James Madison University

Charles (Lefty) Driesell, who built a national basketball power at Maryland before resigning in the wake of Len Bias' cocaine-induced death, was hired Wednesday as coach at James Madison University. Driesell succeeds John Thurston, who resigned in midseason. Officials at James Madison, a small college in Harrisonburg, Va., cited nationally for its academic quality, praised Driesell for his commitment to education.

When three American midget car drivers--Ricky Shelton, Steve Paden and Clay Klepper--went to New Zealand to race over the winter, they decided to dye their hair in patriotic colors. Paden's was red, Klepper's white and Shelton's blue. It must have created quite a stir at Western Springs Stadium in Auckland when the blue-haired driver from Huntington Beach showed up in the winner's circle. * Trivia time: What is the most popular name for a golf course in the United States?

Former Maryland basketball coach Lefty Driesell is close to an agreement with James Madison University that would make him its new head coach, according to sources. Driesell, 56, is likely to sign a five-year contract with the school this week, barring a last-minute snag in negotiations.

The NCAA has sent Clemson an official letter of inquiry after a preliminary investigation uncovered 14 alleged rule violations, ranging from monetary payments to illegal recruiting contacts, the school said Friday. David Berst, assistant executive director for enforcement for the NCAA, said in a letter Thursday to university President Max Lennon that it appears the school had violated NCAA rules.

When three American midget car drivers--Ricky Shelton, Steve Paden and Clay Klepper--went to New Zealand to race over the winter, they decided to dye their hair in patriotic colors. Paden's was red, Klepper's white and Shelton's blue. It must have created quite a stir at Western Springs Stadium in Auckland when the blue-haired driver from Huntington Beach showed up in the winner's circle. * Trivia time: What is the most popular name for a golf course in the United States?

He is 57 years old, mostly bald, sometimes cranky, but Lefty Driesell is alive and well and wants you to know he is not somewhere out in the sticks. The former coach at Davidson and Maryland, where he left under a cloud after the death of Len Bias and criticism over the graduation rate of his players, Driesell says James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., is a mighty fine place to be. "I didn't have to make any adjustments," Driesell said. "I love it here.

Lefty Driesell waves his hand and an entire wall falls down. He moves whole rooms with a gesture, raises or lowers the ceiling at will, rearranges his very own gym in chunks of beam and rafter until it is completed and roaring with his presence. This imaginary constructing of his new domain at James Madison University must be very hard work, because when a waitress asks him after lunch what he would like for dessert he replies, "Aw, just bring me another chili dog."

Charles Grice (Lefty) Driesell is like a brush fire in a Santa Ana wind: Just when you think he has been extinguished, he roars back to life somewhere else. And the flames are burning as brightly as ever these days in the Shenandoah Valley where Leftymania is raging through this once-serene countryside nestled in wooded hills between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains. James Madison University, an erudite state school, may never be the same.

The NCAA has sent Clemson an official letter of inquiry after a preliminary investigation uncovered 14 alleged rule violations, ranging from monetary payments to illegal recruiting contacts, the school said Friday. David Berst, assistant executive director for enforcement for the NCAA, said in a letter Thursday to university President Max Lennon that it appears the school had violated NCAA rules.

He is 57 years old, mostly bald, sometimes cranky, but Lefty Driesell is alive and well and wants you to know he is not somewhere out in the sticks. The former coach at Davidson and Maryland, where he left under a cloud after the death of Len Bias and criticism over the graduation rate of his players, Driesell says James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., is a mighty fine place to be. "I didn't have to make any adjustments," Driesell said. "I love it here.

Charles Grice (Lefty) Driesell is like a brush fire in a Santa Ana wind: Just when you think he has been extinguished, he roars back to life somewhere else. And the flames are burning as brightly as ever these days in the Shenandoah Valley where Leftymania is raging through this once-serene countryside nestled in wooded hills between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains. James Madison University, an erudite state school, may never be the same.

Lefty Driesell waves his hand and an entire wall falls down. He moves whole rooms with a gesture, raises or lowers the ceiling at will, rearranges his very own gym in chunks of beam and rafter until it is completed and roaring with his presence. This imaginary constructing of his new domain at James Madison University must be very hard work, because when a waitress asks him after lunch what he would like for dessert he replies, "Aw, just bring me another chili dog."

Charles (Lefty) Driesell, who built a national basketball power at Maryland before resigning in the wake of Len Bias' cocaine-induced death, was hired Wednesday as coach at James Madison University. Driesell succeeds John Thurston, who resigned in midseason. Officials at James Madison, a small college in Harrisonburg, Va., cited nationally for its academic quality, praised Driesell for his commitment to education.

Former Maryland basketball coach Lefty Driesell is close to an agreement with James Madison University that would make him its new head coach, according to sources. Driesell, 56, is likely to sign a five-year contract with the school this week, barring a last-minute snag in negotiations.