USC Basketball Assistant Leaving for Job at Iowa State

USC assistant basketball coach Damon Archibald is leaving the Trojans for a similar position with Iowa State and new Cyclone coach Wayne Morgan, a former head coach at Long Beach State.

“It’s an offer that’s hard to refuse, especially with the respect I have for Wayne Morgan and the priority that basketball has with the administration of the university and the city and state,” said Archibald, who is traveling to Ames today.

Archibald, who was at USC for three seasons, was primarily responsible for defensive schemes and had picked up recruiting duties of late, helping to secure commitments this spring from highly regarded juniors Gabriel Pruitt and Robert Swift.

-- Paul Gutierrez

Jurisprudence

A jury could not reach a verdict Thursday in the gambling case of former Florida State quarterback Adrian McPherson and will try again today.

After nearly seven hours of deliberation, the six jurors sent a note to Judge Tim Harley notifying him that they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

Harley then called them into the courtroom and asked them to return today. He also said he would provide a transcript of testimony the jury requested from two of McPherson’s boyhood friends, who said the athlete placed illegal bets over the Internet on college and pro games.

Earlier Thursday, testimony by Florida State football Coach Bobby Bowden prompted a request for a mistrial, but Harley denied the motion.

Bowden testified that he had heard rumors McPherson was gambling in June 2002, but an investigation found nothing.

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The sexual molestation civil suit brought against Compton Dominguez High boys’ basketball Coach Russell Otis by a former player has been dropped.

In return, Conrad Kohrs, Otis’ attorney, agreed to dismiss his cross-complaint for defamation and malicious prosecution. A jury had acquitted Otis in April 2001 of criminal charges including sodomy and oral copulation with a victim under 18.

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Super Bowl star Michael Pittman was charged with aggravated assault, accused of ramming a car carrying his wife, their son and a baby sitter.

The Tampa Bay running back, who was charged Tuesday, faces a preliminary hearing June 16 on the two counts, the county attorney’s office said.

Colleges

Longtime Georgia Athletic Director Vince Dooley was unable to secure a contract extension from school President Michael Adams and will leave his job next year.

Miami, Syracuse and Boston College may want to join the Atlantic Coast Conference sooner than expected, a potential snag in the proposed expansion plans.

An ACC source said that the Big East schools expressed interest in joining the ACC after next season instead of in 2005. Two other ACC sources confirmed the development.

The expansion might result in legal action by the five remaining Big East football schools. A source in the Connecticut state government said state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal may take legal action on behalf of Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.

Changes to the three-point line and free-throw lane would be delayed until the 2004-05 college basketball season under a revised recommendation by the NCAA men’s and women’s rules committees.

The Pacific 10 Conference will pay $225,000 to Washington State to partially cover the Cougars’ losses from last season’s Rose Bowl. Washington State had asked for relief from $538,000 in debts. The school contended the late date in which the Cougars learned they would be playing in the game, Dec. 7, and the economy kept ticket sales low.

Miscellany

Mario Lemieux, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ owner and star, was pessimistic about the team’s future in the city if it can’t secure financial backing for a new $270-million arena.

Lemieux said he feels “betrayed” by the lack of support city and county leaders have given efforts to build an arena to replace 42-year-old Mellon Arena -- the oldest and second-smallest venue in the NHL.

“This franchise is a free agent in 2007. I hope they understand that,” Lemieux said.

The Penguins’ lease at Mellon Arena will have expired by that time.

Quarterback Jim Druckenmiller was released by the Indianapolis Colts, ending his NFL comeback after a three-year layoff.... Pittsburgh Steeler first-round draft pick Troy Polamalu of USC sat out coaching sessions this week because of a strained hamstring, the same injury that troubled the safety throughout his senior season.

Airton Dare broke his right arm and right leg when his car slammed twice into the wall and spun out of control during an Indy Racing League practice session at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

Teammates Tomas Scheckter and Scott Dixon will start on the front row Saturday night in the Bombardier 500.