Spurrier to face NCAA

IT'S SOUTH CAROLINA football coach Steve Spurrier's time in the NCAA crosshairs today.

Spurrier and 10 other university coaches, leaders and officials will be in Los Angeles this weekend to appear before the NCAA Committee on Infractions. The NCAA says the school received $55,000 in improper benefits for athletes - mostly football players - who stayed at a hotel for a reduced rate and for South Carolina's involvement with a mentoring group in Delaware.

South Carolina agreed in its response to the NCAA in December that major rules violations did take place.

Spurrier said the hearing would help "find out who was at fault or if anybody was at fault, that's what we're trying to search for." The school doesn't expect an NCAA decision for about 2 to 3 months.

In other college news:

* Authorities say Florida freshman tight end A.C. Leonard was arrested on a simple domestic-battery charge.

Golf * 

Phil Mickelson shot a 66 for a one-shot lead in the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles.

* Japan's Ai Miyazato shot a 67 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the LPGA Thailand in Pattaya. Paula Creamer had a hole-in-one on the 146-yard 12th hole in her 72.

Philly File * 

The Soul acquired linebacker James "Dusty" Bear, a second-team All-Arena selection last year with Dallas.

Sport Stops * 

World duathlon champion Sergio Silva, of Portugal, was stripped of his gold medal after testing positive for a banned stimulant following the race. He'll serve only a 6-month doping ban instead of 2 years after the International Triathlon Union decided he acted "with no intent of enhancing his performance." Silva's ban expires May 9.