Bob Devaney Dies; Nebraska Football Legend

Bob Devaney, who began a winning Nebraska football tradition in the 1960s and coached the Cornhuskers to two national championships in the 1970s, died yesterday at a retirement home in Lincoln, Neb. He was 82.

Family spokeswoman Marilyn Mecham said Devaney died of cardiac arrest; his wife, Phyllis, and son, Mike, were at his side.

"Nebraska and the nation lost a giant in the world of college football, a dear friend and a national leader today," said Bill Byrne, who succeeded Devaney as athletic director.

Nebraska's athletic center is named for Devaney.

Devaney never had a losing season in compiling a 101-20-2 record over 11 football seasons. The 1970 and 1971 teams won national championships.

-- Homer Rice, 70, retired as athletic director at Georgia Tech. He raised more than $100 million for the program during his 17 years as AD.

Football

Vae Tata, a defensive end for UCLA, was charged with a felony count of drunken driving after his car, carrying two teammates, collided with another and rolled over an embankment, the California Highway Patrol said.

Tata underwent surgery Monday and Tuesday for undisclosed injuries. He was listed in stable condition at Harbor UCLA Medical Center and isn't expected to play this season.

UCLA players Billy Pieper and Brendon Ayanbadejo, who were also in the car, weren't as seriously injured. Even though Pieper broke his leg and three bones in his foot, he could be ready to start the season, the school said. Ayanbadejo suffered bruises.

UCLA Coach Bob Toledo said he hasn't decided whether to discipline the players.

Horse racing

Ordway, second in the Gotham and fourth in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, will miss the Preakness, to be run May 17 at Pimlico in Baltimore, because of a leg injury.

Golf

Helen Alfredsson fought through gusting winds and shot a 6-under 66 for a one-stroke lead at the $675,000 Sara Lee Classic in Nashville, Tenn. She led Nancy Harvey by a shot.

-- Arnold Palmer shot his best round since his return from cancer surgery, carding a 3-over 75 in the first round of the Home Depot Invitational in Charlotte, N.C. Palmer was nine shots off the lead, held by John D. Morgan, who birdied the last three holes for a 66.

-- David Duval eagled his first hole en route to a second consecutive 6-under 66 and held a one-shot lead halfway through the BellSouth Classic in Duluth, Ga. Nick Price was second after a 67 gave him an 11-under 133.

Auto racing

Arie Luyendyk, the fastest driver on each of the four days of practice this week, was the favorite to win the pole today as qualifying begins for the Indy 500.

Two drivers were injured during practice yesterday. Scott Sharp was knocked unconscious when his car hit the fourth-turn wall. John Paul Jr. suffered a fractured right leg and left heel in a crash.

Thirty-one cars made it onto the track, and Luyendyk led practice yesterday at 218.325 mph.

-- Michael Andretti dominated both practice sessions for the Rio 400 at the 1.864-mile modified oval at Nelson Piquet Raceway in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He hit 169.834 mph on his best lap - edging Alex Zanardi by .114 seconds.

Tennis

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, hampered by an arm injury, bowed out of the Italian Open quarterfinals, losing in straight sets to Swiss teenager Patty Schnyder.

Sanchez Vicario, the second seed in Rome, lost 6-1, 6-1. She said she pulled a muscle in her right arm during the opening game of the match, making it difficult to serve or hit her forehand.

-- Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden and Jason Stoltenberg of Australia advanced to the semifinals at the America's Red Clay Tennis Championship in Coral Springs, Fla. Bjorkman defeated Juan Albert Viloca of Spain 6-4, 7-6 (7-2), and Stoltenberg, the defending champion, ousted David Witt of the U.S. 6-1, 7-5.

Diving

Vera Ilyina, a 23-year-old Russian who dives for the University of Texas, won the women's 1-meter springboard championship in the USA Diving Grand Prix in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.