Tracking the Josh Peter Story

[Cajun Express]

Well like anything, you need a little lead time to get a maximum audience. The coaches show was great the other day, but many people simply did not know it would be aired.

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. - The investigation continues.

Into what, we are still trying to figure out.

A couple of weeks ago, it was reported in the Times-Picayune that Ragin Cajun forward Anthony Johnson was seen driving around in a Cadillac Escalade, and could be a violation of NCAA rules.

We in the media here in Lafayette all saw Johnson riding around in that automobile, and just like any good reporter, we all asked where did he get it from.

The answer was clear, and everyone that covers the University of Louisiana's basketball program on a regular basis was satisfied with the answer: his girlfriend bought it and he just happens to drive it.

No need to investigate this accusation. No need to call in an outside investigator to find out if there is any wrongdoing on the part of the basketball coaching staff.

But for some reason, the school felt there was a need to investigate. We all know that it is mainly because of what happened in the early 1970's with this program.

The rest of the story
by Kent Masson
KATC TV3

[CajunCall]

A caller to Don Allen said UL turned the investigation over to the SunBelt Conference. On the ESPN article the last sentence said "Schexnayder said he hopes to have the investigation completed within a month." Does this mean there is more to the story it is 2 months already.

[Cajun Express]

Does this mean there is more to the story it is 2 months already. [/B]

Don't worry, the delay has nothing to do with the seriousness of the investigation. Like all things in Louisiana there are problems with this that have nothing at all to do with the article.[quote]

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. — The NCAA confirmed Thursday what Louisiana basketball coach Jessie Evans asserted all along, that the Ragin’ Cajun program was innocent of infractions alleged in an April 3 article printed in the (New Orleans) Times Picayune.

The wide-ranging article indicated that Cajun forward Anthony Johnson spent several months living with Evans. The article also questioned his use of a 2002 Cadillac Escalade, which was registered in his girlfriend’s name.

As soon as the article appeared, Louisiana President Ray Authement and Athletic Director Nelson Schexnayder set in motion an independent investigation of the allegations.

That probe found no infractions related to Johnson’s relationships outside the program, and the university received a letter from the NCAA on Thursday indicating that it felt the matter was closed.

The rest of the story

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. -- The NCAA and a separate investigation have failed to uncover any violations involving the University of Louisiana at Lafayette men's basketball program, according to a press release issued by the university on Thursday.
ULL Athletic Director Nelson Schexnayder requested the investigation in April, following a New Orleans Times-Picayune story alleging potential NCAA violations involving senior guard Anthony Johnson.

On Thursday Schexnayder said UL takes any allegations of non-compliance with NCAA rules "very seriously."

Schexnayder said, "Obviously we're very happy that no violations of any sort were found. We had hoped from the start that would be the conclusion."

The Times Picayune story, written by Josh Peters, alleged Johnson at one time lived at the residence of head basketball coach Jessie Evans.

Johnson, also according to the story, had been seen in Lafayette driving a 2002 Cadillac Escalade owned by Christina Dartez, identified by Peters as Johnson's girlfriend.

According to the story, Dartez had at one time registered another vehicle at Evans' home address and gave Johnson money.

Schexnayder said the investigation into the allegations was conducted by a group of individuals not associated with UL.

Some of those performing the investigation of the story's allegations were members of a Sun Belt Conference compliance committee, he said.

"The main issues that were raised was whether (Johnson) ever lived with (Evans), which would have been an improper benefit and whether Anthony Johnson's use of a luxury vehicle was provided by a representative of the university," Schexnayder said.

Evans said he considered the allegations raised in the article "a pack of lies."

The rest of the story

By BOBBY ARDOIN
Special to The Advocate

[NewsCopy]

NCAA accepts report, considers case closed

By Josh Peter
Picayune Staff writer

An investigation into whether the University of Louisiana men's basketball team committed NCAA rules violations found no wrongdoing, and the NCAA considers the matter a closed case, according to documents released by UL on Thursday.

The school launched the investigation in response to an April 3 article in The Times-Picayune detailing the possible rules violations. At the time, the school said its primary concerns were whether UL basketball coach Jessie Evans provided extra benefits to senior guard Anthony Johnson, and whether a woman whose car Johnson has been seen driving could be considered a representative of the school's interests.

"I thought it was a thoughtless allegation," Evans said Thursday. "I don't feel vindicated. It's not worthy of a comment, really."

The school's investigation was conducted by a member of the Sun Belt Conference, of which UL is a member. UL attempted to hire Chuck Smrt, a former investigator with the NCAA. But Smrt does not have a state license required to work as a private investigator in Louisiana, so UL turned to its conference office.

The investigation found that Johnson used Evans' address to receive mail because the university's dorm mail service was "unreliable," but Johnson did not live at the coach's residence. The school's athletes no longer will be permitted to use their coaches' address to receive mail, according to a letter UL president Ray Authement sent to the NCAA.

Johnnail Evans, who coached Johnson when the player was growing up in Chicago and advised Johnson during the college recruiting process, told The Times-Picayune for its April 3 article that Johnson lived for several months with Jessie Evans.

The rest of the story

Josh Peter can be reached at jpeter@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3407.

[Pirogue]

Originally posted by Turbine

Louisiana La. -- It has been thirty years since minor infractions (by todays standards) caused the bogus basketball death penalty that hit Louisiana's 1973 campus.

Now we have more bogus allegations.

I remember, and I'm probably remembering it wrong, an official from USL said that there were 100+ infractions and two of them were "damn lies"

Sidebar- I've often entertained writing about that episode, and would love top see any archived stuff on that topic you have. Is anyone here a member of the "Cajun Mafia?"

[CDeb]

Originally posted by pirogue
I remember, and I'm probably remembering it wrong, an official from USL said that there were 100+ infractions and two of them were "damn lies"

Actually, that was Beryl Shipley who said that

Originally posted by pirogue

Sidebar- I've often entertained writing about that episode, and would love top see any archived stuff on that topic you have. Is anyone here a member of the "Cajun Mafia?"

I brought it up with Ron Gomez, who is also a fine author, about writing about this episode in UL's history. He entertained it for a while, but decided not to. Apparently, a lot of the principals don't want to talk about it. Don Allen was offered an advance from a publisher to do the story, but the offer was mysteriously withdrawn a short time later.

[Pirogue]

Originally posted by CDeb
Actually, that was Beryl Shipley who said that



I brought it up with Ron Gomez, who is also a fine author, about writing about this episode in UL's history. He entertained it for a while, but decided not to. Apparently, a lot of the principals don't want to talk about it. Don Allen was offered an advance froma publisher to do the story, but the offer was mysteriously withdrawn a short time later.

Now I'm really interested in doing something.