College Football Capsules: Ex-Texas Tech coach tells his side of firing

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach on Tuesday offered up fresh details on what he says was happening behind the scenes around the time he was fired.

In excerpts from his book, "Swing Your Sword," Leach said emails "suggest" there was never a university investigation into allegations he mistreated a player, Adam James, with a concussion but rather "an effort to sell me down the river." He also claims a public relations firm, Spaeth Communications, was used by the university to "smear" Leach’s name.

"They knew the facts weren’t on their side so they used Spaeth to spread misinformation and try to turn public opinion," an excerpt says.

The university fired Leach in December 2009 amid claims that he mistreated receiver Adam James, son of Craig James, an ESPN analyst. Leach has long denied that, and said he believes an $800,000 bonus he was due was the reason he was fired.

Leach sued the school for wrongful termination but a Texas appeals court allowed his trial to go forward for only non-monetary damages.

Leach, who has lived in Key West, Fla., since shortly after his firing and was passed up for the job Maryland early this year, is awaiting word on whether the Texas Supreme Court will review the appellate court’s ruling. If the high court reverses the appeals court and rules that Texas Tech waived sovereign immunity protection by its conduct, Leach’s suit could go forward for monetary damages.

Texas Tech’s response to Leach’s petition for a high court review is due Wednesday. Leach has filed a separate libel suit accusing ESPN and Spaeth of slander.

State rules drug death of Sooners LB an accident

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma linebacker Austin Box had five prescription painkillers and an anti-anxiety drug in his system when he died, according to a preliminary toxicology report released Tuesday by the state medical examiner’s office.

The death of the 22-year-old Box two months ago was ruled accidental. In the report, the agency said the combination of drugs likely caused pulmonary edema, or fluid in the lungs, and aspiration pneumonia, which is an inflammation of the lungs caused by inhaling foreign substances.

"There is no greater pain than the loss of a child," Box’s parents, Craig and Gail Box, said in a prepared statement. "The pain is intensified by knowing that the death of your child could have been prevented.

"Anyone that knew Austin would give testament to his pure heart. The love and pride we feel for our son cannot be diminished by the cause of his death. He gave us so much joy and so many wonderful memories. He will forever be ‘Mommy’s baby’ and ‘Daddy’s little boy."’

A friend found Box unresponsive in the friend’s El Reno home and called authorities the morning of May 19. The friend told a dispatcher Box wasn’t breathing, that Box had been taking pain pills, and later told a police officer "he believed he had overdosed."

An autopsy found the painkillers oxymorphone, morphine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone and oxycodone in Box’s system, along with the anti-anxiety drug alprazolam. The report noted Box’s significant medical conditions included cardiomegaly, or an enlarged heart, and a chronic pain history.

Box starred at Enid High School, leading the Plainsmen to the Class 6A title game in 2006, playing quarterback, running back, wide receiver and free safety at different times.

He redshirted with the Sooners in 2007 and played in 10 games as a freshman in 2008, starting four at middle linebacker. He suffered a knee injury late in the season and missed the Big 12 Conference championship game. He played in 10 games in 2009, starting a game each at outside linebacker and inside linebacker.

But, as his family noted, he had a long history of injuries during the past seven years, many of which required surgery. The most recent came last August, when his parents said he had a disc rupture in his back and he lost the feeling in his left foot.

"We were certain his career was over," they said. "As always though, he battled back when he saw the team needed him."

The 6-foot-1, 228-pound Box returned to start the final five games last season for the Sooners, recording his second career interception in a win over Oklahoma State and making eight tackles as Oklahoma beat Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl. He was expected to start this season for the Sooners.

In an interview with The Oklahoman, attorney Craig Box recalled taking a four-day trip with his son to watch the St. Louis Cardinals play and that he never saw his son take any medicine other than "liquid Advil."

Gail Box, a school counselor, said after her son underwent elbow surgery in 2009 and was prescribed painkillers, he refused to take all the medicine.

"He only took that medication for a couple of days and then he said, ‘No,"’ she told the newspaper.

She described her son as a "silent sufferer."

In their statement, Box’s parents said "it is with much sadness; we look back and see that recently Austin had turned to other methods of managing his pain." They said they’re hopeful people using such a combination of painkillers "will see this tragic accident as a message and think about the consequences."

They said their son’s greatest fear was letting others down.

"Our greatest regret is that Austin did not feel he could share his pain with those who loved him, and those he touched," they said. "He chose to suffer in silence rather than to feel he let someone down, or hurt his family."

An Oklahoma athletic department spokesman didn’t return messages left Tuesday.

-- Murray Evans

Civil suit filed by ex-Penn State RB is thrown out

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed former Penn State running back Austin Scott’s civil lawsuit against the university, police and a female acquaintance over a rape charge against him that was later dropped.

No evidence supported Scott’s accusation that the woman, the school, police and prosecutors conspired against him, U.S. District Judge William Caldwell in Harrisburg said in Monday’s ruling. Caldwell ruled there was probable cause to arrest Scott in October 2007.

Prosecutors withdrew the charges in 2008, and Scott filed the civil suit the following year.

But in the ruling, Caldwell also turned aside Scott’s claims of malicious prosecution and that police violated his civil rights.

"The Penn State defendants argue there is no conspiracy claim because plaintiff has presented no evidence that they agreed among themselves and (the woman) to unlawfully prosecute Scott, nor any evidence of any wrongful act. We agree," Caldwell wrote in his 31-page ruling.

The ruling appears to finally bring an end to the nearly-four year drama surrounding Penn State, Scott and his once-promising football career. He set state scholastic records for most single-season rushing yards (3,853) and touchdowns (53) at Parkland High School in Allentown and was a heralded running back when he arrived in Happy Valley in 2003.

But his collegiate career was hindered by injuries and lesser off-field issues. Scott ran for 302 yards and six touchdowns on 69 carries in five games in 2007 before being suspended by coach Joe Paterno for violating team rules and never played for the Nittany Lions again.

The school was pleased with the dismissal, spokeswoman Lisa Powers said Tuesday.

"We were confident in the actions taken by police, and have maintained throughout that all procedures were followed according to laws, and policies that we have in place," Powers said Tuesday. "This is good news."

Messages left for Penn State police officials were not immediately returned.

Centre County prosecutors initially were also named in Scott’s civil suit, but a judge removed them in 2010 after determining they had immunity.

The attorney who filed the suit for Scott in 2008, Allentown-based John Karoly, also did not immediately return a call seeking comment. In a court filing last month, Karoly withdrew from a court appearance on behalf of Scott.

Scott through his attorney had claimed his aspirations to play in the NFL were damaged after the rape charge was filed. He signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns in May 2008 but was waived five months later.

He now plays for the North East Pennsylvania Miners, a semi-professional, minor league football team based in Scranton. A message left Tuesday with a team official seeking comment from Scott was not immediately returned.

-- Genaro C. Armas

WVU linebacker charged in robbery free on bond

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia University linebacker Branko Busick is free on $25,000 bond after being charged with an armed robbery at a Morgantown apartment building.

Morgantown police say the 20-year-old Steubenville, Ohio, native was arrested Monday evening.

He was arraigned Tuesday before Monongalia County Magistrate Hershel Mullins in a videoconference with the North Central Regional Jail.

A court official says Busick’s father posted a property bond. Nick Busick is the former WWF wrestler Big Bully Busick.

Court records show that Branko Busick does not yet have an attorney.

His preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 1 before Magistrate Jim Nabors.

Police say a man reported that he was struck repeatedly with a gun after he told his assailant he had no money.

WVU athletic officials didn’t immediately comment.

-- Vicki Smith