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News Nuggets, 06.26.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Horns, Titans have been there before

Cal State Fullerton and Texas are no strangers to national baseball titles. As the teams meet today in Omaha in the first game of of best-of-three series for the College World Series championship, here is the list of teams that have won the crown over the years:

MOST COLLEGE WORLD SERIES TITLES WON

Team/Titles/(last year won)
Southern California   12 (1998)
Arizona State          5 (1981)
LSU                    5 (2000)
Texas                  5 (2002)
Miami                  4 (2001)
Arizona                3 (1986)
Cal State Fullerton    3 (1995)
Minnesota              3 (1964)
California             2 (1957)
Michigan               2 (1962)
Oklahoma               2 (1994)
Stanford               2 (1988)
Georgia                1 (1990)
Holy Cross             1 (1952)
Missouri               1 (1954)
Ohio State             1 (1966)
Oklahoma State         1 (1959)
Pepperdine             1 (1992)
Rice                   1 (2003)
Wake Forest            1 (1955)
Wichita State          1 (1989)

Mizzou paid $63K to former ECU aide

COLUMBIA, MO — The University of Missouri paid more than $136,000 to two basketball coaches accused of breaking NCAA rules in exchange for their resignations and pledges never to sue, documents obtained by the Associated Press show.

Missouri had no legal obligation to pay anything to associate head coach Tony Harvey or assistant coach Lane Odom. Coach Quin Snyder confirmed to the AP that neither had a contract.

Lane Odom was as an assistant at East Carolina during the 1990's. He is the son of Goldsboro native and South Carolina coach Dave Odom, who served as head coach at ECU from 1979-82.

The Missouri president's office referred questions about the payments to athletic director Mike Alden. Alden declined comment Friday through spokesman Chad Moller, who said the payments were tied to the NCAA investigation and that Alden is bound by confidentiality rules.

Missouri was told in the NCAA's formal notice of allegations that Harvey and Odom are expected to testify before its infractions committee about the alleged violations.

Stu Brown, an attorney who represents both former coaches, said Friday they are cooperating with the investigation.

Harvey was accused by the NCAA of lying on his expense account to conceal impermissible meals for high school and Amateur Athletic Union coaches, violating recruiting rules and giving former Missouri guard Ricky Clemons $250. Harvey has denied the allegations. Odom was accused of various recruiting violations.

Separate settlements signed by Harvey and Odom said they agreed with the university "that their mutual best interests will be served" by the resignations and agreements not to sue.

In exchange, each was paid in a lump sum that is the equivalent of their salary for the rest of this year.

Harvey, who made $140,000 annually, accepted $73,022.73 for leaving. Odom, who was paid $108,000 a year, received $63,000.

The amounts and supporting documents were disclosed by the university after requests from the AP citing Missouri's Sunshine Law.

Brown said "the payments are appropriate because it is practically impossible to find comparable coaching employment until at least May of 2005," because hiring coincides with the cycles of college basketball seasons.

Moller, the athletic department spokesman, said money for the settlements came from the department's operating budget, which was just over $30 million.

Odom signed his settlement and the school announced his resignation May 12, hours after top university officials announced details of the NCAA allegations. Harvey sent a resignation letter to Snyder on June 18, the same day he signed his settlement.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007