Colleges

Spurrier loses top rusher to violation

By wire services
Published March 2, 2005

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina dismissed leading rusher Demetris Summers from the team Tuesday for violating athletics department policy.

"There are certain policies and rules that our student-athletes must follow and unfortunately, Demetris chose to violate those," coach Steve Spurrier said in a statement. "That's where we are with this and we'll move on from here."

Summers ran for 1,125 yards and four touchdowns over the past two seasons, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. The sophomore also had 23 receptions for 211 yards and two touchdowns.

Athletics department spokesman Kerry Tharp would not say what rule Summers violated. He did say Summers would retain his scholarship for this semester.

His dismissal comes about a month after six South Carolina players were charged after a total of $18,000 worth of computer and video equipment and framed photographs were taken from South Carolina's stadium Nov. 22.

FSU BASEBALL: Sophomore right-handed closer Tyler Chambliss, who allowed no runs, no hits and struck out seven of 14 batters he faced in three appearances to earn a win and two saves, was named national pitcher of the week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

USF BASEBALL: After California-Davis and South Florida traded four runs in the first inning of the opening game of the Rainbow Baseball Tournament in Honolulu, neither scored until Bulls shortstop Dexter Butler capped a series of big plays in the eighth inning with a two-run single for a 6-4 win. It was the fifth straight win for USF (9-5).

FSU TENNIS: The host Seminoles improved to 6-3 with a 7-0 victory over Furman, coached by former FSU player and coach Paul Scarpa.

BRIGHAM YOUNG: Former BYU football player Tom Holmoe was promoted to athletic director.

DENVER - The grand jury that investigated Colorado's football program said two female trainers alleged they were sexually assaulted by an assistant coach and that a "slush fund" was created with money from coach Gary Barnett's football camp, according to a report leaked to the media.

Money was kept in "16 or 17" cash boxes, each managed by a different person with little oversight, according to the grand jury's findings, which were obtained by KUSA-TV and shared with the Denver Post.

The Associated Press said a source who has seen the grand jury report confirmed the accuracy of the news reports.

The grand jury, which finished meeting Aug. 19, handed up a single indictment accusing former football recruiting aide Nathan Maxcey of soliciting a prostitute for himself and misusing a school-issued cell phone. Maxcey has not entered a plea.

It was not clear why the panel did not issue more indictments.

[Last modified March 2, 2005, 00:47:18]