WASHINGTON FOOTBALL Neuheisel makes bid to stay as coach

Several prominent coaches have come to his defense.
SEATTLE (AP) -- Suspended Washington coach Rick Neuheisel and his lawyers met Thursday with athletic director Barbara Hedges, making their case that Neuheisel should keep his job.
They argued during a 90-minute hearing that Neuheisel committed no major NCAA rules violations by participating in neighborhood gambling pools on the past two NCAA men's basketball tournaments.
Later, during a news conference, his lawyers recapped their presentation to Hedges and disclosed new details in the case, including that Hedges gave Neuheisel the option to resign or be fired during a June 6 meeting.
"Barbara Hedges had two pieces of paper. One was a resignation letter, one was a termination letter," said Bob Sutkin, one of Neuheisel's attorneys.
"She told him, 'You choose.' "
Hedges announced June 12 that Neuheisel would be fired for gambling on the two tournaments in violation of NCAA rules.
She also said he wasn't forthcoming when first questioned by NCAA investigators.
His attorneys disputed both allegations.
Tressel lends support
They also released letters sent by prominent football coaches to Hedges, all echoing Neuheisel's claim that he relied on the school's compliance officer for NCAA rules interpretations.
Neuheisel has produced a March 13 memo from Washington compliance director Dana Richardson that said gambling in off-campus pools was acceptable.
His lawyers made a point of saying that Neuheisel read and understood the memo when it was distributed -- not later when he found himself under scrutiny for gambling.
The lawyers also distributed a June 20 letter from Hedges to the Washington athletic staff, stating that no betting of any kind on intercollegiate athletics is allowed.
"If that letter had been sent to Rick Neuheisel on March 13, 2003, we wouldn't be here today," Sutkin said.
Among the coaches offering support were Ohio State's Jim Tressel, Penn State's Joe Paterno, South Carolina's Lou Holtz and Oregon's Mike Bellotti.
Bellotti has had well-publicized clashes with Neuheisel.
"I personally do not believe Rick deserves to be fired. ... When I receive a memo from a compliance officer at the University of Oregon, I accept the interpretation as written," Bellotti wrote.
Sutkin said he and Neuheisel solicited the letters.