Oklahoma football Coach Barry Switzer, answering reports...

Oklahoma football Coach Barry Switzer, answering reports that his assistant coaches swap choice tickets for the use of cars, said the practice is common in the coaching business.

“There isn’t an assistant coach in a major program in the country who doesn’t drive a car given to him by a dealership,” Switzer said, adding that the practice is nothing new.

“Every major college program in America probably has a car donor program,” he said. “We’ve had one here at Oklahoma for all 22 years I’ve been here.”

Switzer said that the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. has no authority over what coaches do with their money or tickets.

Meanwhile in Nebraska, at least 43 Cornhusker coaches and athletic department officials drive new cars supplied by Nebraska and Iowa auto dealers in the Cornhusker Wheel Club, the Lincoln, Neb., Journal-Star reported.

Coaches must pay tax, licensing and insurance cost on the vehicles, according to Clete Fischer, who directs the 50-member Wheel Club for the university.

Fischer said Wheel Club members are promised nothing in return but are given preferential treatment in buying Nebraska football tickets and in obtaining parking places for games.