, "I did not consider it gambling on college sports, although now that I'm sitting here, I realize it may be contrary to other opinions."
The university released the three NCAA-produced tapes, which also were given to Washington athletic officials and Neuheisel's lawyers. The nearly 60 minutes of recordings covered three interviews on June 4.
Neuheisel's attorney, Bob Sulkin, criticized Washington and NCAA officials for mishandling a tape that recorded the first part of the interview. Sulkin contends it contained key information now missing from the record.
MIAMI: Coach Larry Coker has not ruled receiver Roscoe Parrish out of the season opener. Parrish, expected to be the primary slot receiver and punt returner, had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Aug. 11 and has not practiced since.
Valparaiso coach to take job at troubled Baylor
WACO, Texas - Scott Drew is leaving Valparaiso to take over a Baylor basketball program torn apart by the death of a player, a string of transfers and potentially strong NCAA violations.
Mike Oppland, a sophomore-to-be at Valparaiso, said Homer Drew, Scott's father, called his family to tell them Scott was going to Baylor and he was coming out of retirement to take his place.
Drew has only one season of head-coaching experience, going 20-11 and reaching the NIT last season. He spent the previous nine seasons as an assistant to his father at Valparaiso.
Also, the father of former Bear Patrick Dennehy plans to sue the university, alleging officials conspired to cover up information about his son's death and concealed illegal activities in the athletic department. The lawsuit seeks at least $50,000 and also names Baylor's former coach, Dave Bliss, the board of regents, school president Robert Sloan, and former athletic director Tom Stanton. He accuses officials of creating an "unsafe atmosphere."
CINCINNATI: Former Gator forward James White received a one-game suspension for playing in an unsanctioned exhibition.
ST. BONAVENTURE: William Swan, the school board's chairman during an eligibility scandal, died of an apparent suicide. He was 55. The Atlantic 10 stripped St. Bonaventure of six victories and barred it from the postseason in March after forward Jamil Terrell was ruled ineligible for violating junior college transfer guidelines. The players then boycotted the final two games.
TENNESSEE: Forward Andre Patterson, who was dismissed from UCLA last spring for academic reasons, has enrolled. He averaged 7.5 points and a team-high 5.5 rebounds in 24 games last season.
USF: The women's team named juniors Andrea Armstrong and Alana Tanksley captains.
Track
USF: The men's and women's teams were named to the all-academic team. The men had a cumulative 3.08 grade-point average, the women a 3.17.
Wisconsin institutes policy for arrested athletes
MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin athletes who are arrested for incidents involving drugs, gambling or violence will be suspended from all competitions and practices under a policy announced by the school.
Until now, it has largely been up to individual coaches to decide how their players were disciplined.
Badgers have been involved in several run-ins with the law during the past year, including former hockey captain Brad Winchester, top football receiver Lee Evans and running back Anthony Davis.
Suspended athletes will have to be cleared by the courts or reinstated by an appeals committee before becoming eligible to play again.
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