Cougars Pick Coliseum For Rose Bowl Practices

Washington State will holds its Rose Bowl practices at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum starting Sunday, the Cougars announced Monday.

WSU chose the Coliseum because its field was in better condition than other potential sites in the area.

The eighth-ranked Cougars arrive in Los Angeles on Saturday and plan to practice Sunday at 1:15 p.m. They will also practice Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:15 a.m. before taking Christmas Day off.

Top-ranked Michigan arrives in Los Angeles on Friday and will practice at Citrus College in Glendora.

Rose Bowl souvenir balls

A St. Louis marketing company is selling a limited number of commemorative Rose Bowl footballs, with a portion of proceeds going to charity.

Each ball includes one white leather panel featuring full-color Washington State and Michigan logos, plus a Rose Bowl logo that includes the date and site.

Nikco Sports is offering 1,998 such footballs for $99 apiece, with $5 of each sale going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Seattle.

To order, call (800) 345-2868.

Smith nabs another UI aide

New Louisville coach John L. Smith has plucked another assistant coach from the University of Idaho staff.

Greg Burns leaves UI after just one season to coach Louisville’s cornerbacks. Nick Holt, UI’s defensive coordinator, joined Smith in Louisville 10 days ago.

“Greg is sharp, articulate and intelligent,” said Smith, Idaho’s head coach from 1989-94. “I really tried hard to hire him when I went to Utah State. The only reason I didn’t was because of previous loyalties to some people.”

Burns, a four-year letterman at Washington State as a cornerback, was honorable mention All-Pac-10 in 1992.

Smith initially offered the job to former Idaho standouts Eric Yarber and Kasey Dunn, but both declined.

Arkansas State, Part II

Arkansas State, a football-only member dropped by the Big West Conference in 1995, appears set to rejoin the league in the same capacity.

Commissioner Dennis Farrell anticipates offering membership to Arkansas State, provided Big West presidents approve of the idea.

“Most people I’ve talked to in our conference are strongly in favor,” he said. “Most of the presidents recognize we need to do something about (the current) five-game league schedule.”

The addition of Arkansas State, which would likely join in 1999, would create a six-game schedule.

The Big West also is discussing membership with Louisiana Tech, another former member of the conference.

NIC Cardinal mulls pro contract

North Idaho College basketball player Ehab Al-Arorey, who has been academically ineligible, is mulling an offer to play professionally overseas.

“He has an offer for $350,000 to play in Spain,” NIC coach Hugh Watson said. Al-Arorey has left school for a holiday vacation. Watson had hoped the 6-foot11 center would be able to play on his return, but admits, “I’m afraid I won’t see him again.”

Perhaps you’re staging a huge family reunion around the game. Or you’re getting together at the Rose Bowl with some long-lost Cougar brethren.

Send us your plans by mail, fax (509-459-5098) or email (sports@spokesman.com). Please include a daytime phone number where you can be reached.

We’ll be running the most intriguing submissions on a daily basis beginning Dec. 26 until game day.

Cougars football online

Do you have Rose Bowl fever? Check out Virtually Northwest, The Spokesman-Review’s online service and direct link to Cougars football. You’ll find the latest stories, photos and player profiles. We also have a direct link to Michigan Live, the site for Washington State’s Rose Bowl opponent. Log on to www.virtuallynw.com and click on the Cougars section.

, DataTimes MEMO: Changed from the Idaho edition.

This sidebar appeared with the story: PARTY ON, COUGAR FAITHFUL What are you doing the day of the big game? Will you be in Pasadena? Or in front of your TV? We want to know if you have special or unusual plans for New Year’s Day.