Minnesota President Issues Call

The president of the University of Minnesota wants two months to investigate accusations of academic fraud in the basketball program.

Mark Yudof, speaking to the Senate Higher Education Budget Division in St. Paul, Minn., called the matter “very serious business,” but said it was too early to elaborate on the investigation.

“The most critical thing is to do the right thing,” Yudof said.

The university declared four players ineligible before Thursday’s first-round NCAA tournament game against Gonzaga pending the outcome of an inquiry. With only eight players left, the Golden Gophers lost, 75-63.

The Saint Paul Pioneer Press reported the accusations Wednesday. A former university employee told the newspaper she had done course work for at least 20 basketball players from 1993 to 1998.

Yudof told the committee, which controls higher education funding, that an outside law firm would be brought in to investigate. He said he did not know how much the inquiry would cost.

*

Saint Louis University has asked permission to talk to New Mexico Coach Dave Bliss about its head coaching job.

Bliss, whose team is playing in the West Regional in Denver, would not say whether he would oblige Saint Louis, a member of Conference USA.

“I don’t even talk about that. We’ll wait until the end of the season. I’m just trying to keep the job I have. We’re just coaching basketball,” Bliss said.

Saint Louis is searching for a replacement for Charlie Spoonhour, who announced his retirement a week ago. Spoonhour, 59, had a 122-90 record in seven seasons with the Billikens.

New Mexico Athletic Director Rudy Davalos said he did not think Bliss would be interested in going to Saint Louis.

*

Georgia is searching for a coach, and only those with head coaching experience need apply.

Athletic Director Vince Dooley dismissed Ron Jirsa on Thursday after two seasons, one day after Georgia closed a disappointing 15-15 season with a 77-57 loss to Clemson in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

The Bulldogs lost 11 of their final 14 games, sealing Jirsa’s fate by closing out with a four-game losing streak. He had a two-year record of 35-30.

Dooley made a point to say he will only pursue candidates who are proven winners as head coaches. Jirsa had no head coaching experience at any level when he was picked to succeed Tubby Smith in 1997.

Among those being mentioned in the media as possible candidates are Buzz Peterson of Appalachian State, Steve Alford of Southwest Missouri State, Mike Bray of Delaware, Tommy Amaker of Seton Hall and Leonard Hamilton of Miami. Another candidate who doesn’t fit Dooley’s head-coaching requirement is Quin Snyder, the top assistant for No. 1 Duke.

“We’ll be talking with everyone in the industry,” Dooley said. “We’ve already had some conversations and we’ll have some more. I would certainly like to have someone in place by April,” before the national signing day.