Three Oregon State Players Indicted on Assault Charges

A grand jury indicted three Oregon State football players on felony assault charges, the Benton County district attorney announced in Corvallis, Ore.

Receivers Robert Prescott, James Newson and Alton “Junior” Adams were indicted on three charges each for their alleged involvement in a July 22 beating at a Corvallis house party, according to a news release from District Attorney Scott Heiser.

One of the charges carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Prescott, Newson and Adams are accused of beating Victor Becerra, another Oregon State student. He was treated at a hospital for injuries to the face.

Arraignment is set for Sept. 21. All three players are serving a three-game suspension but are allowed to practice with the team.

Oregon State Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart said he and Coach Dennis Erickson will wait until the players’ cases are resolved before deciding whether to extend their punishment.

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Virginia tailback Arlen Harris had left knee surgery to repair torn cartilage and is expected to be out three to four weeks.

Harris started last Saturday’s game against Brigham Young and carried 18 times for 79 yards and one touchdown before being injured in Virginia’s 38-35 overtime loss.

Antwoine Womack, who gained 160 yards in 15 carries and scored a touchdown against the Cougars, will replace Harris as the starter against Richmond today.

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The lucrative bowl business is getting help from public coffers.

Besides money from corporate sponsors, 11 of this season’s 25 postseason games are receiving state or municipal funds totaling nearly $4.5 million, USA Today reported in Friday’s editions.

The total amount of public subsidies channeled to bowl games is expected to increase, according to the newspaper, which said officials of eight other bowl games expect to petition legislators for funding.

“We’re talking about games that generate anywhere from $25 million to well over $100 million of economic impact,” Orange Bowl executive director Keith Trible told the newspaper. “It’s money well spent.”

Not everyone agrees. “Taxpayer subsidies for sports stadiums, teams or even individual events are a total waste,” said Pete Sepps of the National Taxpayers Union. “If the venture in question holds such a great profit potential, then public funding is superfluous.”

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An MRI exam on Tennessee quarterback Joey Mathews’ injured knee found no major problems. Mathews left practice Thursday after feeling a “popping” sensation in his left knee.