LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVIEWS ROUSE, HAS BLISS TAPES

The former Baylor assistant basketball coach whose secret tape
recordings exposed former head coach Dave Bliss' attempted cover up of
misdeeds in his program met recently with law enforcement
investigators.

Abar Rouse met with McLennan County authorities last week in Waco, his
attorney Michael Peguese said Thursday. He would not disclose the
nature of the meeting, whether it was part of the investigation into
the death of former Bears player Patrick Dennehy or if it was related
to the tape recordings.

Rouse recorded the tapes from July 30-Aug. 1 and gave copies to Baylor
University, the National Collegiate Athletic Association investigators
and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Aug. 15.

Baylor officials said they would make the tapes and other materials
uncovered in their investigation available to law enforcement
officials to determine if any laws had been broken.

Copies of the tapes were given to law enforcement officials a few days
later.

Peguese said last week's meeting was scheduled before Rouse hired him.
He would say only that it took place in Waco with law enforcement
investigators.

"I won't say anything about a potential criminal investigation,"
Peguese said.

District Attorney John Segrest's office said he would not comment.
Sheriff Larry Lynch did not immediately return a telephone message
left at his office.

Dennehy was found dead July 25 with two gunshot wounds to the head.
Another former Baylor player, Carlton Dotson, has been indicted on a
murder charge.

Dotson, 21, remains at Kent County Detention Center in Maryland where
authorities are trying to extradite him to stand trial. Gov. Rick
Perry on Wednesday sent a formal request for his return to Maryland
Gov. Robert Ehrlich.

He faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if
convicted.

The tapes revealed Bliss' attempt to cover up improper tuition
payments paid to Dennehy. Bliss wanted Rouse and three players to lie
to Baylor and NCAA investigators that Dennehy was a drug dealer.
Baylor officials have said they found no evidence Dennehy sold drugs.

Bliss resigned Aug. 8 when confronted with the evidence of improper
payments to Dennehy and another player. The tapes were revealed a week
later.

Peguese said law enforcement investigators had not asked for the
original tapes. He said copies of the tapes are being kept "safe" but
acknowledged he did not know if those included the originals.

He said no materials would be turned over to authorities without a
subpoena.

"That's not to say by any means we are not cooperating with
authorities," Peguese said. "That's just the preferred way of doing
things."

Rouse, meanwhile, is still without a job and living at and undisclosed
location, Peguese said.

"He's a private guy," Peguese said. "If anyone had his address or his
phone number, you can imagine it could cause some problems."

Rouse was fired at Baylor after the school hired new head coach Scott
Drew, who brought in his own staff. Peguese said Rouse wants to coach
again but had not applied for any positions.

With the NCAA and university investigations continuing, Baylor
President Robert Sloan has placed the basketball program on a two-year
probation.