Times wires
Thursday, May 19, 2011
NORMAN, Okla. — Police were investigating if drugs had a role in Thursday's death of Oklahoma linebacker Austin Box, and a witness told authorities he believed his friend overdosed. Box was 22.
Authorities said an autopsy is pending.
As a junior in 2010, Box missed the first five games with a back injury then started the final five.
According to the report by El Reno, Okla., police, an officer arrived at Box's house and made contact with John Cobble. Cobble is a friend of Box and son of Tom Cobble, Box's high school coach in Enid, Okla. On the tape of the 911 call, a man who identified himself as J.T. Cobble said Box was not breathing and "takes pain pills."
In addition, the report says Cobble told the officer, "he believed (Box) had overdosed."
Box was first taken to an El Reno hospital then to Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City, about 30 miles away. Mercy said "out of respect for the family," it would not release information.
Men's basketball
A former Wake Forest student said the school brushed off her allegation of sexual assault by a basketball player to protect the program. According to a report filed with Miami police in 2009, Margaret Hurt said guard Gary Clark sexually assaulted her in a hotel bathroom after an NCAA Tournament game while teammate Jeff Teague waited outside.
Speaking on NBC's Today show, she said Wake did not adequately pursue her allegation "because that was a way that they got their money." The interview was part of a story on how colleges respond to allegations of sexual assaults.
Clark finished his senior season in March. Teague plays for the NBA's Hawks.
Police investigated but, citing lack of evidence and witnesses, did not bring charges. The school's judicial board cleared the players. Michael Grace, a lawyer for the players, said both are "stunned and outraged by the allegations." President Nathan Hatch said "the university's response, as well as our character, has been misrepresented." Citing federal privacy laws, the school declined further comment.
RADFORD: Coach Brad Greenberg, 57, has resigned as coach after four seasons. He's the brother of former USF and current Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg.
Softball: Florida and Florida State open play today in the NCAA tournament UF (47-9), the No. 4 seed, hosts a four-team double-elimination region and faces Bethune-Cookman at 6. FSU (30-26) faces UAB at 2:30 in Athens, Ga. … Pasco-Hernando Community College beat Labette (Kan.) 5-2 and Kirkwood (Iowa) 5-1 at the Division II junior college national tourney in Normal, Ill. PHCC faces Kankakee (Ill.) in the semifinals of the winners' bracket of the double-elimination tournament at noon today.
Baseball: Tampa lost 4-1 to Harding in its opener of the Division II South Region in Pensacola. The Spartans (35-16) face Southern Arkansas in an elimination game at 10 a.m. today.
Men's Golf: Senior Bank Vongvanij shot 4-under 68 to lead Florida (6-under 282) to the first-round lead at the NCAA region tournament in Ocala. Vongvanij was two shots behind leader Jack Dukeminier of Oregon. The tournament concludes Saturday.
Men's tennis: Florida (20-9) fell 4-2 to Kentucky in the NCAA round of 16 in Stanford, Calif.