By CRAIG HANDEL
The (Fort Myers, Fla.) News-Press

MIAMI - The sensitive issues regarding quarterback Derrick Crudup Jr. and the University of Miami appear to be resolved.

A statement written Tuesday by university officials and reviewed by the Crudups addressed comments, made by the Crudups, which alleged that race was a factor in Brock Berlin being awarded the starting quarterback job over Crudup Jr.

In Sunday's Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, the Crudups, who are black, alleged Miami quarterbacks coach Dan Werner, who is white, consistently had made what they feel are racially insensitive comments and compromised the integrity of the QB competition. The Crudups said during quarterback meetings Werner used derogatory terms such as "rednecks" and "cracker" in front of Crudup Jr., making the player uncomfortable.

On Monday night, the Crudups and Miami head coach Larry Coker had what they called a productive meeting in which several issues were discussed. In addition, Derrick Crudup, Jr. will remain with the team.

"We are all in agreement that race was not an issue in deciding the quarterback competition," a joint statement from Coker, Werner and the Crudups read. "The Crudups regret that coach Werner was unfairly labeled. Derrick Jr. does not believe coach Werner is a racially biased person, nor does anyone else involved in this situation. The relationship between Derrick Jr. and coach Werner is very strong and, even though Derrick Jr. and his father did not agree with Coach Coker's decision on a starting quarterback, they did respect Coach Coker's authority to make the decision. The Crudups are adamant that Derrick Jr. is staying at the University of Miami and will continue to compete for the starting job. Sometimes when there are issues that are raised it can make each of us more sensitive to individual differences and that can be a positive. All parties agree that we will move on from this situation united as a family."

Coker, Werner, the Crudups and Miami athletic director Paul Dee had no other comments on the matter.

Crudup Sr. transferred from Florida to Oklahoma in the 1980s when allegedly told by Florida coach Charley Pell that he wouldn't be accepted as a quarterback because he was black and that he needed to switch positions. He transferred to Oklahoma, where he eventually switched to safety and went on to play in the NFL.

Werner, 44, is entering his third season at Miami after college jobs at Murray State, Auburn, James Madison, Louisiana Tech, Nevada-Las Vegas and Cornell. He was a graduate assistant at Miami from 1987-89.