Former Aggie Denies Hush Money Accusations

George Smith, former Texas A&M; running back who accused Coach Jackie Sherrill of paying him $4,400 since November, 1986, to keep quiet about NCAA rules violations, is backing off those statements.

Smith said much of what he told Dallas Morning News reporter Doug Bedell in an 8-hour taped interview was not true. He said what he told Bedell was supposed to be used for a book.

Smith’s comments were printed in Friday’s Morning News, and later that day Sherrill announced he would not coach the Aggies’ game against TCU Saturday. Instead, he watched on television, turning the team over to defensive coordinator R.C. Slocum.

Sherrill said he will be back on the sidelines for the Aggies’ game with Texas Thanksgiving night.

Smith, during a press conference, said: “Bedell was to prepare a proposal for the book and send it to agents and give me a copy of the manuscript.” He also said he received only $1,000 to $1,400 from Sherrill and that he considered it a loan, since at the time he received the money he was not a student-athlete at A&M.; He said he planned to return the money as soon as he was able to do so.

Ralph Langer, vice president and executive editor of Morning News, said in a statement released after the news conference that the newspaper reported accurately what Smith said took place.

“We have a signed statement from him that the information he gave us was true,” Langer said. “Reporter Doug Bedell and Smith had a separate personal contract to develop a book proposal and submit it to a publisher and/or agent. Such a proposal was submitted to an agent and to Smith in October.”

Concerning Smith’s denial that some of the funds paid him constituted hush money, Langer said that Smith said in an interview on Oct. 21, “ . . . all that was to keep me quiet for another couple months.”

The last payment from Sherrill, according to what Smith told Bedell, came on Sept. 27, 1988, 4 days after an announcement that the NCAA was placing Texas A&M; on probation for numerous rules violations, the most serious involving former quarterback Kevin Murray.

At the press conference, Smith said: “It was not a surprise to receive some help I had asked for. It certainly was not hush money.”