ESPN'S NESSLER APOLOGIZES FOR REMARKS TO WISCONSIN'S ALVAREZ

     ESPN's college football play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler
called into a Big Ten coaches' media teleconference yesterday and
apologized to Univ. of WI coach Barry Alvarez for criticizing
play selection late in the game during WI's loss to Northwestern
Saturday.  The apology came after heavy criticism of Alvarez from
Nessler and ESPN studio analysts Lee Corso, who said Alvarez
"should quit."  Nessler "stunned reporters" when he told Alvarez,
"Anything that we did that caused the Wisconsin coaching staff
any undue criticism -- if we blew it, we apologize, or at least I
do, because I'm part of that team."  Nessler's action caught ESPN
officials by "surprise," according to Andrew Bagnato of the
CHICAGO TRIBUNE.  ESPN spokesperson Dean Diltz said Nessler was
not apologizing for Corso's remarks (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/23).