COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : ACROSS THE NATION : Alabama to Get the Word Thursday

The NCAA will notify Alabama by Thursday of whether it plans to charge the school with rules violations, clear it of wrongdoing or continue a year-long investigation, the association’s enforcement director said Tuesday.

David Berst said all three options are open to the NCAA, which began investigating the Crimson Tide program after former football player Gene Jelks claimed he received money and other benefits.

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The University of Mississippi has acknowledged more than half of the 15 NCAA allegations against the Rebels’ football program. In documents made public Tuesday, the NCAA dropped two of the allegations. Ole Miss officials will go before the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions on Sept. 30.

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Pittsburgh tailback Curtis Martin’s sprained right ankle isn’t showing much improvement, and Coach Johnny Majors isn’t optimistic he will play Saturday against Boston College. “He’s very, very doubtful,” Majors said. Martin was the leading rusher in NCAA Division I-A after gaining 251 yards in Pitt’s opener against Texas. But he suffered the sprain in the second quarter against Ohio University the next week and hasn’t played since. . . . A new award, the Eddie Robinson Trophy, will be given to the top football player from a black college each year. The trophy is named for the Grambling coach who has won more games than anyone else in college football history. “When I found out there would be an Eddie Robinson trophy, I cried,” he said.