Associated Press
The college football notebook …
The New York Times is reporting that an NCAA official told Auburn coach Gene Chizik that it is not done investigating the Tigersí football program and the recruitment of Cam Newton.
The newspaper reported Wednesday that Chizik asked NCAA vice president for enforcement Julie Roe Lach several questions, including why the NCAA had not announced that the Newton investigation was finished, during a presentation at the Southeastern Conference meetings in Destin, Fla., last month.
ěYouíll know when weíre finished,î Roe Lach told Chizik, according to several coaches who were at the meeting, the Times reported. ěAnd weíre not finished.î
Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings, LSU coach Trent Johnson, Mississippi coach Andy Kennedy and Arkansas coach Mike Anderson all confirmed the exchange to the newspaper.
OSU MOVING ON
COLUMBUS, Ohio ó Ohio Stateís players say they are resigned to make the best of the schoolís self-imposed penalties, no matter how hurt or angry some may feel.
ěThereís nothing we can really do about that,î offensive lineman J.B. Shugarts said after a conditioning workout this week. ěThe university decided to make that call. Weíve got to accept it.î
Athletic director Gene Smith announced Friday that the university would vacate the 2010 season, including the Sugar Bowl victory. It also self-imposed a two-year NCAA probation, in addition to suspending six players for the first five games and accepting the resignation of coach Jim Tressel. All the sanctions resulted from a cash-for-memorabilia scandal that has rocked the program for the past eight months.
The next big date is Aug. 12, when Ohio State meets with the NCAAís committee on infractions. That committee could accept the penalties Ohio State placed on itself or could pile on recruiting restrictions, bowl bans, return of bowl money and other stiffer sanctions.
Left in the wake of the uncertainty are the players who didnít do anything wrong but who are left to make the best of the situation.
Tight end Jake Stoneburner has come to terms with the fact that, officially at least, the 12-1 season a year ago never happened in the eyes of the NCAA or Ohio Stateís record book.
ěIt hurts a little bit because I was a part of that. I was out there sweating, bleeding and trying to get those wins,î he said. ěIf thatís what theyíve got to do, we have to move on and try to repeat them (wins) this season. The films are there and everyone saw what happened. Everyone knows what happened in the 2010 season.î
MONTANA DUI
MISSOULA, Mont. ó Joe Montanaís son has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving stemming from a traffic stop in which he declined a breathalyzer test.
Nate Montana was pulled over for going 39 mph in a 25 mph zone in Missoula early June 3. The 21-year-old University of Montana quarterback was arrested on a first-offense DUI charge after a sheriffís deputy said he smelled alcohol and that Montana fumbled with his driverís license.
BOX DEATH
OKLAHOMA CITY ó El Reno police say theyíre still trying to determine where a University of Oklahoma linebacker who died after ingesting prescription medication got the pills.
Police Chief Ken Brown says investigators have determined that the medication found in Boxís system hadnít been prescribed. Brown didnít immediately return a call seeking comment Wednesday.
A friend found Austin Box unresponsive in the friendís El Reno home and called authorities May 19. The friend told a dispatcher Box wasnít breathing, that Box had been taking pain pills, and later told a police officer ěhe believed he had overdosed.î
A state Medical Examinerís autopsy found the painkillers oxymorphone, morphine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone and oxycodone in Boxís system, along with the anti-anxiety drug alprazolam.
Box had an enlarged heart and a chronic pain history.
The Associated Press
07/13/11 22:02