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The apparent dismissal comes after Western had received unwanted publicity for numerous off-the-field problems. The most serious was the second-degree murder charge filed against junior reserve fullback Toren Gordon in connection with the Dec. 7 shooting death of an Asheville man at Thunder Ridge, a Maggie Valley night club.
Thunder Ridge was also the site where WCU assistant coach Brent Pry was charged last month with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and driving while impaired. The assault charge was dismissed, and Pry pleaded guilty to DWI. He resigned last week to accept an assistant coaching position at Louisiana-Lafayette.
Three WCU players are facing charges of assault inflicting serious injury in connection with an October incident at the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house in Cullowhee. They are senior all-conference cornerback Marquail Wells, sophomore starting tight end Brian Rucker and walk-on Herbert White.
At press time, WCU Athletic Director Jeff Compher had not returned The Herald's calls; however, university spokesman Jim Rowell called and confirmed that Bleil will be reassigned.
Mike Cawood, WCU's assistant athletic director for media relations, denied any knowledge of a personnel move involving Bleil.
Bleil was hired in January 1997, more than six weeks after the firing of Steve Hodgin. He had served as offensive line coach and offensive coordinator for one season under Hodgin.
Bleil was clearly not the first choice of WCU's administration when he was hired. Dave Roberts, former offensive coordinator at Notre Dame and a WCU graduate turned down the position. Larry Travis, then WCU's athletic director, had extensive discussions with at least two other candidates before settling on Bleil, an Iowa native who came to WCU after five years as an assistant at Pacific.
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Bleil