Nebraska Lineman Is Charged With Assault

Nebraska offensive lineman Darren DeLone was charged with aggravated assault and battery for injuring a member of Oklahoma’s spirit group before last week’s Oklahoma-Nebraska game in Norman, Okla.

An arrest warrant was issued Friday for DeLone, accused of driving his helmet into the face of Oklahoma student Adam Merritt, the Cleveland County district attorney’s office said.

The charge against DeLone carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Nebraska spokeswoman Chris Anderson said the university was cooperating with authorities.

“Our coaches and players have given their statements to authorities and we have now put our faith in the judicial system,” she said. “All those involved with the University of Nebraska athletic department and its football team are sorry the young man was injured.”

Merritt lost two teeth in the encounter.

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University of Colorado officials have agreed with the state auditor’s office to review transactions involving the athletic department, some of which appear to be in violation of NCAA rules.

At the heart of the matter is Coach Gary Barnett’s summer football camp. The Denver Post reported that a small group of boosters had paid thousands of dollars to bank accounts controlled by Barnett through his association with the camp.

The donors, who call themselves the Dear Old CU Fund, paid more than $200,000 since 1998 to accounts set up for instruction camps first run by former coach Rick Neuheisel and now run by Barnett, the Post reported. The university was not aware of the fund’s existence. Colorado has reported the incident to the NCAA.

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Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson said that Steve Spurrier was not guaranteed a membership at the home of the Masters if he became the coach at South Carolina.

Holtz, who is expected to retire at the end of the season to make way for Spurrier, is a member at Augusta National. Johnson was a fullback in the early 1950s for the Gamecocks.

“To state or imply that a membership at Augusta National Golf Club would be linked to any job or position is completely false,” Johnson said.

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Purdue’s Taylor Stubblefield and Marshall’s Josh Davis enter today’s games with 295 career receptions. The NCAA record is held by Arnold Jackson of Louisville, who had 300 catches from 1997 to 2000. Purdue plays host to Indiana and Marshall plays host to Western Michigan....Defensive end Joe Rudulph and receiver Anthony Wheat-Brown are among four Oregon State players suspended for today’s game against Oregon. The players were involved in an altercation last week.

Baylor will start freshman Terrance Parks today at quarterback against Oklahoma. Parks replaces Shawn Bell, who broke his hand last week. The Bears also will be without leading receiver Dominique Zeigler, who is among five players suspended by Coach Guy Morriss for violating unspecified team rules.... Georgia Tech running back P.J. Daniels has a bruised knee and is not expected to start today against Virginia but could play. His backup, Chris Woods, is out because of a bad hamstring. Freshman Rashaun Grant is expected to start.... ESPN.com reported that Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks was backing offensive coordinator Ron Hudson and that Brooks’ refusal to replace Hudson could cost Brooks his job.