COLLEGES
NCAA adds to UNC case
After waiting eight months to find out how the NCAA would revise its list of charges tied to the North Carolina’s long-running academic fraud scandal, the school is in similar position it was before. UNC still faces five serious charges that include lack of institutional control. The governing body added a charge that the school failed to sufficiently monitor its academic support program for athletes in the latest Notice of Allegations released by the school Monday afternoon. The NCAA said the university also failed to properly oversee the formerly named African and Afro-American Studies department that featured irregular courses as the heart of the scandal. No coaches were cited for a violation, but all charges are potential top-level counts. The document used to specify violations is similar to a version sent last May in the multi-year case. It also included violations by a women’s basketball adviser for providing improper assistance on research papers. But the NCAA removed a charge of school athletes receiving improper benefits through access to problem AFAM courses between 2002 and 2011. That included a reference to 10 athletes exceeding a 12-hour school limit of independent study credits countable toward graduation due to the problem AFAM courses. It also removed a reference in the institutional-control charge that mentioned counselors using the courses to help keep at-risk athletes eligible “particularly” in football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball. NCAA spokesman Emily James declined to comment on pending or potential investigations in an email Monday. The new notice stems from UNC reporting additional violations after receiving the first NOA in August. North Carolina discovered more examples of athletes receiving improper assistance from women’s basketball adviser Jan Boxill and possible recruiting violations in men’s soccer, sparking another NCAA’s investigation that continued through the men’s basketball team’s run through the NCAA Tournament. UNC again has 90 days to respond — which is often the point when schools self-impose penalties if they choose to do so — then the enforcement staff would have 60 days to respond to UNC’s filing. That would ultimately lead to a hearing with the infractions committee and a ruling that could come weeks to months afterward.
FOOTBALL
Bradford asks for trade
ESPN reported Monday that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford would not attend the team’s voluntary workouts until he is traded. But the Eagles aren’t considering trading Bradford, 29, General Manager Howie Roseman said on Comcast SportsNet on Monday. “I want to reiterate our support for Sam Bradford and go back to our statements last week — that Sam is our starting quarterback,” Roseman said. “His agent and Sam know how we feel about him. These workouts are voluntary. We look forward to seeing Sam again in the near future.” Philadelphia hasn’t granted agent Tom Condon permission to shop the quarterback. Bradford signed a two-year, $36 million contract less than two months ago. But the only parts of Bradford’s salary that are fully guaranteed are this year’s salary ($7 million) and a signing bonus ($11 million).
Former Nebraska defensive back Joe Blahak, a member of the Cornhuskers’ national championship teams in 1970-1971, has died. Roper & Sons Funeral Home in Lincoln, Neb., confirmed Blahak’s death Monday. He was 65. The native of Columbus, Neb., was best known for throwing a key block to clear the way for Johnny Rodgers’ 72-yard punt return for a touchdown in the 1971 “Game of the Century” against Oklahoma. Some observers believe Blahak’s block actually was a clip, but no penalty was called and the Huskers won 35-31. Blahak was named All-Big Eight in 1971-1972 and selected by Houston in the eighth round of the 1973 NFL dDraft. He played for four teams over five seasons and later worked in the insurance business in Lincoln.
BASKETBALL
Indiana guard to draft
Indiana guard James Blackmon Jr. said he will enter the NBA Draft but will not hire an agent. That means the 6-4, 195-pound sophomore could return to school next season. Blackmon considered entering the draft after averaging 15.7 points and 5.3 rebounds as a freshman but decided to stay at Indiana. Last season, he averaged 15.8 points in the first 13 games before missing the last 22 games with a right knee injury that required surgery. Coach Tom Crean issued a statement Monday saying that Blackmon is trying to get the “most complete” evaluation possible.
A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed Monday that Dave Rice, a former UNLV coach and player, has been hired as an assistant at Nevada for Eric Musselman. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the school had not officially announced the hire. Rice was a member of the Runnin’ Rebels’ 1990 national championship team and spent five seasons coaching at his alma mater before being fired in January after a 9-7 start. Rice went 98-54 at UNLV and left Las Vegas with the third-most victories in program history. He led the Runnin’ Rebels to the NCAA Tournament his first two seasons, but they missed the tournament the past three seasons. Nevada finished 24-14 and won the College Basketball Invitational championship.
FOOTBALL
Manziel expected to be indicted today
DALLAS — Johnny Manziel is expected to be indicted today on allegations that he attacked his ex-girlfriend in January, an attorney for the troubled former NFL quarterback said Monday.
Robert Hinton told The Associated Press that prosecutors have notified him they expect a local grand jury to sign off on a misdemeanor assault charge for family violence for Manziel, 23. The Class A misdemeanor carries up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
Hinton, a longtime Dallas defense attorney with ties to the district attorney’s office, said he expected a judge to set a bond soon after today’s indictment and that Manziel would then present himself for booking. He said there have not yet been any discussions about reaching a deal to end the case before trial.
Brittany Dunn, a spokesman for the Dallas County district attorney’s office, previously declined to confirm media reports Monday that Manziel had been indicted. Prosecutors announced last week that they had presented a misdemeanor assault case against Manziel.
An indictment would further imperil Manziel’s chances of playing pro football. He was cut by the Cleveland Browns, dropped by two agents and no longer has endorsements.
His indictment stems from allegations by his ex-girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, who alleges that he accosted her at a Dallas hotel and later struck her when they drove back to her apartment in Fort Worth. Crowley was granted a protective order that requires Manziel to not see her for two years, stay at least 500 feet from her home and place of work, and pay $12,000 in legal fees.
Crowley alleged she and Manziel had a confrontation in the hotel room that eventually continued downstairs to the valet station. She said he forced her into a car and a valet disregarded her pleas for help. The two eventually drove to where her car was parked in front of a Dallas bar, she said in an affidavit. She said Manziel got into the driver’s seat and began to drive. Crowley said Manziel stopped when she tried to jump out of the car, but then he dragged her back inside and hit her.
She also said in the affidavit that Manziel threatened to kill himself as he drove her back to Fort Worth, about 30 miles west of Dallas, where police were called.