Angry BC player declines to play

Jimmy Golen

Friday, Nov. 8, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

BOSTON -- Boston College will face Notre Dame on Saturday without 14 players because of this week's gambling scandal: The 13 who were suspended, plus Kiernan Speight.

Upset about being accused by his captains and coach, Speight said Thursday he will skip the Eagles' biggest game of the year.

"After all this, my heart isn't in it," Speight said. "I feel kind of torn up inside."

Speight said his decision was partly because he didn't think he was ready after missing a week of practice and also because he didn't think it would be fair to the player who has been working out in his place all week.

But it was also clear from the news conference at Speight's lawyer's office that the 18-year-old cornerback was upset with the school and perhaps even the team captains, who somehow came up with a list of players that gambled, and Speight's name was on it.

"I've done everything BC has asked me to do. When the situation took place, I felt like there was no one on my side," Speight said. "Somebody should tell me how my name was put in. Somebody should apologize."

Speight said he will return with his family to Washington, D.C., to rest and think about whether he'll rejoin the team for the season's last two games. He will also consider transferring.

"He'll be playing football somewhere next year," said his father, John Speight, "because football is his life."

Kiernan Speight was identified in newspapers after reporters watched through a windowed door as coach Dan Henning and the team's captains confronted him and three teammates.

The other three players were among the 13 suspended Wednesday for gambling, including two who bet against their own team. But Speight was not suspended, and the school has told him it has no evidence that he gambled.

Speight suspects he was included in the group because he was close friends with the other three.

"We were recruited together, came here together in a summer program. If I want to get a pizza, they'll spot me a little money. Next time, I might spot them," he said. "That hasn't changed."

But they never bet together, Speight maintained all along.

"If a campus bookmaker was sitting on your head," he said, "I wouldn't know it."

Although Speight said Henning has not apologized, the coach said he encouraged his cornerback to return. When Speight expressed misgivings, Henning said, "I told him, 'You have my permission to stay away as long as you feel comfortable.'"

John Speight said he tried to talk Kiernan into playing, but respected his son's decision. Kiernan Speight said he will watch Saturday's game against No. 17 Notre Dame.

"There are some people on that team who are my friends and who I have a lot of respect for," he said. "I wish them well."

Did he feel let down by those who had bet against the team?

"I'm not upset with my teammates. Gambling is something that's taking place on college campuses," he said. "They made a mistake. We're 17-, 18- and 19-year-olds. They're going to make mistakes. It's not for me to judge morally."