Missouri Coach Exiting Hospital

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) â€” Missouri football coach Larry Smith was expected on campus this week after being treated for a blood clot in his lung in Tucson, Ariz. <br><br>His release from the hospital was expected

Monday, July 24th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) â€” Missouri football coach Larry Smith was expected on campus this week after being treated for a blood clot in his lung in Tucson, Ariz.

His release from the hospital was expected Tuesday, but he might not be immediately allowed to fly to Columbia.

Missouri spokesman Chad Moeller said Smith will return this week and will be ready when freshmen report Aug. 5. Returnees report Aug. 8, and the Tigers open preseason camp in Mexico, Mo., Aug. 13.

Smith, 60, coached in Arizona from 1980 to 1986 and has a home in Tucson. He was hospitalized Wednesday when he felt symptoms of the blood clot. Smith was treated for blood clots at the end of the 1998 season and was kept off his feet before the Insight.com Bowl.

``From his prior experience, he knew what to look for,'' Moeller said.

Smith turned around a Missouri team that went 13 straight seasons without a winning record, leading the Tigers to bowl appearance following the 1997 and 1998 seasons. But last year, Missouri fell to 4-7.

It remained unclear whether Smith would be able to participate in the annual Big 12 football media day Wednesday in Kansas City.