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News Nuggets, 09.16.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Marshall coach navigates hot water over remark

HUNTINGTON � Marshall coach Bob Pruett will not be reprimanded for calling the Ohio State football team "a bunch of Mandingos," a comment some thought could be offensive to blacks.

"I profusely apologize if I offended anyone," Pruett said Wednesday. "That's the last thing in the world I wanted to do. As I understand the term, I was trying to be complimentary."

Pruett said he used the term to mean "superior ability, superior strength, boldness and courage."

Pruett made the original comment in his weekly news conference leading up to last Saturday's game against Ohio State.

"We think Coach Pruett's apology is sufficient and I think he stated everything very well," athletic director Bob Marcum said Wednesday.

Charles Farrell, director of Rainbow Sports, a division of the Rev. Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH coalition, said Pruett's remarks could be offensive to some because the Mandingos of West Africa were used as slaves.

Farrell said he also was satisfied with Pruett's apology.

"What I was hoping is that the athletic director or the university president would pull the coach aside and say, 'Whether you meant to or not there were some people who were offended by the use of the term Mandigo," Farrell said. "Any coach needs to understand that your words and actions reflect upon that university."

James Tolbert, who oversees the West Virginia branch of the NAACP, said the comment "smacks of some racism."

But Sylvia Ridgeway, president of the NAACP's Huntington-Cabell branch, said Pruett's comments may have been the result of "a poor choice of words."

"I have never, ever heard him make racial remarks before, which leads me to believe it was an indication of how he felt about strength and boldness, not anything negative," she said.

Ohio State defeated Marshall 24-21 with a field goal as time expired.

Air Force locks in DeBerry through 2009

AIR FORCE ACADEMY � Air Force football coach Fisher DeBerry has agreed to a five-year contract extension.

DeBerry, in his 21st season at Air Force, has a 156-89-1 career record and has been at the academy longer than any other coach.

"Fisher is one of the nation's best coaches and we have now secured the future of Falcon football for the next five years," athletic director Hans Mueh said in a statement.

The 66-year-old DeBerry led the Falcons to a 12-1 record and a top-five ranking in 1985, when he was named national coach of the year. His teams have had 17 winning seasons and 12 bowl appearances.

"I'm very flattered and humbled to be offered an extension to my contract," DeBerry said in a statement. "This speaks well to the job our coaches and players have done ..."

The contract extension comes as running back Matthew Ward, who has been suspended from the team, faces a court-martial for wrongful use and possession of the steroid methandrostenolone. He pleaded innocent earlier this week.

Linebacker Overton Spence was acquitted on a charge of wrongful use of the same type of steroid on Sept. 1, after testifying he did not know the steroid was illegal. He was reinstated to the team Monday.

Bowling Green football player dies

BOWLING GREEN, OH � A Bowling Green football player died at a hospital Wednesday after becoming ill during the first 10 minutes of practice, school officials said.

Aaron Richardson, a freshman, was taken to Wood County Hospital, where he died, athletic department spokesman J.D. Campbell said.

There was no obvious cause of death and an autopsy was planned for Thursday, said Wood County coroner Douglas Hess.

Richardson, a native of Sandusky, was participating in his first practice as a non-recruited walk-on, Campbell said.

Campbell didn't know what Richardson was doing when he got sick.

"The university is reviewing the circumstances surrounding Aaron's passing," said Ed Whipple, Bowling Green's vice president for student affairs.

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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