HOUSTON -- Kevin Murray, a recruit at Texas A&M, Tuesday denied receiving a car, money and a credit card as inducements to play football at the university.
Murray's testimony came during the second day of a court fight between baseball's Milwaukee Brewers and A&M over whether Murray may continue to play college football.
U.S. District Judge Gabrielle McDonald heard two days of testimony on the Brewers' request for a preliminary injunction to require Murray to comply with a $35,000 bonus contract.
Attorneys said they expected a ruling in the case Wednesday.
The Brewers said they paid Murray the bonus but he played only 10 weeks of summer rookie league baseball before quitting and resuming football play with the Aggies.
Murray, a former North Dallas High School star quarterback, testified he signed a contract with the Brewers in June 1982 -- four months after he signed a national letter of intent with Texas A&M to play football.
The Brewers claim their contract forbids Murray from playing football or any other sports that might increase his risk of injury. The team claims Murray owes them a year of baseball.
On Monday, Dan Duquette, the Brewers' administrative assistant for scouting and player development, testified Murray told him he received a car, credit cards and money from Aggies supporters.
Duquette said during a Sept. 3 lunch, Murray told him he received a 1980 Buick Regal, gasoline credit cards, a Visa credit card and $200 per week through A&M alumni and assistant coaches during his senior year at North Dallas.
'He said he cleaned up on everybody,' Duquette said. He did not mention any other college by name.
NCAA rules strictly prohibit gifts to recruits by alumni or assistant coaches.
Murray testified he refused all three inducements. He admitted meeting with Duquette for about 30 minutes, but he said recruiting practices were not discussed.
'Basically, we went over baseball,' Murray said. 'There was nothing about recruiting at all.'
Attorneys for A&M refused comment, but a lawyer for the Brewers said the team has asked the judge to force Murray to live up to his contract to play baseball.
'We would like to enforce our rights in the contract and one of those is that he not participate in collegiate football,' said Roly Purrington, an attorney for the Brewers.
The Milwaukee team was granted a temporary restraining order April 13 that forced Murray to quit working out with the Aggies' varsity football team during spring drills.
Aggies Coach Jackie Sherrill, who along with Murray and the school is a named defendant in the Brewers' lawsuit, was not in the courtroom. He declined comment.
