ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, November 14, 1996 TAG: 9611140040
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BOSTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
Boston College cornerback Kiernan Speight, accused but exonerated in the gambling scandal that led to the suspension of 13 teammates, said Wednesday he will not return to the team.
``Right now, I think the door's been shut as far as I'm concerned,'' he said during a news conference at the office of attorney John McBride. ``I'm going to go ahead and move on with my life and try to finish the semester out and put the whole thing behind me and try to start anew somewhere.''
The BC sophomore was among four players confronted by the team's captains and coach Dan Henning during a contentious meeting following the Eagles' Halloween night loss to Pittsburgh.
The other three players were among those suspended by the school, but Speight was not. He said he is entitled to an apology from the school and an explanation about how his name wound up on a list of players suspected of gambling.
Henning said he has tried to get in touch with Speight but hasn't been able to reach him. While not apologizing, the coach has stressed that no member of the coaching staff ever accused Speight of anything.
``If BC didn't put it on a list, who put it on there?'' Speight asked.
Speight skipped last week's game against Notre Dame, saying he couldn't concentrate on football after seeing his name besmirched. After going home to Washington to think about it some more, he decided not to finish the year.
``It's just a shame that innocent people have become involved,'' captain Omari Walker said before Wednesday's practice. ``I feel bad for him.''
Gambling on any sporting events is a violation of NCAA rules. The school has announced that all 13 players who were suspended will miss the final two games of the season, against Temple on Saturday and the following Saturday at Miami.
Henning has said that two players who bet against BC never will be allowed to return to the team. The school could ask the NCAA to reinstate the rest when it determines their punishment is sufficient.
LENGTH: Short : 46 linesby CNB