Notre Dame Receiver Reportedly Ineligible Because of Agent Deal

Notre Dame wide receiver Alvin Miller has been declared ineligible for his senior season because he signed with New York agent Norby Walters, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

The newspaper claimed Notre Dame Athletic Director Gene Corrigan admitted that the university and Miller made up a story last month that the senior would not return for the 1987 season because of a knee injury.

But Corrigan, who is leaving Notre Dame to become commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference, refuted the charge in a prepared statement.

“There has never been an attempt by anyone at Notre Dame to cover up anything involving Alvin Miller,” the statement said. “We were surprised to read that suggestion this morning in the newspapers. Any implication of a cover-up presupposes knowledge.

“I have never talked to Alvin about this situation, and I have no knowledge that he improperly signed with an agent, as reported.”

Corrigan, according to the paper, said that Miller had told the university he accepted cash and signed with Walters and agent Lloyd Bloom. NCAA rules prohibit a player from accepting cash and signing with an agent while still eligible.

Miller caught 6 passes for 107 yards last year in a season cut short by a knee injury.

Corrigan said in his statement that Miller could not practice this spring and was questionable for the 1987 season.

“Alvin suffered his second serious knee injury last October and underwent surgery,” Corrigan said. “He informed us in April that he did not plan to return for his extra season of eligibility. Not until May did anything come to light regarding the federal grand jury investigation of agents and its decision to subpoena Alvin.”