But the former University of Cincinnati student doesn't blame Vitale.

"At the time, I was trying to get my books together to send him," Clouse said. "I wasn't able to get back in contact with him. Since then, I've moved and he's tried to get back in contact with me, but hasn't been able to."

Clouse did have one year of his tuition, room and board paid for by ESPN as part of his reward for sinking a half-court shot during UC's 1994 Midnight Madness festivities, which were televised nationally by the network.

Clouse said he tried to reach Vitale, who promised to pay for his books if he made the shot, by leaving a message at several phone numbers he was given for him, although he didn't know if they were the correct numbers. He said he also left an e-mail on Vitale's Web site, but never received a response.

For a few years after he made the shot, Clouse, in an attempt to protect Vitale's reputation, told his friends that the colorful analyst had paid for his books as promised. But then Vitale came to town one year and told a reporter that he was still looking for Clouse so he could make good on his promise.

"I knew it was probably my fault in the beginning," Clouse said, "so I was just telling people, 'Yeah, he paid it.' The he comes to town and says, 'Where is he? I've been trying to pay him' and my friend looks at me and says, 'I thought you said he paid.' "

E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com