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News Nuggets, 08.15.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Philly school still shopping for basketball coach

PHILADELPHIA — The University of Pennsylvania's Fran Dunphy turned down an offer from La Salle University to fill the Explorers' vacant coaching position.

Dunphy said in a statement released by Penn that he was "honored" that La Salle officials thought he "would be a suitable candidate.

"However, in the end, my commitment remains with Penn and continuing to achieve the success that the men's basketball program strives for on an annual basis."

East Carolina coach Bill Herrion's name had been mentioned in connection with the La Salle job, which became vacant when former coach Billy Hahn resigned in the wake of rape allegations involving his players.

Herrion was a successful coach at another Philadelphia school, Drexel, before taking the reign of the Pirates in 1999.

Though he has maintained strong recruiting ties to the Philly region, Herrion has indicated to confidantes that he and his wife are now rooted in Greenville.

La Salle athletic director Thomas Brennan said in a statement Saturday the school had "made a 110 percent effort — financially and otherwise" to get Dunphy, a La Salle graduate.

"It became apparent to us that it would be too difficult for him to leave behind the legacy and relationships he's built at the University of Pennsylvania over the past 15 years," Brennan said.

Hahn resigned in July after two of his former players were charged with raping a 19-year-old woman who had been working at a youth basketball camp run by John Miller, the coach of La Salle's women's basketball team. Miller also resigned.

During the investigation that led to those charges, a second woman came forward and told investigators she had been sexually assaulted by another male basketball player at La Salle in 2003 while she was a member of the women's team.

The woman said she had informed both Miller and Hahn that she had been assaulted, but decided not to file charges when the coaches discouraged her from doing so, police said. Both Hahn and Miller have denied discouraging the woman from pursuing charges, and both have said the woman was adamant about wanting to drop the matter.

Doping scandal questions spur action at NCSU

North Carolina State has shuffled the duties of an athletic department employee whose name has been linked to a burgeoning international steroids controversy.

Assistant strength coach C.J. Hunter, whose own positive tests in 2000 for the use of banned substances were widely reported, will remain employed by N.C. State for the time being but will be reassigned to unspecified duties, the school's athletic director, Lee Fowler, announced Friday.

Hunter's name has surfaced prominently in connection with an ongoing investigation of steroid use by track and field athletes, including his ex-wife, Marion Jones.

"After evaluating recent allegations involving C.J. Hunter, I have decided that at this time it is appropriate to reassign him to another position within the athletic department," said Fowler in a statement.

Fowler indicated that until it determines otherwise, the university intends to extend Hunter the benefit of the doubt regarding recent media reports that Hunter told investigators he injected Jones with steroids and watched her inject herself with doping agents at the 2000 Sydney, Australia, Olympics.

"We have no knowledge that these allegations are true," stated Fowler. "Mr. Hunter has a contract with the University until March 1, 2005. Unless the University receives confirmation that these allegations are true, the University will honor that contract until it expires. Mr. Hunter will perform duties we consider appropriate during this period."

Jones, a 1997 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, won five medals at the Sydney Games.

Hunter retired from track and field after failing four tests for steroids in 2000. Instead of competing in Sydney, he attributed his decision to remove himself from the U.S. team to an injury.

Hunter's nutritionist, Victor Conte, founder of a nutrition company at the center of the controversy — Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) — said the shot putter had tested positive due to contaminated iron supplements.

Hunter gave a 2½-hour interview to federal agents in early June in Raleigh, and later appeared before the grand jury probing BALCO.

Jones and her boyfriend, Tim Montgomery, were among dozens of athletes who testified before the BALCO grand jury last fall. Montgomery, world record holder at 100 meters, has been charged by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency with steroid use and faces a lifetime ban if found guilty.

Jones has not been charged. Both she and Montgomery have repeatedly denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

Hunter, entering his fourth season with the Wolfpack, has been principally involved with the school's football program. He has a contract with the school until March 1, Fowler said.

Usual suspects lead Top 25; WVU No. 10

East Carolina's trip to Morgantown for a season-opening battle with West Virginia has taken on a new dimension with the release of The Associated Press preseason football poll. The Pirates, coming off a 1-11 campaign in 2003, will be tangling with a Top Ten team.

Southern Cal, Oklahoma, Georgia, LSU and Florida State, respectively, make up the top five in the preseason rankings, while the Mountaineers are No. 10, behind Miami (FL), Texas, Michigan and Ohio State.

No Conference USA teams are in the Top 25, but Louisville almost cracked the list and Memphis, Texas Christian and Southern Mississippi also received votes, as did future league member Marshall.

Among Carolinas schools, Clemson came in at No. 15 and N.C. State and South Carolina attracted some attention from voters.

Here are the Top Twenty Five teams in The Associated Press expanded preseason college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, 2003 records, points based on 25 points for a first place vote through one point for a 25th place vote, previous ranking, record vs. top 25 teams at time of game, record of opponents played, and extra points:

2004 AP Preseason Football Poll:

(C-USA teams — current and future —  and Carolinas teams in bold red.)

Rank/Team/First-place votes/Last season/Points/Previous ranking/Notes
 1. Southern Cal (48)  12-1  1,603   1  1979 last preseason No. 1
 2. Oklahoma (11)      12-2  1,529   3  Heisman winner returning
 3. Georgia (5)        11-3  1,480   7  Highest preseason rank
 4. LSU (1)            13-1  1,446   2  Best preseason rk since 59
 5. Florida St.        10-3  1,291  11  22nd straight preseason rk
 6. Miami              11-2  1,287   5  Coker .921 winning pct.
 7. Texas              10-3  1,236  12  Brown 6 str 9-win seasons
 8. Michigan           10-3  1,223   6  Lost QB Navarre & RB Perry
 9. Ohio St.           11-2  1,005   4  14 starters to replace
10. West Virginia       8-5    937   _  Highest preseason rank
11. Florida             8-5    836  24  Zook back-to-bac 8-5 yrs
12. Kansas St.         11-4    763  14  RB Sproles Heisman hopeful
13. California          8-6    744   _  Highest preseason rank
14. Tennessee          10-3    658  15  Fulmer .801 winning pct.
15. Clemson             9-4    638  22  Finished strong in 2003
16. Virginia            8-5    627   _  Key: replacing QB Schaub
17. Auburn              8-5    540   _  Installing West Coast off.
18. Missouri            8-5    525   _  1st preseason rk since 80
19. Iowa               10-3    518   8  2 offensive starters back
20. Utah               10-2    446  21  First preseason rank
21. Wisconsin           7-6    328   _  20-18 last 3 yrs;9-15 B-10
22. Maryland           10-3    310  17  13 starters to replace
23. Oregon              8-5    200   _  Bellotti senior P-10 coach
24. Purdue              9-4    153  18  Orton top QB in Big Ten
25. Minnesota          10-3    142  20  14 starters return

Others receiving votes: Louisville 125, Nebraska 112, N.C. State 76, Memphis 56, Boise St. 47, Texas Christian 39, Toledo 33, Oregon St. 29, Washington St. 24, Fresno St. 13, Oklahoma St. 13, Alabama 12, Hawaii 11, Boston College 7, N. Illinois 7, Texas Tech 7, Marshall 6, Mississippi 6, Southern Mississippi 6, Virginia Tech 6, Georgia Tech 5, Miami (OH) 4, South Carolina 4, Arkansas 3, Texas A&M 3, Bowling Green 2, Connecticut 1, North Texas 1, Notre Dame 1, Penn St. 1.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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