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News Nuggets, 07.24.06
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Miami gridder shot at off-campus residence

The Miami Herald has reported that two members of the University of Miami football team, including one of the nation's top defensive players, were involved in a shooting early Friday.

Junior safety Willie Cooper, who was shot in the buttocks outside the off-campus house he shares with two other members of the team, was taken to South Miami Hospital but was soon released.

Here is what happened, according to law enforcement authorities:

''Cooper shares the house with Brandon Meriweather and Ryan Moore,'' South Miami Police Maj. Michael Mills said. "Meriweather came home and found a late model blue Audi running in front of the house, with two people sitting inside of it. He mentioned it to Cooper and when they went outside to investigate, one of the suspects [in the car] shot Cooper. Meriweather returned fire with a semiautomatic pistol.''

Meriweather fired three times, but it is not known if he hit the man, who wore a bandanna over his face. The players said they didn't know him or the Audi's driver.

UM policy forbids guns in dormitories, but does not prohibit off-campus possession of a firearm, according to the Miami Herald report.

'Star-crossed' defensive back leaving Auburn

The Birmingham News has reported that Montavis Pitts, whose star-crossed career at Auburn included stints as a starting cornerback, a suspended player and would-be rapper, has left the team following his DUI arrest last month.

"I made a mistake and have decided that I need to get a fresh start and begin somewhere else," Pitts said in a statement. "I've enjoyed my career at Auburn and apologize to my teammates, coaches and the Auburn fans for the mistake I've made, but this is a decision that is in my best interest for my football career, both now and the future."

Pitts had 106 tackles and an interception in three seasons, including a career-high 46 tackles in 2004. He was mostly a backup last season and was listed as a second-team player on the depth chart following spring practice.

Pitts left the team for a few days in 2002 to pursue a career as rapper DJ Black Jack. He was suspended in 2004 for an unspecified violation of team rules.

Pitts was arrested by the Tuskegee Police Department on June 24 and charged with driving under the influence.

Pitts can transfer to any school below Division I-A and play this season, including Jacksonville State, where he has several former teammates and friends.

Admission denied for Gamecock hoops signee

South Carolina basketball recruit Chad Gray has been denied admission by the university and is considering his options, according to a report in The Columbia (SC) State.

Gray was a standout at Kingstree High before transferring to Florida Prep.

Former coaches, friends and the administrator of Florida Prep School, where Gray played this past season, have reacted with words such as “injustice” and “crazy” when describing USC officials’ decision to deny Gray’s admission.

Gray settled on a different word: “betrayed.”

Although the 6-foot-7 forward said the NCAA had cleared him, university president Andrew Sorensen said Wednesday he recommended that Gray not be admitted to USC.

Athletics director Eric Hyman said Thursday that university officials gave extra attention to Gray’s application because he attended Florida Prep, a school the NCAA examined as a potential “diploma mill.” Florida Prep was one of 22 schools the NCAA cleared for the schools’ students to proceed with their academic careers.

“Because of what’s happened around the country — some past transgressions with some schools with some questionable academic credentials — it heightened our awareness,” Hyman said.

Gray said he planned to wait until next week before deciding whether to re-apply to USC or begin applying at other schools. A source close to Gray told The State that Gray’s family had not ruled out retaining an attorney to challenge the university’s decision.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from other sources. Copyright 2006 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:49 PM