Coach: Johnson Probe Near End
USC coach John Robinson believes a resolution is near in the investigation into a loan allegedly made to Trojans receiver Keyshawn Johnson by a sports attorney in the spring of 1993.
“Keyshawn doesn’t have any statements to make about that,” Robinson said as the Trojans began practice for the 1995 season. “That matter should be resolved in the next day or two, that’s what we’ve been told.”
USC officials are optimistic that Johnson, a senior who caught 66 passes for 1,362 yards and nine touchdowns last season, will miss little or no time because of the incident.
The Pacific-10 Conference has been investigating the matter. Johnson reportedly has told investigators that while attending West Los Angeles Community College nearly 2-1/2 years ago, he received $200 from agent Elliott Vallin of San Diego to pay rent, but believed the money came from Vallin’s business partner at the time, Tim Shannon.
Shannon and Johnson reportedly have a relationship that goes back to the late 1970s when Shannon, the son of former St. Louis Cardinals baseball player Mike Shannon, was playing football at USC and Johnson was a ballboy for the Trojans.
Johnson has said he is so close to Shannon that “Shannon could adopt me.”
It’s also been reported that Johnson received $1,200.
Vandals No. 14 in preseason poll
The Idaho Vandals have been tabbed No. 14 in the preseason Sports Network Division I-AA football poll.
Defending national champion Youngstown State is ranked first. Montana is picked No. 4 and Boise State is No. 8. Northern Iowa is the only non-conference team on Idaho’s schedule to make the rankings. The Panthers are No. 19.
The Vandals, 9-3 last year, hold their first fall scrimmage today in Moscow.
End zone
Former Washington lineman Terrance Powe, 26, has been sentenced in Pierce County Superior Court to 10 years in prison for selling drugs. … Junior tailback Marcel Stewart has left the Oregon football team for personal reasons. … Alabama launched an appeal of NCAA sanctions as a key figure in the case resigned. In its notice of appeal Thursday, Alabama asked that a ban on postseason action this year be lifted and that a third year of penalties, which include a loss of nine scholarships, be eliminated.
, DataTimes