College Football -- Oklahoma's Inquiry Preceded Resignation -- Ex- Sooner Coach Behaved Inappropriately, Sources Say

TULSA, Okla. - Larry Naifeh, the University of Oklahoma athletic compliance officer, interviewed players and athletic department personnel about Howard Schnellenberger's personal habits in the days before the coach abruptly resigned, the Tulsa World reported.

The newspaper said two high-level sources who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the interviews, which included questions about the consumption of alcohol on university property and while representing the school in official business.

Schnellenberger resigned abruptly Monday after a year and two days as coach of the Sooners.

The newspaper said Naifeh reportedly spoke with a player who said he smelled alcohol on Schnellenberger's breath during a university-related function. It said athletic director Donnie Duncan confronted Schnellenberger about the accusation Sunday.

The newspaper said an atmosphere existed in the meeting with Duncan that would have left no choice but for Schnellenberger to step down.

A message left on Schnellenberger's answering machine at his home in Norman was not immediately returned. He has maintained his silence since issuing a videotaped statement announcing his resignation.

Schnellenberger said his decision had nothing to do with "inaccurate reports or hurtful rumors that often accompany head coaches and top programs."

Schnellenberger has disputed the allegations of drinking on the job, the newspaper said.

University president David Boren has said Schnellenberger's resignation had nothing to do with the Sooners' 5-5-1 record, which was the worst in 30 years.

Cal's Clemons headed to NFL

BERKELEY, Calif. - California linebacker Duane Clemons will skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft.

The 6-foot-6, 255-pound Clemons led the Golden Bears with 10.5 sacks this season.

An All-Pac 10 first-team pick, Clemons had 58 solo tackles and led the conference with 26 tackles for a loss.

$10,000 streak doesn't pay off

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A streaker who ran across the football field during halftime of the Michigan-Ohio State game says he did it on a $10,000 bet.

Former Eastern Michigan football player Matt Swank, 27, of Canton, Ohio, pleaded no contest to a charge of being disorderly involving obscene conduct.

Swank wore only maize and blue paint as he ran the length of the field in front of 100,000 fans.

But before accepting the plea, District Judge Timothy P. Connors questioned Swank about his Nov. 25 dash.

"Now I want you to tell me how much this bet was you made. And I know the answer and I want to see if you'll tell me the truth," Connors said.

Swank took a breath and said, "Well, it was $10,000."

He faces a $100 fine and 90 days in jail at his Jan. 26 sentencing.

Swank's lawyer, Ronald Egnor, said the $10,000 bet is probably uncollectable. "This was a prank, pure and simple," Egnor said.

Notes

-- One year after he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Boise State football coach Pokey Allen shows no sign of it, the school says. Allen was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma last year and a tumor was removed from Allen's right biceps last March. That procedure was followed with a stem cell transplant in June. Allen returned to work at Boise State in late July. This week's exam was his first major examination since he returned to work.

-- Joe Novak returned to Northern Illinois as football coach after 22 seasons as a defensive assistant at several schools. Novak was defensive coordinator at Northern Illinois from 1980 to 1983. He was most recently at Indiana and has worked at Miami (Ohio) and Illinois. Novak replaces Charlie Sadler, who was 18-37 in five seasons, 3-8 in 1995.