Eustachy says his drinking was factor in actions at party

Larry Eustachy, Iowa State men's basketball coach, said drinking was a factor in his behavior at a student party near the Missouri campus, where he was photographed holding a beer can and kissing women on the cheek.

"I am certainly aware of the role drinking has played in my behavior. I am addressing this matter," Eustachy said in a statement issued yesterday by lawyer Jerry Crawford of Des Moines, Iowa.

Cyclones athletic director Bruce Van De Velde said Eustachy talked to him and Gregory Geoffroy, the university president, this month after learning that a student at the party early Jan. 23 had provided 12 photos of the coach to The Des Moines Register.

Iowa State administrators were looking at possible disciplinary action against Eustachy. Van De Velde declined to say what kind of punishment was being considered.

Eustachy, 47, went to the party at a student apartment with Missouri player Josh Kroenke hours after Iowa State lost to the Tigers.

It was not Eustachy's first campus party after a road game, according to students in another Big 12 Conference town.

In January 2002, the coach spent the early morning at a fraternity party in Manhattan, Kan., hours after his team lost to Kansas State, students told the Register. On that occasion, a fraternity member said he wound up in an argument with Eustachy because the coach's arm was around the student's 19-year-old sister.

Eustachy is married and has two children.

Eustachy, who is paid more than $1 million annually, has a contract that runs through 2011.

• College basketball may have wider lanes, longer three-pointers (increasing from at least 19 feet, 9 inches to the international standard of 20-6) and more replays on winning shots as early as next season. The NCAA men's basketball rules committee begins meeting today in Indianapolis.

• Michael Grant was hired as men's coach at Southern in Baton Rouge, La. He replaces Ben Jobe.

College football

Miami Hurricanes quarterback Derrick Crudup Jr., who claimed race played a role in the decision to give teammate Brock Berlin the starting job, met with coach Larry Coker to discuss the issue.

Also attending the 75-minute meeting were Crudup's father, former NFL player Derrick Crudup Sr., and quarterbacks coach Dan Werner.

"It was an outstanding meeting," Crudup Sr. said. Asked if his son will remain at Miami for the 2003 season, Crudup Sr. said, "Absolutely."

The Crudups, who are black, said Werner, who is white, used terms such as "redneck" and "cracker" when referring to himself during team meetings.

• Former Georgia coach Johnny Griffith, who had a record of 10-16-4 from 1961 to 1963, died in Duluth, Ga. He was 78.

Tennis

Third-seeded Alex Corretja of Spain was upset in the first round of the clay-court Valencia Open in Spain, losing to Anthony Dupuis of France 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.

• Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand beat Michael Kohlmann of Germany 6-4, 6-1 to reach the second round of the BMW Open in Munich, Germany.

Olympics

The U.S. Olympic Committee signed a five-year contract with 24 Hour Fitness, the USOC's first new sponsor since Congress began investigating the agency's management problems in January.

• Frank Shorter, the 1972 marathon gold medalist, quit as U.S. Anti-Doping Agency chairman to devote more time to personal matters. He was replaced by vice chairman Ralph Hale.

Track and field

Auburn's Gabor Mate surpassed his own NCAA record in the discus with a throw of 219 feet, 9 inches in San Diego.

Soccer

Blackburn's Brad Friedel became the first American picked for the English Premier League team of the year when he was voted the top goalkeeper by his fellow players.

Arsenal's Thierry Henry was voted player of the year, and Newcastle's Jermaine Jenas was selected young player of the year.

Joining Friedel and Henry on the team of the year were Stephen Carr (Tottenham), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Sol Campbell (Arsenal), William Gallas (Chelsea), Patrick Vieira (Arsenal), Paul Scholes (Manchester United), Robert Pires (Arsenal), Kieron Dyer (Newcastle) and Alan Shearer (Newcastle).

• Eighteen people were accused of stabbing goalkeeper Do Ngoc The outside a disco on Sunday after a match his Danang, Vietnam, team won.

Media

Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly was selected as National Sportswriter of the Year for the eighth time by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.