FAU Coach Denies Using Drugs, Wants Job He Resigned Back

Carl Pelini wants his job back at Florida Atlantic, asking school officials to rescind the resignation letter he now claims he was forced to sign after being confronted with allegations that he used illegal drugs.

Pelini, who was FAU's head coach for 20 games, said he denied using the drugs, later identified in other documents as marijuana and cocaine. When FAU announced his resignation Oct. 30, athletic director Patrick Chun said Pelini and now-former defensive coordinator Pete Rekstis both acknowledged that they used drugs.

"I denied using illegal drugs three times," Pelini - 5-15 with the Owls wrote in a letter Thursday to three FAU officials.

Chun released a statement through an athletic department spokeswoman, saying he stands "by my statement and decision from last week."

"We had ample evidence to support the charges that we confronted both coaches with," said Chun, who declined further comment.

Last week, two days after Pelini's resignation was announced, the situation took a turn when school officials released sworn affidavits from two people

- including FAU assistant coach Matt Edwards - alleging drug use. Edwards wrote that he witnessed Pelini smoking marijuana in Key West on Oct. 19, the Saturday of an off week for the Owls. Another person, Allison Stewart, said she got a text message from Pelini where he admitted drug use.

Pelini said that when he was confronted by Chun, he told him that Edwards and Stewart "had strong motive to have me removed" from his job. He has not specified what are the motives.

Pelini's contract specified that if he used "any narcotics, drugs, or other controlled substances" he could be subject to firing.

Robinson's son dies:

The son of former Grambling State coach Eddie Robinson died Wednesday night at a Dallas hospital after complications from a heart transplant. He was 70. Eddie Robinson Jr. played for his father at Grambling, and later worked for him as an assistant coach.

Ball State 44, Central Michigan 24: Keith Wenning threw for 299 yards and four touchdowns and Horactio Banks had 11 carries for 143 yards and a score to help the host Cardinals beat the Chippewas on Wednesday night. Ball State (9-1, 6-0 MAC) has won seven straight and is at Northern Illinois (9-0, 5-0) next Wednesday in a key West Division game with a possible BCS bowl berth on the line.

LSU: Brandon Harris, one of Louisiana's top high school quarterbacks, is enrolling at LSU. Operating under new NCAA rules, LSU signed Harris to an Institutional Financial Aid Agreement that will allow him to enroll in January, shortly after his mid-year high school graduation.