Conway Decides USC Not Worth Wait, Will Enroll at Nebraska

Quarterback Curtis Conway, a prep All-American at Hawthorne High and one of USC’s top football recruits, said Monday he will enroll at Nebraska and sit out this season rather than work toward entering USC next year.

Conway signed a letter of intent with USC. But he was released from the agreement after the school enforced its policy of not accepting players who do not meet the requirements of Proposition 48, the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. rule that stipulates incoming freshmen must score at least 700 (higher or lower depending on grade-point average) on the Scholastic Aptitude Test.

Conway, a two-time All-Southern Section quarterback and the state 100-meter champion, failed to score 700 on the SAT in five attempts.

USC Coach Larry Smith said: “It was very disappointing because I rank Curtis Conway as the top high school football player and athlete in the state of California. And after watching (the Shrine) All-Star game on television, I’m not so sure that he is not the No. 1 player in the country.�

Conway was the South’s starting quarterback in the Shrine game July 29.

A Nebraska official confirmed that Conway has informed the school he will start classes Aug. 28. Conway visited Lincoln the first weekend of August.

Because of his low SAT scores, Conway must sit out this season and loses a year of eligibility. He must complete 24 hours of college work and maintain a 2.0 grade-point average this school year to become eligible in 1990.

Smith said he is against USC’s policy of not admitting athletes based on Prop. 48 requirement. Conway’s grade-point average in college core curriculum classes was acceptable to enter USC.

“The SAT (requirement) is wrong,� Smith said. “I think it has been proven many times over that it is not the test that tests whether an athlete is ready for college. It’s more for students who want to go into professional fields.�

When asked about the situation Monday, Conway said: “I don’t feel like talking about that.�