NCAA Investigates Georgia Program

The Georgia football program has come under the scrutiny of the NCAA, which says Frank Orgel, a former assistant, told a recruit last year that he would be paid $7,500 upon signing a letter of intent, $500 a month while enrolled and would have the use of an automobile while in school.

The NCAA charges, revealed Thursday by the university, also involve a youth sports organizer, Dan Calloway of Riviera Beach, Fla., who allegedly represented Georgia in dealings with athletes and improperly provided cash, meals and airline tickets.

Calloway also has been linked to Michigan State violations.

“He has no Georgia ties whatsoever, but there’s no question he has some schools he likes more than others,” said Vince Dooley, Georgia’s athletic director.

Through his lawyer, Orgel denied the charges.

Orgel and most of the other assistants were fired when Coach Jim Donnan took over.

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The NCAA is investigating the recruiting practices of the Weber State men’s basketball program, including allegations Coach Ron Abegglen gave cash to at least one player and had another bailed out of jail.

The NCAA’s notice of inquiry, released by the school, listed eight alleged “major” violations.

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The University of Louisville has received an injunction prohibiting Conference USA from expelling the school because of a dispute over adding East Carolina and Army to the league for football only.

Pro Football

A memo from Seattle Seahawk attorney Daniel Van Voorhiss, dated July 25, 1995, to club President David Behring indicates the team was exploring a move to Southern California as early as July 1995, almost six months before owner Ken Behring said a seismic study indicated that it would be unsafe to play in the Kingdome.

Ken Behring has since sold an option to buy the team to Seattle businessman Paul Allen.

Willie Williams, a restricted free agent cornerback who led the AFC with seven interceptions last season, accepted the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offer of $785,000.

Jurisprudence

The jury received the case in the manslaughter trial of Seattle Seahawk receiver Brian Blades in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., deliberating four hours without reaching a decision.

Blades, 30, claims the July 5, 1995, shooting of his cousin, Charles Blades, was an accident.

Sekou Sanyika, a highly regarded freshman linebacker at California, has been implicated in a June 1 strong-armed robbery with Edward T. Lambert, 18, who has accepted a football scholarship at San Jose State.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Isaiah Rider spent a night in jail but was released after rape allegations in Oakland against him “didn’t pan out” because of conflicting evidence, police said.

Greg Pinkney, a Texas Tech assistant basketball coach, was indicted on an aggravated assault count after a May 21 fight in a Lubbock restaurant and bar.

Basketball

The Fila Summer Pro Basketball League will run July 6-28 at Long Beach State’s Pyramid. Ten NBA teams--including the Lakers and Clippers--will enter teams. Also entered are the Chinese Olympic team and national teams from Japan and Finland. Three to five games are scheduled daily. Ticket information: (310) 985-4949.

Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va., will play host to the final two rounds of the first women’s basketball preseason National Invitation Tournament, Nov. 19-20.

Tennis

Stefan Edberg, seeded 14th and tuning up for his final Wimbledon appearance, beat fourth-seeded Goran Ivanisevic, 6-7 (7-3), 6-2, 7-6 (7-4), to reach the quarterfinals of the Queen’s Club grass-court tournament in London.

Top-seeded Thomas Muster, No. 2 Boris Becker and Michael Stich reached the quarterfinals with straight-set victories.

Fourth-seeded Francisco Clavet of Spain was eliminated in a second-round match by Italy’s Stefano Pescosolido, 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), and sixth-seeded Hernan Gumy sailed through to the quarterfinals in the Maia Open-Oporto Cup in Portugal.

Top-seeded Brenda Schultz-McCarthy beat Gloria Pizzichini of Italy, 6-7 (7-4), 6-3, 6-3), and No. 2 Nathalie Tauziat beat Gigi Fernandez, 7-5, 6-2, to advance to the quarterfinals of the DFS Classic grass-court tournament in Birmingham, England.

Dutchmen Richard Krajicek and Paul Haarhuis won second-round matches in Rosmalen, Netherlands, and will meet in the quarterfinals of the Heineken Open grass-court tournament.

Soccer

Romania became the first team eliminated from the European Championship, losing to Bulgaria, 1-0, when an apparent game-tying goal by Dorinel Munteanu was disallowed by the referee. In Thursday’s other game, the Netherlands beat Switzerland, 2-0, on goals by Jordi Cruyff and Dennis Bergkamp.

South Korea would have defeated Japan, 15-6, in a vote for the 2002 World Cup had FIFA President Joao Havelange not intervened to let the two countries be co-hosts, according to a high-ranking sports official.

Golf

Larry Mowry shot a four-under-par 66 for a one-stroke lead over Tom Wargo, Bob Leaver, Bob Dickson and Harry Toscano in the opening round of the Canadian Senior Open in Lancaster, Ontario.

Names in the News

Neil Smith, the New York Ranger president and general manager, agreed to terms on a multiyear contract extension with the club, terms of which were not announced. . . . John Winkin, who led Maine to the College World Series six times in his 22 years at the school but struggled for success in recent years, was fired.