Raleigh, N.C. ? N.C. State tailback T.A. McLendon will not lose his starting position in next week’s Tangerine Bowl, despite being cited Oct. 25 with speeding and driving under 21 years of age after consuming alcohol.
McLendon has a court date scheduled for Jan. 5. Coach Chuck Amato said he learned Friday about the Orange County citations only when a reporter asked about McLendon’s pending court date and his availability for the Dec. 22 bowl game against Kansas (6-6).
Amato avoided specifics about any possible disciplining of McLendon, saying he “took care of” the matter.
“Nobody is going to embarrass the university,” Amato said. “But [players] are college students. Am I supposed to make a decision? If it had been something else, I’d make a big decision …
“We can’t lose sight of the fact that they’re college students, and they all make mistakes. And it’s my job to correct those mistakes and help them become a better citizen.”
A TREE FOR A TREE (ROY NOT INCLUDED)
Whatever else happens after next Monday’s Tangerine Bowl, one team’s fair city is going to have to cough up a tree.
Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker and Lawrence, Kan., Mayor David M. Dunfield agreed to a friendly municipal wager Monday. The home city of the losing team must present an oak tree to the victor.
“An oak tree would fit in real nice in our new arboretum,” Dunfield said.
Meeker countered by bringing up the sore subject of the departure of the former Kansas basketball coach who landed at North Carolina.
“I was thinking of sending you Roy Williams back, but you probably don’t think that’s funny,” Meeker said.
Dunfield insisted that Kansas basketball fans have been very happy with Williams’ replacement, former Illinois coach Bill Self.
FRESHMAN HONORS
The Sporting News named three N.C. State players to its Freshman All-American team.
Defensive end Mario Williams and offensive guard Leroy Harris made the first team, and defensive tackle John McCargo made the second team.
The other ACC freshmen on the team were Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks (first team); Georgia Tech quarterback Reggie Ball (second team); North Carolina linebacker Larry Edwards (second team); Duke tight end Ben Patrick (third team); Wake Forest offensive guard Steve Vallos (third team); and Georgia Tech defensive tackle Mansfield Wrotto (third team).
