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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 30, 1990)
The Battalion 7 : riday, November 30, 1990 Sports Editor Nadja Sabawala 845-2688 NCAA decision allows UNLY to defend national title LAS VEGAS (AP) — The NCAA md UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian ettled a 13-year battle Thursday vith a compromise that allows the hinnin’ Rebels to defend their na- ional basketball title. “Historically, we ended today the 13 years of litigation between Jerry Tarkanian and the NCAA,” UNLV president Robert Maxson told a ammed news conference. “All court ulings are history.” Maxson’s comments came as he innounced the university would ac- :ept a penalty offered by the NCAA hat will ban the Runnin’ Rebels rom postseason play in 1991-92 and teep them off of live television that linale ;on r In exchange, the NCAA agreed to overturn its ban on UNLV. The penalty accepted by UNLV was one of two offered by the NCAA. The other alternative was that Tarkanian would sit out this season’s playoffs and his team would sit out the 1991-92 playoffs. “We thought both proposals were very fair,” Maxson said. “There were no penalties against the national champions in any way.” In making the unprecedented re versal, the NCAA all but conceded that some players became innocent victims of the 13-year battle. But it also noted that Tarkanian had a hand in dragging it out. “In many infractions cases, it is the unfortunate fact that the exis tence of NCAA violations cannot be established until several years after their occurrence,” the committee said. It blamed the delay on “liti gation on the part of the university’s head coach, which ultimately was unsuccessful in restraining the NCAA from implementing this pen alty.” A crowd of secretaries and stu dents who jammed an outer office cheered as Maxson announced the university had accepted the second alternative. “We regret that next year’s team is not eligible,” Maxson said. “But we felt it was terribly important our na tional champions be allowed to de fend their title.” Tarkanian, who was in Vancou ver, B.C., promoting the team’s Sat urday game against Alabama-Bir- mingham, could not immediately be reached for comment, but issued a statement saying he agreed with the decision. “I am pleased for the kids and fans that we will be allowed to com pete,” he said. “Let’s put these mat ters behind us and look to the season ahead and defending our national championship.” Even as the 13-year saga came to a close, however, more troubled loomed for UNLV’s basketball pro gram with the NCAA. Maxson said an initial report on an investigation involving former prep star Lloyd Daniels is expected in about two weeks. He said the re port has been ready for some time, but was delayed at the request of the school until after resolution of the Tarkanian matter so that the two would not become confused by the same infractions committee that has to hear the Daniels case. “We have absolutely no idea what is in the report,” Maxson said. “Coach Tarkanian says there are no infractions.” Maxson noted the NCAA gave the university 15 days to accept its choice of penalties in return for being able to defend this year’s national championship, and responded “I GOING FOR LUCKY 7 L I A§ S 4 UT dash in Austin i By DOUGLAS PILS Of The Battalion Staff T he coming of winter means many things. But in Aggieland, wintertime’s cue is the annual building of Bonfire, which can mean only one thing: A&M vs. Texas. Never mind the fact the bowl □ A&M linebacker Wil liams may be out/Page 8 ing: alter being volunteers] e at Waite Research i' □ A&M quarterback re turns to Austin/Page 9 games are set. Forget about who beat who or which team owns the best record. All the intangibles go out the window tomorrow at 11:07 a.m., when the 97th rendition of the A&M-UT rivalry kicks off in front of a packed Memorial Stadium in Austin. The game, which already has been sold out, will be televised by CBS. For the third year in a row, the fierce rivalry will have no bearing on the Southwest Conference championsip. Arkansas already had clinched a Cotton Bowl berth the last two years, but this season marks the Longhorns’ return to glory. Last week against Baylor, fifth-ranked Texas sealed its first SWC championship since 1983 with a 23-13 victory. The win improved the Longhorns to 9-1 (7-0 in SWC play). The Aggies (8-2-1,5- T1) have sputtered on occasion this year, and while they won’t make it to the Cotton Bowl, they will play in the Sea World Holiday Bowl on Dec. 29 against fourth- ranked Brigham Young. To think there is notliing left for these two teams to play for, however, is a grave mistake. Texas, with only a loss to No. 1 Colorado and a Cotton Bowl See Lucky 7/Page 8 Call them the Streaks Texas A&M's attempt at a school record seventh Straight win over Texas on Saturday shouldn't be easy. It rarely is when the two teams lock horns. Last year, a pre game brawl (above, right) erupted when Texas players be gan taunting A&M during "The Spirit of Aggieland." UT sophomore quarterback Peter Gardere (right) has led the Longhorns to a 9-1 record, while A&M starter Bucky Richardson (far right) presents many problems to opposing defenses with his scrambling ability. One of Richardson's most reliable receivers is Gary Oli- P. EBENHACK/The Battalion HUY THANH NGUYEN/The Battalion all-time leading rusher, and needs 138 yards against Texas to break the 5,000-yard career mark. -stem of 1 - )|e to fig” 1 latent blew bo* •ni and fu|' Arthur J clinical « id. can assure you we won’t wait 15 days.” UNLV had offered the NCAA four alternative sanctions, which in volved various combinations of Tar kanian sitting out this year’s playoffs and next, or limiting recruiting and television appearances. “Coach Tarkanian emphasized he would do what he had to do to let his kids play in the tournament. I give him 100 percent of the credit. Those were self-imposed penalties. Coach Tarkanian has told us all year that he has a very special relationship with these players. He put his money where his mouth is.” Davis expects Ags’ rebound in tournament From Staff and Wire Reports HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Mar shall coach Dwight Freeman didn’t know what to expect before the Thundering Herd opened its season with a two-game west ern road trip. He still doesn’t. Marshall ex hibited a split personality in going 0-2 on the swing through Kermjt Davjs Jr the Rockies, fighting hard in a 96-91 overtime loss at Wyoming, then falling flat in a 79-49 loss at Colorado State. “I was semi-satisfied,” Freeman said. “I think they did a good job against Wyoming. They came out and played hard. Against Colorado State, I don’t think they had the same intensity, and I think that may have been because of the long road trip.” Marshall returns home this week end for the Marshall Memorial Invi tational tournament. Texas A&M (1- 2) plays Robert Morris (0-2) in Fri day’s first game, while Marshall (0-2) meets Mercer (0-1) in the nightcap. The consolation and championship games are scheduled Saturday night. Texas A&M, under new coach Kermit Davis, is coming off an 81-65 home court loss to No. 18 Oklahoma on Wednesday, while Robert Morris lost Tuesday night at West Virginia 81-71. “This is a very important game for us,” Davis said. “It’ll be interesting to see if we can bounce back from an emotional loss to Oklahoma. I think we’ll play well and with a lot of cha racter.” Former UT coach Akers leaves Purdue WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Purdue football coach Fred Ak ers, who didn’t have a winning sea son in four years, resigned Thurs day after the Boilermakers finished with a school-record nine losses. Athletic direc tor George King cited declining attendance in each of Akers’ four years and problems with player discipline 'red Akers as the reasons for a coachint “It’s a sad day for us,” Al accompanied by his wife, Diana. “The things that were a concern to our administration were things that I didn’t feel I could do a great deal about.” Akers, however, said he was not forced to resign. “I have a choice. Sometimes deci sions you make are very difficult,” he said, adding that he made up his mind on Wednesday. Akers said a rape complaint filed Nov. 15 by a high school girl against S iuarterback Eric Hunter did not af- ect his decision to quit. No charges have been filed against Hunter. “We’re all going to learn sooner or later that there’s nothing to that,” he said. Under Akers, Purdue finished this season 2-9, the first time the team lost nine games in a season. He had a 12-31-1 record in four years, including a 9-23 in the Big Ten Con ference. His best year was 1988, when the Boilermakers finished 4-7 and were sixth in the Big Ten with a 3-5 re cord. King said the remaining four ears of Akers’ contract would be ught out. He receives a base salary that is reported to be $125,000 a year. Akers 1 _52 J said he would seek a me**#** £