Barnett, Other Coaches Ask That Neuheisel Be Punished

On the same day that Washington football Coach Rick Neuheisel acknowledged violating an NCAA recruiting rule, four rival coaches asked that the punishment be severe.

Gary Barnett, who succeeded Neuheisel as coach at Colorado last month, said Wednesday he joined Colorado State’s Sonny Lubick, Washington State’s Mike Price and Oregon’s Mike Bellotti in signing a letter “protesting what the punishment might be for Washington.”

Barnett said the group “petitioned the NCAA to make this punishment fit the crime, because it won’t. They’ll get their hands slapped and they’ll be reinstated. That’s just the way it’s done. I just think that’s ridiculous.”

Neuheisel acknowledged that Washington assistant coaches were in the homes of four prospects on Sunday, in violation of an NCAA ban on in-home recruiting visits. The school turned itself in to the Pacific 10 Conference because of the infractions.

“All four of us lost kids that day to Washington,” Barnett said. “And that rule is a pretty well-known rule. It’s not a new rule.”

The rule has been in effect since 1995.

A potentially more serious charge could result from Barnett’s suggestion that Neuheisel tampered with the Buffaloes’ roster by phoning some of his former players. Neuheisel labeled that charge as false, saying he merely said goodbye to some of his former athletes.

Colorado plays at Washington on Sept. 25.

The bitter split between Auburn and former football coach Terry Bowden, who resigned in midseason, neared closure with the two parties reaching a settlement that will pay Bowden $620,000 and includes a lakeside home and two cars. As part of the settlement, Bowden and his wife, Shyrl, agreed to not criticize Auburn.

It was also reported that the university is trying to get out of playing Florida State in on Sept. 2. The game was to be a father-son showdown between Terry Bowden and his father, Bobby, the Florida State coach.

Baseball

The Major League Players’ Assn. has filed a grievance on behalf of reliever Xavier Hernandez, who signed a $250,000, one-year contract with Houston after Baltimore voided his $2.7-million, two-year deal, claiming the 33-year-old right-hander flunked a physical. Arbitrator Richard Bloch is scheduled to hear arguments May 17-18. . . . The Cleveland Indians signed Wil Cordero to a one-year contract. Cordero became a free agent when the Chicago White Sox failed to pick up his 1999 contract option worth $2 million. . . . The Houston Astros agreed to a three-year contract with left-handed closer Billy Wagner. Terms were not disclosed, but Wagner was seeking $3.3 million and the team was offering $2 million. . . . The New York Mets, who have switched flagship TV stations, going from WWOR to WPIX, have replaced commentator Tim McCarver with Tom Seaver. McCarver remains the Fox network’s lead baseball commentator.

Jurisprudence

Mike Tyson will be sentenced Friday for attacking two men after a traffic accident last August in Gaithersburg, Md., and could face jail time or home detention.

The two victims, Abmielec Saucedo and Richard Hardick, who were paid an undisclosed amount to avoid a civil suit, will be present and ready to testify if necessary on Tyson’s behalf.

Tyson’s attorney Paul Kemp, will ask for probation.

Douglas Gansler, a new prosecutor, is seeking a stiffer sentence. In a memorandum to the judge, Gansler called Tyson a “bully” who committed “road rage.” But because of a no-contest plea agreement, Gansler cannot ask the judge to put Tyson in jail.

Lawrence Taylor testified in Camden, N.J., that his signature was forged on bogus bank papers submitted by his onetime business partner and attorney, Alfred Porro Jr., who is on trial for fraud. Taylor is hoping to avoid going to jail with his testimony against Porro and his wife, Joan.

Taylor, 39, pleaded guilty to filing a false 1990 tax return and failing to report $48,000 in income from the now-closed restaurant, L.T. Sports Pub. His tax problems surfaced in the investigation of the Porros, who were indicted in December 1996 on embezzlement, money laundering, bank fraud and tax evasion charges.

Horse Racing

Riding for the first time after about 15 months off because of weight and personal problems, jockey Chris Antley had a less-than-memorable return at Santa Anita. Antley finished last on longshot Cherry Moon in the third race, then was disqualified from second to fourth on A Lady From Dixie in the fourth.

Miscellany

Voting on a compromise proposal drafted by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, both houses of the Pennsylvania legislature passed a plan that would provide about $320 million to help pay for four new stadiums for the Phillies and Eagles of Philadelphia and the Pirates and Steelers of Pittsburgh.