Ohio State football Coach Earle Bruce and...

Ohio State football Coach Earle Bruce and Athletic Director Rick Bay helped win state senate committee approval of a bill that seeks to regulate unscrupulous sports agents.

Their testimony before the Ohio Senate in Columbus stemmed in part from the disqualification of All-American wide receiver Cris Carter before this college football season, although Bruce said he recognized a problem with agents pressuring players as long ago as 1972.

Carter, who admitted accepting a payment from an agent in violation of NCAA rules, lost his final year of eligibility at Ohio State and has signed with the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL.

The Senate Finance Committee recommended passage, 4-2, after its provisions were weakened to accommodate the concerns of sports agents who said it otherwise could put legitimate agents out of business.