Player admits making

up recruiting story

A prep football player who had claimed he was duped into believing he was recruited to play at a Pac-10 school admitted Wednesday he made up the story.

Kevin Hart, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive lineman for Fernley (Nev.) High School, offered a broad apology in a statement he issued through the Lyon County School District. Hart said he had wanted to play football at a Division I school "more than anything."

"When I realized that wasn't going to happen, I made up what I wanted to be reality. I am sorry for disappointing and embarrassing my family, coaches, Fernley High School, the involved universities and reporters covering the story," Hart said.

Lyon County sheriff's detectives had been unable to corroborate Hart's claims that he had been duped by a man he paid to help promote him to college football programs.

Hart first spoke with deputies Saturday, a day after he announced at a school assembly and a news conference that he would sign with California.

At the announcement ceremony, Hart, with Fernley coach Mark Hodges at his side, said he talked with Cal head coach Jeff Tedford many times, and that "personal experience" led to his decision to choose the Golden Bears over Oregon, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported.

But the announcement was questioned almost immediately, and on Monday officials with California and the University of Oregon said Hart was never recruited.

On Tuesday, school district administrators said an internal investigation showed that none of the universities once thought to have pursued Hart -- including Nevada, Washington and Oklahoma State -- had contacted Hart.

Stoops says ASU

'has turned into a J.C.'

The smoldering Arizona-Arizona State football rivalry grew hotter Wednesday when Wildcats coach Mike Stoops said ASU has "turned into a J.C."

Speaking at a football signing day news conference in Tucson, Stoops said some recruits had told him that it was easier to earn acceptance at ASU.

"Each school has to recruit to that school and what type of academic requirements there are," Stoops said. "Obviously, Arizona State has turned into a J.C. and we are a four-year college. According to all the players, they say it is easier to go to school there, easier to get in. I thought we had the same requirements. It is news to me."

It was also news to Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson, who had little to say about Stoops' remarks.

"He can say what he wants," said Erickson, who defeated Stoops and Arizona 20-17 on Dec. 1 in Tempe. "We're all the same. There is no difference."

Stoops' remarks are sure to turn up the intensity in one of the Pac-10's most bitter rivalries. Tensions between the football programs, located 90 miles apart, grew last month when highly touted tailback Ryan Bass of Corona, Calif., backed out of an oral commitment to Arizona and said he would attend ASU. Bass was among the 27 signees announced by the Sun Devils on Wednesday.

UT's Brown won't

bemoan missing Scott

Texas signed a class of recruits built for speed and versatility, yet missed on the California running back that might have turned a solid group into a spectacular one.

Texas had made a hard push in recent months for Darrell Scott, ranked by some as the top running back recruit in the country, but the tailback chose Wednesday to sign with Colorado instead of the Longhorns.

Texas signed three other running backs -- Jeremy Hills of Houston (Alief Elsik High School), Tre Newton of Southlake (Carroll HS) and Ryan Roberson of Brenham -- but missed the chance to sign its biggest tailback recruit since Cedric Benson in 2001.

"It's more important you concern yourself with the guys you get, not the ones who did not come," coach Mack Brown said. "Lou Holtz told me you'd better worry about the ones that sign because you're around them every day for the next four years."