McPherson Is Target of Probe

A gambling investigation at Florida State centers on former Seminole quarterback Adrian McPherson, who was kicked off the team last month after he was accused of stealing a check.

University Vice President John Carnaghi said Thursday that police “are investigating rumors and hearsay regarding a single, former football player, Adrian McPherson. The investigation does not currently extend to any other student-athletes at FSU.”

McPherson’s lawyer, Grady Irvin Jr., said his client has never bet on a sporting event. McPherson started four games, going 3-1.

“We will not participate in this unbelievable rumor that is being fueled by persons known, persons unknown and a salivating media,” Irvin said.

Concerned about rumors of on-campus gambling, Florida State asked for assistance last month from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The agency assigned members of its Tallahassee office along with investigators from its seven regional offices to assist. After a four-week investigation, no other students or athletes have been implicated.

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John L. Smith said becoming coach at Michigan State was “like a dream come true.” The manner in which he left Louisville was the difficult part.

Smith, 54, signed a six-year contract to coach the Spartans after guiding the Cardinals against Marshall in the GMAC Bowl on Wednesday. Louisville lost, 38-15.

During the game, several Cardinal fans received calls saying Smith might be headed elsewhere. Word trickled to the Louisville bench.

“I come off at halftime and everybody knows,” he said. “It was not pretty and I apologize for that. That was my fault. I’m sorry.”

Smith was in a more jovial mood when asked about the mysterious “L” in his name, saying he would divulge this only once: the L stands for “Lansing.”

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Craig Ochs, a former Colorado quarterback who transferred to Montana, told the Rocky Mountain News that he had a falling out with Gary Barnett after the coach interrupted a team prayer. “He told me he was sick and tired of how I prayed,” Ochs said. Barnett’s reply: “I just felt like we needed a little more pep in our prayer. I went up to him the next day and thought I had explained to him why I did what I did and those sorts of things, but apparently he didn’t take it the same way I meant it.” ... Marshall’s former athletic compliance director, Dave Ridpath, filed a $1-million lawsuit against the school and Coach Bob Pruett, charging the coach with making false statements to NCAA investigators regarding the monitoring of employment of athletes by multimillionaire booster Marshall Reynolds.... East Carolina’s new coach reportedly will be Florida defensive coordinator John Thompson, 47.... Bowling Green promoted offensive coordinator Gregg Brandon, 46, to head coach.... Washington defensive backs coach Bobby Hauck reportedly is set to be named the coach at Montana.... Maine linebacker Stephen Cooper pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of steroids, a misdemeanor.