USF’s Griffin forced to quit [Times photo (2000): Frasier Hale] The action follows months of allegations about racial bias in women's basketball and new claims of a coverup. Gary Shelton Euphemize, but realize, Griffin is gone He resigned, they said. Diversity questions still linger In October, black faculty and staff raised concerns about the status of minorities in many university departments. Departure stuns some, satisfies none TAMPA -- As word of athletic director Paul Griffin's forced resignation made its way across the USF community, some, such as former basketball coach Bobby Paschal and current baseball coach Eddie Cardieri, expressed disbelief and a deep sense of loss. USF didn’t provide documents as requested last year The forced resignation of University of South Florida athletic director Paul Griffin came just days after the St. Petersburg Times disclosed that several documents relating to charges of racial discrimination within the women's basketball program were not given to the newspaper when requested last August, possibly in violation of the state's public records law. ‘Technically, I am responsible’ Paul Griffin said Friday that he was asked to resign as athletic director in the midst of what has been a public relations nightmare for the University of South Florida. He talked with Times staff writer Roger Mills on Friday, 24 hours after submitting his letter of resignation. Old friends paint glowing picture of Griffin In particular, athletes that he has coached remember how much he cared about their well being. USF chronology

Questions abound at CART start
There was just one significant off-season change for Team Penske and it had nothing to do with Gil de Ferran and Helio Castroneves driving the team's two entrants in the 2001 CART series.

Devil Rays/baseball
Rays’ prospect shows he’s eager to catch on
Toby Hall is spending plenty of extra time fine-tuning his skills behind the plate.

Grist for the trade rumor mill
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays didn't have much to say Friday about the latest Gary Sheffield trade rumors, except that they don't like them.

Area camps roundup
Jeter could get at-bats at DH

College basketball
Gators tough one out 69-61
Florida, behind Matt Bonner's career-best 22 points, survives a manhandling Alabama squad to reach today's SEC tournament semifinals.

Jones returns to form; Tech upsets UVA, again
ATLANTA -- Even though he earned first-team all-conference honors, Georgia Tech senior center Alvin Jones believed he had something to prove in Friday's quarterfinals of the ACC tournament.

Tampa exacts revenge on Eckerd
The Spartans, who lost twice to the Tritons in the regular season, advance to the region final 67-56.

Women's college basketball briefs
UF's Ross is honored by WBCA

Men's college basketball briefs
Penn St. shocks MSU

Lightning/NHL
Lightning fills up on home cooking
But improved form at the Ice Palace has not translated to success on the road.

Czechs pick Svoboda for Olympic team
Lightning defenseman Petr Svoboda has been named to the Czech Republic's Olympic team.

Mutiny
Mutiny in no hurry for spring fling
Unlike most MLS teams, preparations are well under way.

Et cetera
Sports briefs
Seeds falling fast in Scottsdale

Sailing
Indiana sailor earns victory as weather changes on bay
ST. PETERSBURG -- Bruce King said he has been sailing Thistles "about 30 years." Given that he's 33 and a third-generation Thistle racer, the Indiana-based engineer has a lifetime of experience in the three-person, 17-foot classic open dinghies.

Outdoors
Captain's corner
When the fish don't seem to want what you have to offer, try looking for other reasons before changing bait. It could be bait presentation, tidal movement, water temperature, oversized tackle or spooky fish.

Preps
Boys basketball around the state
Aquinas gets by Belleview for first state title

St. Petersburg spots Bogie lead then rolls
John Stang strikes out 13 and improves to 4-0 as the Green Devils take care of the Pirates 9-2.

Crystal River wins wild affair
The Pirates win a game with 31 runs and 16 errors to maintain its conference and district lead.

Dunedin pitchers recover quickly
Three weeks after a frightening car crash, two Dunedin pitchers have returned to live action on the mound.

River Ridge thwarts Land O'Lakes' late comeback
NEW PORT RICHEY -- This was not a one-run game typical of the Land O'Lakes-River Ridge rivalry.

Cougars crush curves to rout Pats
Countryside scores seven runs in the third inning, including back-to-back homers, to crush Pinellas Park 11-1.