THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 5, 1996 TAG: 9611050441
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 79 lines
The consensus among Big East football coaches Monday was that everyone warns their players to avoid gambling, but policing it can be virtually impossible.
The issue was a prime topic during the coaches' weekly teleconference in light of the probe Boston College announced Saturday into rumors of gambling involving the Eagles' football team. BC made the announcement two days after being upset 20-13 on Thursday by 11-point underdog Pittsburgh.
``The situation is a very public issue right now, and I'm concerned about the health and welfare of all the players on our football team and all our coaches,'' BC coach Dan Henning said. ``We hope that somehow this comes to some kind of a swift conclusion so we can move on and get ready to play.''
Henning said he has no time frame as to when the university investigation may be completed. The Eagles host Notre Dame on Saturday.
Several Big East coaches said a discussion with their players about gambling is one of their preseason staples.
``Naturally we all cover it,'' West Virginia coach Don Nehlen said. ``I talked about agents the other day, but not about gambling. But I'm going to bring that up tonight.''
Pitt coach Johnny Majors said he saw no indication in film study of the game that anything was awry.
Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni termed the prospect of gamblers' tainting a player's performance ``very disturbing.''
``These parlay cards are a pain in the neck, because they're everywhere in America - on every college campus, in every corporation, they're everywhere you go,'' Pasqualoni said. ``Some of it is harmless, but some of it is stuff you've got to be concerned about. I don't know how you handle it.''
Said Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer: ``When you're responsible for kids and you're not around them all hours of the day, some things can happen that you really hope wouldn't.''
ECU QB QUESTIONABLE: East Carolina may be without career passing leader Marcus Crandell on Saturday when it plays at Virginia Tech (7 p.m., ESPN2). Crandell suffered a strained medial collateral ligament in the first half of ECU's victory over Arkansas State last Saturday.
``Marcus is sore, he's real sore,'' Pirates coach Steve Logan said Monday. ``He came out Sunday and threw. We'll have to see how it goes. It'll be day-to-day. They don't know how much of it is a bruise and how much is strained.''
Logan said backup Dan Gonzalez will get increased repetitions in practice this week, and if Crandell is unable to go, the Pirates will not change anything offensively.
``Certainly if he doesn't play, that's a factor because he's a great player,'' Beamer said.
PUNTING WOES: West Virginia's problems with the punting game continue.
Two weeks ago, the Mountaineers lost to Miami when they had a punt blocked and run in for a touchdown in the closing seconds of the game. Saturday, West Virginia was routed by Syracuse, which blocked two punts and ran back another for a touchdown.
``It's enough to drive me crazy,'' Nehlen said. ``I was telling our coaches yesterday if they knew (Dr. Jack) Kevorkian's number, to give it to me. We've had seven punts blocked; I don't think I've had seven blocked total in 17 years of coaching here before this. I'm starting to go to sleep at night with punt formations in my head.''
Nehlen said the Mountaineers worked so hard on punting after the Miami game that the problem has become mental.
``They're trying too hard,'' he said.
Virginia Tech, which has blocked five punts in seven games, must be salivating for the chance to go after Mountaineers punts Nov. 23.
QUICK HITS: Henning has suspended receiver Steve Everson for refusing to enter the Pitt game. Henning said Everson has since spurned two offers to meet with the coaches to discuss the matter. . . . Pitt has three wins and games remaining with Notre Dame and Rutgers. If the Panthers can beat Rutgers, they would finish with four wins and probably be in fifth place in the conference, both of which would mark their best season in Majors' second go-round as the head coach. . . . Miami is off this week before hosting Virginia Tech on Nov. 16. by CNB