Tony Buffa writes:
> At this point, I must respectfully disagree with Dick Tuthill. None of
> this stuff is small potatoes IMHO. This is the kind of stuff that drags
> down all of intercollegiate athletics. It is the kind of story that makes
> the academic side of the campus totally unsympathetic to the "pampered"
> athletic dept. It may be small potatoes in terms of dollar amounts, but
> it is a big problem that needs to be dealt with and I think Maine has, at
> least on the surface, done a good job.
Some thoughts on what has been reported and discussed here:
1. From reading what has been posted, there was no one bombshell, but those
small potatoes do add up.
2. Wisconsin had a similar violation (to one of the Maine violations) a few
years ago when a booster was giving "below market value" room and
board to two players. In that case, the athletic department messed up
in dealing with it -- Coach Sauer thought the associate athletic
director was dealing with, and he wasn't (I'm not sure who he thought
was dealing with it). The Athletic Department admitted the error and
imposed penalties.
One of the penalties (self-imposed, I think) was reducing the
scholarship/stipend money for the team the next year by the amount the
players (who had since graduated) were undercharged (they were asked to
repay it too, but I don't know if they did). The NCAA also "vacated"
(I think that was the word they used) the Badger's runner-up finish
in the tournament for that year.
What Sauer said at the time is that he "discourages" players from
living with boosters, but since there are no housing rules for
regular students, there are no housing rules for athletes either, so
he can't ban it. I don't know if any of the current players are boarding
with boosters, but I am confident that any such arrangements are
being watched closely.
3. The most damaging item it seems (from the reports I have seen) is
Walsh (and others) violating explicit directions on "integrity"
issues -- to not take money from the boosters during his earlier
suspension, and to not have any contact with witnesses (is that the
right word?) being interviewed as part of the investigation.
If I remember correctly, one of the things that got Brad Butow fired
from Colorado College was taking advantage of a loophole in the NCAA
rules that the Athletic Director explicity told him not to do.
4. The NCAA will almost certainly add something to the self-imposed
penalties. They almost always do.
I remember reading an article somewhere once about the law firm that
Maine hired to investigate this case (I am 99% sure it is the same
firm). This is one of their specialties; and the NCAA
compliance/investigations people know them well, and respect their
work. Usually this firm insists on a very complete investigation and
stiff self-imposed penalties, as seems to be the case here.
Happy Holidays and good luck to everyone and their teams... (except of
course when they play Wisconsin!),
--david
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david parter [log in to unmask]
university of wisconsin -- madison voice: 608-262-0608/262-2389
computer sciences department fax: 608-262-6626
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