COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NATION : Notre Dame’s Miller Indicted in Texas

Notre Dame football player Michael Miller was free on bond in Texas on Thursday after being indicted on a charge of organized criminal activity in what authorities say was a fraudulent check-writing scheme.

Miller turned himself in Wednesday, a day after Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz had announced without explanation that Miller had left the university.

“He showed up with an attorney in one hand and bond in another,” said Rodney Glendening, a sheriff’s detective in Ft. Bend County, just southwest of Houston.

Arraignment was set for Nov. 21 in state court in Ft. Bend County. Conviction on a charge of organized criminal activity could get Miller 10 years in prison.

“The deal is, several guys in Houston have legitimate checking accounts, go to police departments and report the checks stolen and sign affidavits that they are stolen,” Glendening said. “In the meantime, they go on shopping sprees.”

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Stanford announced that quarterback Steve Stenstrom will sit out the final two games of the season. Stenstrom, 22, a fifth-year senior, had surgery Wednesday to repair a broken right little finger, which he injured Saturday. The Cardinal will start sophomore Scott Frost against Oregon on Saturday.

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The Big Eight Conference suspended lame-duck Coach Jim Walden for Iowa State’s season finale at Colorado on Nov. 19 because he had criticized officials, breaking a league rule prohibiting such comments. The league also fined Iowa State $5,000. If the suspension stands, Iowa State’s home game with No. 1 Nebraska on Saturday will be Walden’s last. He announced last week he will resign at the end of the season.