Panel: Huskies Shouldn’t Forfeit Games

The Pacific 10 Conference unanimously recommended Sunday to let stand the results of Washington games in which junior quarterback Billy Joe Hobert played.

The Pac-10 Council, meeting in San Francisco, determined that $50,000 in loans Hobert received shouldn’t alter the Huskies’ record. However, it also said in a statement that “substantial questions remain concerning important aspects of this case.”

The council’s recommendation will be reviewed Tuesday during a conference call among Pacific-10 university presidents and chancellors. The recommendation, which probably will be approved, means that No. 5 Washington will play in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day against No. 6 Michigan.

But the council said its Compliance and Enforcement Committee will continue to investigate the case. The council said it moved to decide the issue quickly because of the bowl issue.

Conference commissioner Tom Hansen said that forfeiture of victories could be applied retroactively after the 1992 season. It was not clear if any action taken after the conclusion of the season would affect the Rose Bowl outcome.

Hobert has been ruled ineligible by the school.