Ncaa To Review Tribal Gifts

In what could be a precedent-setting case, the NCAA eligibility committee is considering whether USC defensive end Israel Ifeanyi broke rules by accepting money from members of his Nigerian tribe.

“It’s a natural thing in Nigeria,” Ifeanyi said. “I really don’t understand (the NCAA’s concern). I think it is a cultural bias. They are wrong to use this against me.”

Ifeanyi was suspended for three games by the NCAA for allegedly accepting gifts from Robert Caron, an Oxnard, Calif., sports agent. During the course of the investigation, officials discovered that Ifeanyi received money from Ibo tribe members living in Los Angeles.

USC submitted a report on Thursday to the eligibility committee, which will decide early next week whether rules were broken, said Carrie Doyle, NCAA director of eligibility.

Also, Troy Caron, sued by the University of Southern California over his alleged dealings with Trojans football players, has agreed to settle a suit with USC by paying the university $50,000.

The head of Oxnard, Calif.-based Pro Manage denied wrongdoing, but agreed to abide by a permanent injunction forbidding him to induce USC athletes to violate NCAA rules.

George Perles, fired as Michigan State football coach last November, is suing the university and its president, The Detroit News reported.

Perles, 61, is charging age discrimination against Michigan State.

The NCAA ruled that suspended Nebraska tailback Lawrence Phillips did not violate benefits rules by accepting a car and other items from the owners of a group home where he lived as a teenager.

Phillips, however, remains suspended. He awaits sentencing Dec. 1 on misdemeanor assault and trespassing charges following the Sept. 10 assault of former girlfriend Katherine McEwen at the apartment of quarterback Scott Frost.