Miami of Ohio coaches
suspended by school
Alan Schmadtke
The Orlando Sentinel (KRT)
Always clamoring for attention,
the Mid-American Conference sud
denly has it — though not in the
form it would like.
Two assistant coaches at Miami of
Ohio were suspended with pay by
the school Wednesday, hours after
one was arrested for assault and the
other admitted he had a hand in
wrecking the visitor’s coaching box
at Marshall University Football Sta
dium on Tuesday night. The Red
Hawks fell to Marshall 36-34 in the
final seconds.
After a back judge called the Red
Hawks for two pass-interference
penalties in the end zone — includ
ing one on fourth down — Miami
gave up a 1-yard touchdown run
with 5 seconds left.
On Wednesday afternoon, Miami
suspended defensive coordinator
Jon Wauford and linebackers coach
Taver Johnson with pay. Wauford
was led from the stadium in hand
cuffs after allegedly shoving a Mar
shall fan to the turf. The fan had
come onto the field to celebrate
Marshall’s comeback. Wauford was
arrested on a charge of battery, a
misdemeanor.
In a statement, MAC Commis
sioner Rick Chryst said the league
“greatly” regretted the incident.
“Unfortunately, the great compet
itive and sportsmanlike efforts...
have been overshadowed by this in
cident, and we must collectively
commit ourselves that this never
again happen in the Mid-American
Conference,” said Chryst, whom
wire services reported witnessed
Wauford’s arrest.
"These events suggest
that we've fallen short
of our goal"
James Garland
Miami president
The game was televised national
ly by ESPN.
Wauford was released from jail
early Wednesday after posting
$5,000 bail. A court hearing is
scheduled for Dec. 13.
The fan, Robert Flaugher, 36, was
treated at a hospital and released. He
was among thousands of fans who
stormed the field moments after Mar
shall scored the winning touchdown.
West Virginia State Police said
Wauford shoved Flaugher, who fell
and struck his head on the artificial
turf. He was taken away on a
stretcher with what was diagnosed
as a concussion.
Flaugher’s brother, Todd, said nei
ther he nor his brother used foul or
abusive language toward Miami
players or coaches.
“He was waving goodbye to Mia
mi’s players,” Todd Flaugher said.
“The coach basically hit him with a
forearm. That knocked him flat. His
head definitely hit first on the turf.”
Johnson’s suspension is tied to
damage done to the visiting coach
es box. A desk was ruined, and
chairs were thrown through walls,
school officials said.
“I don’t want to prejudge our in
vestigation,” Miami President James
Garland said. “But I have to tell you,
as president, to see one of my
coaches led away in handcuffs was
one of the most difficult things I’ve
seen since I’ve been here. We justi
fy our support of athletics because
of the message that it sends about
character. These events suggest that
we’ve fallen short of our goal.”
Miami of Ohio said it would pay
for the damage to the coaches box.
© 2002, The Orlando Sentinel (Fla.).
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune
Information Services.
Jude
continued from page 5B
Beavers are planning an expansion
of Reser Stadium.
But does anyone really believe
the Gougs and Beavs can keep up?
Wazzu has a good team once
every five years, and Oregon State
scares up an upset every now and
then, but the Ducks and Huskies
have been and will be constants.
They have the money, they have the
facilities, they control the propagan
da (as Rick Neuheisel pointed out).
Oregon and Washington just have
it. They just need the win to have it all.
Which is why this game, the battle
on the field, is more important than
just this season’s conference standing?
or the December bowl placement.
It’s hard to fathom, but this one
game will decide the next four or
five years for these programs, main
ly because of recruiting possibilities.
Rightfully so, Washington’s
Neuheisel and Oregon’s Mike Bellot
ti have butted heads in the past over
recruiting. Neuheisel charged that
Bellotti was a dirty recruiter after
two recruits backed out of Seattle
and came to Eugene.
That’s only part of it.
On the field Saturday, Oregon’s de
fensive secondary — battered from
getting picked on all season, and now
coping with injuries to safety Keith
Lewis and comer Aaron Gipson —
has to counter the best passing game
in the Pac-10. Cody Pickett to Reggie
Williams has become an art in Seat
tle. Picket to Williams. Repeat. And
again. And again.
Off the field, the Huskies have to
cope with Oregon’s public relations
buzz, which ranks atop the Pac-10,
if not the country. That includes an
other billboard. And another. Any
one seen a poster in Seattle yet?
You have to admire the Cougars
and Beavers of the world — the hard
workers, the underrated over
achievers — but you have to bow
down to the real powers.
The ones with the money.
Contact the senior sports reporter
at adamjude@dailyemerald.com.
015361
Beat
the
Dawss
and send
them back
to their
kennel!
The store for any budget
15% off
for one time purchase only (show student ID)
HOURS: mon-sat 11-6, sun 12-4
1510 Coburg Road • 685-0335
_in breezeway near Safeway _
| Your Community Soccer Source
rOCKLER'S
Ice Cream and Coffee Parlour
WEEKLY SPECIALS:
Tuesday- Hot Fudge Sundaes
Friday- Euphoria Ultra
Chocolate Sundaes
19th & Agate St.
Open Daily
12-1 lP.M.
COLLEGE ID
REQUIRED
NOT VALID
WITH ANY
OTHER OFFER
ALL COLLEGE
IDS
ACCEPTED
2 PIZZAS
MAX PER I.D.
COLLEGE STUDENT
SPECIAL
(no coupon required)
OFF
ANY LARGE PIZZA
FREE DELIVERY 1809 Franklin Blvd. 484-2799
| Sun.-Thu. Ham-Midnight Fri.-Sat. 11am-1am