Covington Wants Out, but Miami Denies Request

Backup quarterback Scott Covington says he’s leaving Miami for another school, even though the university has denied his request for a release.

“I’ve made up my mind,” said Covington, a Dana Hills graduate. “I will not be back next season. I need to play, and I really don’t see that happening here.”

The redshirt freshman is enrolled this semester and under scholarship, and he can’t contact other Division I-A schools about transferring until Miami grants him a release.

Coach Butch Davis and Athletic Director Paul Dee have denied Covington’s request and are encouraging him to join spring practice when it begins March 5.

The school’s position is influenced by NCAA sanctions that will allow Miami to offer only 13 scholarships this year.

Covington will appeal, and if he’s denied again he’ll take his case to the NCAA. He would have to sit out a year if he transfers.

Miami can’t prevent Covington from transferring. But until he’s granted a release, other coaches who contact him while he’s in school are in violation of NCAA rules.

Covington says coaches weren’t candid about his chances to play last season. Davis said Covington would get considerable playing time, but he threw only 43 passes all season and didn’t play in the final two games.

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Mater Dei’s Brad Williams, The Times Orange County lineman of the year, has orally committed to play football at Notre Dame. Anaheim’s standout running back, Reuben Droughns, said Tuesday he has committed to Oregon.

Monarch Coach Bruce Rollinson said Williams, a 6-foot-6, 255-pound defensive end, decided after returning last weekend from a recruiting trip to South Bend, Ind. “It was a tough decision,” Rollinson said, “but he liked the fit, so he will go there.”

Williams was recently named to the Parade All-American team and has earned similar honors from USA Today, ESPN and Reebok.

Droughns (6-1, 180) gained 4,887 yards in his three-year career, even though the Colonists made the playoffs only in his sophomore season. He finished as Orange County’s second all-time leading rusher behind Valencia’s Ray Pallares, who gained 5,397 yards from 1983 to 1985.

Droughns scored 49 career touchdowns.

He gained 2,039 yards his sophomore season, which included a 361-yard game against El Monte Arroyo. It was the third highest single-game total in county history.

Other commitments came from Mater Dei lineman Reed Diehl, a Times first-team selection on offense, who will play at Cal; and Monarch cornerback Kevin Barraga, a three-time All-South Coast League selection, who will attend Montana.

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The Southern Section announced its boys’ basketball championships will return to the Pond on March 2, with title games in Divisions I-AA, I-A, II-AA, II-A, III-AA and III-A. The boys’ championships in Divisions IV-AA, IV-A, V-AA and V-A will be March 1 at the Bren Center.

The section girls’ championships return March 1-2 to the Pyramid at Long Beach State.

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Dick Freeman, who took over Corona del Mar’s football program two weeks into the season on an interim basis, has been officially named the school’s football coach, principal Don Martin said.

Freeman took over the program after Coach Mark Schuster was arrested and charged with sexual abuse against his stepdaughter.

Under Freeman’s direction, Corona del Mar (9-4 overall, 7-4 under Freeman) finished second in the Sea View League and reached the Southern Section Division V semifinals.

Freeman said he was glad finally to be the permanent coach, but said the job comes with a price.

“There’s a little more pressure now,” he said. “It was kind of a no-lose situation last year--if we fell apart, it would be [blamed on] the emotion of the kids. But we did well, and that’s the coaching staff and the motivation of the kids. Now, if we don’t do well, it’s my fault. So there’s a different kind of pressure.”