Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 27, 1990                   TAG: 9003272193
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RALEIGH, N.C.                                LENGTH: Medium

LAWYER SAYS VALVANO WANTS TO HELP CLEAN UP MESS

"I do feel very strongly there's a chance he will stay," said Woody Webb, a Raleigh lawyer hired by Valvano's attorney in New York. "That's what he wants to do. He's said in the past if he was perceived as part of the problem, he wants to stay on as part of the solution."

He also compared his embattled client to the skipper of the Exxon tanker that spilled gallons of oil into Alaska's pristine Prince William Sound last year.

"Jim Valvano has sort of become the Joseph Hazelwood of athletics in North Carolina. He's been bashed and bashed," Webb said. "He's got his family to take care of and his good name and reputation to protect as well."

Last week, Hazelwood was cleared of all but a misdemeanor charge relating to the spill.

Valvano has been under pressure to resign since one of his former players, Charles Shackleford, admitted accepting $60,000 from two men while he was still a student at N.C. State. Such payments, one of which was from a prospective agent, would have been in violation of NCAA rules.

Some members of the 1987-88 basketball team also have been implicated in point-shaving allegations.

Valvano has not been accused of any wrongdoing in either situation. Nor has he been implicated in the selling of complimentary tickets and sneakers that led to two years' probation for his team.

Webb met 90 minutes Monday with Raleigh attorney Howard Manning, who represents N.C. State, and Andrew Vanore Jr., chief deputy state attorney general.

Webb said he would deliver a written proposal to university attorneys, based on Monday's talks.

Valvano was "guardedly optimistic," he said. "He, of course, wants to continue on at State, and he's willing to do so under rather restrictive conditions. He thinks he's come more than half way to meet objections or expectations of the university."

Manning would not comment on the meeting.

Vanore said: "How well it went will depend on what is resolved. I really can't comment on any of the aspects that were discussed during the meeting."

Webb said the lawyers for the school were "very receptive to all my ideas."

"They didn't give me any ultimatums," Webb said. "I think there will have to be some amendments to the current contract. . . . He may have to take some control over [players' grades] . . . [and] establish certain policies."

Valvano's secretary said the coach was in his office but was not available for comment.

Webb said the university should outline "what precise duties they want him to discharge so there won't be any dashed expectations."

He said the university has been "vague and nebulous" on the role it wants Valvano to take in assuring academic standards are met by his players.

Valvano's contract includes a clause that stipulates one of his duties is to "encourage academic progress, in conjunction with the faculty and university, of student-athletes toward graduation."

"His graduation rate is at least on a par with the graduation rate of N.C. State's student body as a whole," Webb said.

A six-month study of the N.C. State basketball program last year found repeated abuses of academic standards to maintain player eligibility. After hearing similar information presented in a 2 1/2-hour emergency session last week, the university trustees voted 9-3 to seek Valvano's resignation.