Husky Case Will Be Investigated by Special Counsel, School Says

An independent counsel will be appointed as soon as next week to investigate allegations involving the University of Washington’s football program, school President William P. Gerberding said Friday.

The special counsel will report to Laurel Wilkening, university provost, and work with Richard Dunn, the school’s faculty athletic representative. The investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding $50,000 in loans given to quarterback Billy Joe Hobert as well as charges, reported in The Times this week, that Washington boosters have regularly provided Husky players with cash and other improper benefits, including summer jobs requiring little or no work.

Such activities are violations of the NCAA’s “extra benefit” rule, which prohibits representatives of a school’s athletic interest from providing athletes with benefits generally not available to the student body.

In a letter to Wilkening, Gerberding wrote: “After years of relative immunity from the problems that plague intercollegiate athletics, we find ourselves face to face with very serious allegations. The University must get to the bottom of the matter, address whatever problems may exist and insure the integrity of the program and the good name of the University.”

Barbara Hedges, Washington’s athletic director, announced that she will request either the Pacific 10 Conference or the NCAA to review her department’s compliance procedures.