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Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 29, 2001
Three 'Canes in good condition after wreck
MIAMI -- Jarrett Payton, son of the late NFL star Walter Payton, and two other Miami football players were injured in a car accident Saturday night.
Payton, fellow running back Clinton Portis and defensive lineman Clint Hurtt were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's trauma center and were in good condition, hospital administrator Stacy Stage said.
She said they were being evaluated to determine the extent of their injuries.
Portis and Hurtt were ejected from Payton's 1999 BMW, said Lt. Ernesto Duarte of the Florida Highway Patrol. None of the players was wearing a seat belt, he said.
The accident occurred when Hurtt, who was driving Payton's car southbound on Interstate 95 near downtown Miami, realized the left lane was an exit and swerved to the right.
To avoid cars, he veered back to the left, struck a retaining wall and the car spun out of control, Duarte said.
The car, which also hit a 1998 Lincoln before coming to a stop, was totaled. Alcohol was not a factor, Duarte said.
"Driver error and speed contributed to this particular crash," he said.
Hurtt was cited for careless driving.
LAFAYETTE, La. -- Florida football coach Steve Spurrier joined more than 1,000 mourners at the funeral for Eraste Autin, who died after collapsing following a workout.
"Eraste was not with us long in Gainesville, but I can assure you here in Lafayette, he made a lasting impression," said Spurrier, who helped deliver the eulogy at St. John the Evangelist Cathedral.
"I can assure you, all of us Gators will have Eraste's memories with us always."
Autin, 18, collapsed July 19 while jogging to the locker room after a conditioning workout.
He was taken to a hospital for treatment of heat stroke, but remained in critical condition until he died Wednesday.
More than 50 of Autin's teammates attended the services.
"His life was like a shooting star, intense, radiant and holding you in awe," said Autin's father, David. "He did a good deed when no one was looking."
KENTUCKY: Two football players face court appearances next month on misdemeanor drug charges. Defensive back Brandon Doggett, 20, was arrested July 15 and charged with public intoxication, possession of marijuana and possession of alcohol as a minor, a Lexington police report said. He has pleaded innocent to all charges. His next court date is Aug. 18. Running back Martez Johnson, 21, was charged with possession of marijuana and is set to be arraigned Aug. 15.
COTTON BOWL: Notre Dame or a Big East team could play in the game at Dallas at least once if a deal brokered by the bowl goes through. Under the deal, the Big 12 and SEC still would be the anchor conferences but the bowl would have the option of replacing the SEC choice once from 2003-06.