Ohio State Finds No Problems

Ohio State investigators found no evidence of academic misconduct by suspended tailback Maurice Clarett or other athletes.

President Karen Holbrook said Wednesday that a committee did not discover any instances of athletes’ receiving inappropriate help from tutors or preferential treatment by professors.

A committee was formed to review athletes’ academic performances after the New York Times reported in July that Clarett passed a class in 2002 by taking two oral exams.

Clarett, who led the Buckeyes to a national title last season, was suspended this year for accepting money from a family friend and lying about it to investigators.

Chemistry professor Matthew Platz, who led the school’s investigation, said the NCAA reviewed the committee’s report and indicated it will not take action.

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Sports Illustrated will appeal a judge’s order that it reveal confidential sources for an article that led to Mike Price’s firing as Alabama’s coach.

The challenge came two days before a court-imposed deadline for Sports Illustrated to hand over material to Price, who is seeking $20 million from publisher Time Inc.

A federal judge ruled last week that an Alabama law protecting newspaper, television and radio reporters from being forced to reveal their sources does not extend to reporters for magazines.

Sports Illustrated said it disagreed with U.S. District Judge Lynwood Smith’s “narrow reading of the Alabama shield law.”

“The reporter’s privilege is vital to all journalistic enterprises including magazines,” the magazine said. “This decision jeopardizes Sports Illustrated’s, and all magazines’, ability to engage in investigative journalism.”

The magazine said it was asking the judge to delay the deadline for compliance while the appeal was heard.

Price’s attorney, Steve Heninger, said he was not surprised with the challenge, but had not seen the appeal.

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Colorado State quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt plans to play in the San Francisco Bowl five weeks after he underwent surgery Nov. 24 for a broken bone in his right hand.

It was unclear whether Van Pelt would be at full strength for the Dec. 31 game against Boston College. He probably will not participate in full drills in practice for several days.

“The hand’s coming along really well,” the senior said this week. “It’s just something I’ll have to fight through. The thing I’m most concerned about is being able to contribute to my team.”

Van Pelt led the Rams in rushing with 844 yards, but his passing has improved. This season, he threw for 2,682 yards and 18 touchdowns in becoming CSU’s career leader in total offense.

Van Pelt suffered the injury when his index finger became tangled in an opponent’s helmet during the Rams’ regular-season-ending victory at Nevada Las Vegas.

CSU co-offensive coordinator Dan Hammerschmidt said Van Pelt should play in the bowl game. But Hammerschmidt said sophomore Justin Holland, the Rams’ projected starter next season, will also play.

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South Carolina Coach Lou Holtz said that he’s taking over the offense from son Skip.

“I plan on running the offense,” Holtz said.

When asked if Skip would retain the offensive coordinator title, Holtz said, “I’m not able to say anything at this time.”

The Gamecocks finished 5-7, with Holtz firing four assistants after a season-ending 63-17 loss to Clemson.

Skip Holtz has been offensive coordinator since his father took over the program before the 1999 season.

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Arkansas All-American tackle Shawn Andrews has a sinus infection, but that is not the only reason he won’t be playing in the Independence Bowl against Missouri on Dec. 31.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that Andrews, a junior, would have been academically ineligible for the game, so he withdrew from school and will declare himself eligible for the NFL draft.

Coach Houston Nutt said Tuesday that doctors would not clear Andrews to play because of a sinus infection.

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The El Paso Times reported that former Hawaii and Arizona coach Dick Tomey and former Washington State and Alabama coach Mike Price appear to be the finalists to become coach at Texas El Paso.

UCLA offensive coordinator Steve Axman said Tuesday he was out of the running. Former UCLA coach Bob Toledo reportedly has been out of the running since last week.

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CBS said its 14-week package of games averaged a 3.3 rating, up 18% from the 2002 season and the best for the network since 1999 (3.7).

ABC’s games averaged 4.4, down 2% from last year. NBC’s six Notre Dame telecasts averaged 2.4, down 23% from the previous season.

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Mike DeBord resigned as Central Michigan’s coach after a four-year record of 12-34.