Deal With Agent Gets Enis Booted

Penn State coach Joe Paterno sent Curtis Enis packing Tuesday after the All-America tailback admitted accepting gifts from a sports agent.

At about 2 p.m., Enis acknowledged to Paterno that he committed the NCAA violation, four days after allegations first surfaced that he received a $325 suit paid for by Houston-based agent Jeff Nalley.

Paterno said Enis immediately left the Nittany Lions’ bowl training camp in Melbourne, Fla., and went home to Union City, Ohio. Enis had denied accepting the clothes or being in Harrisburg, Pa., with Nalley on Dec. 6, the day of the alleged shopping trip.

Eleventh-ranked Penn State is preparing to play the No. 6 Florida Gators in the Jan. 1 CompUSA Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

Enis is now prohibited from ever playing in college again because he has violated NCAA rules by having contact with an agent.

The college career of Enis, a junior known for his game-breaking plays and hard-to-tackle running style, has ended in most unceremonious fashion. In all probability, Enis, who was not available for comment, will enter the 1998 NFL draft where he is likely to be a first-round selection.

Enis ends his career as the third-best rusher in Penn State history. His 3,256 rushing yards leave him behind only Curt Warner and Blair Thomas.

Osborne all business

Tom Osborne didn’t shed any tears this time. As Nebraska closed the home-site part of its football season on Tuesday, the retiring coach was thinking about travel.

But Osborne wasn’t planning a European ski vacation. He still has another business trip to Miami.

The No. 2 Cornhuskers (12-0) depart this morning for Florida, where Osborne will conclude one of the greatest careers in college football in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 2.

Although his eyes welled a few times during his retirement announcement Dec. 10, Osborne hasn’t been visibly sentimental lately. It’s all business as the Huskers prepare to play No. 3 Tennessee (11-1).

It’s certain that Osborne’s last day at work will be a huge topic for reporters in Miami. Just don’t try telling the coach whose career record is a whopping 254-49-3.

“I don’t plan to talk about it very much,” Osborne said. “I’m sure with a lot new faces, there may be one time that I’ll address it. But to me, the most important thing is the game.

Oregon names offensive coordinator

Oregon coach Mike Bellotti moved quickly to replace departing offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, naming Fresno State assistant Jeff Tedford to the post Tuesday.

Tedford had been offensive coordinator at Fresno State for six seasons and twice was a finalist for the Oregon job. Koetter left to become head coach at Boise State.

Hackett has eye on Rose Bowl

For all of his advance billing as a sort of guru of New Age football, recently hired USC coach Paul Hackett will be guided by two old-fashioned principles at the Pac-10 school.

A power running game is still the ultimate weapon, and Pasadena is still the ultimate destination for the Trojans program.

“There’s only going to be one goal for Paul Hackett, and that is to go to the Rose Bowl,” Hackett, 50, said in a news conference Tuesday formally introducing him as the Trojans’ new coach, a week after the former USC assistant agreed to replace his former boss John Robinson.

“I think I understand that, and we can’t ever come off that.”

Hackett’s first meeting after arriving in Los Angeles on Monday was with Robinson.