Ex Recruit claims benefits... ( Advertiser Gets Maniacal ) ... other findings

[RaginFan2]

Maybe the NCAA's staff needs to get into collecting rents.

"Pac-10 College conference commissioners are investigating the circumstances surrounding the former USC running back's mother and stepfather renting a spacious new home from a prospective sports marketer."

"The controversy concerns a 3,000-square-foot home rented by Denise and LaMar Griffin in Spring Valley, Calif., just outside San Diego, where Bush was a high school standout. The $757,000 house is owned by businessman Michael Michaels who reportedly had plans to set up a sports marketing company built around the marquee college star-turned-pro.

That kind of arrangement could be considered an "extra benefit" and a violation of NCAA rules."

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=1891155&page=1

Yeah, that's kinda the same as getting a free T-shirt, huh?

[NewsCopy]

University of Louisiana Interim Athletic Director David Walker said Wednesday that steps already have been taken to soften blows the university could receive as a result of recent NCAA allegations. The university received an official notice of allegations Tuesday citing four areas in which NCAA rules violations allegedly took place. Walker said recent actions within the athletic department have addressed those issues. "The most important thing is that no one was cited for intentionally violating NCAA regulations," Walker said. "We hope that will be taken into consideration." The alleged violations include the improper certification of eligibility for former men's basketball player Orien Greene, illegal contact by a strength and conditioning coach with football coaches and players during voluntary summer drills, extra benefits - T-shirts - awarded to selected football players and failure to monitor the football and men's basketball programs, which contributed to the above violations. Walker said two personnel changes within the department, a more clear definition of what constitutes a correspondence course in NCAA interpretations and a comprehensive educational program for coaches and staff have addressed the four areas. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[CajunKahouna]

I just wonder what would happen if this town got a independent, second newspaper; Advertiser who?

[ironman74]

What about the stickers coaches give out to put on your football helmet. Aren't those medals of achievement in comparison to a t-shirt.

[shof]

What about the stickers coaches give out to put on your football helmet. Aren't those medals of achievement in comparison to a t-shirt.

Might be due to the t-shirts being given during "off-season" type workouts (voluntary, etc).

[CajunAmos]

Heard someone suggest on the radio it might be due to the item being "clothes". The concern was that once you allow "clothes", where do you stop (ie $150 shirts, suits). Maybe the concern is at the larger conferences players could receive and sell shirts/jerseys and pocket the profits. I don't know if I would subscribe to this theory, but I can see how some might. I do seem to see a large number of players wearing personalized jerseys from their universities, as well as conference/national champions putting on T-shirts & hats with the championship logo's on them, and wonder what makes these different.

[Jason]

With the NCAA, justice has always been a sliding scale involving haves and have-nots. With that big reputation and big media market behind it, USC football is most certainly (like Michigan) a have. So maybe there is nothing for the Trojans to sweat no matter what the truth is.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slu...=lgns&expire=1

[NewsCopy]

UL's hopes of a quick resolution to its NCAA infractions investigation have been dashed. In fact, the Ragin' Cajuns will now have to wait several months before finding out their fate after the NCAA's recent inquiry into the program. UL interim athletic director David Walker said Wednesday that the department's appearance before the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions has been pushed back to Feb. 16-18, 2007, in Palm Harbor, Fla. "We were told there were some issues they said they wanted to address," Walker said. UL was to appear before the committee this Friday through Sunday, Oct. 13-15, in Indianapolis, Ind., at NCAA headquarters. Walker said two weeks ago that the department was hoping to deal with inquiry findings and the imposing of penalties via a conference call and a summary disposition this week, negating the necessity of an in-person appearance. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[DestinCajun]

Palm Harbor Fla? Sure beats the heck out of Indianapolis in February.
If the AD needs someone to go along, I'll be happy to volunteer.

[NewsCopy]

  UL's athletic program will make its twice-delayed appearance before the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions Friday, but the results won't be known for more than a month.

UL athletic director David Walker said Wednesday that president Ray Authement, faculty athletic representative Wayne Andrepont, four athletic department staffers and Sun Belt Conference commissioner Wright Waters will appear before the committee at 8:30 a.m. Friday in Palm Harbor, Fla.

The appearance stems from NCAA inquiries in early 2006 and a notice of allegations received last April 25, one that cited two violations in men's basketball and two in football. UL men's basketball coach Robert Lee and football coach Rickey Bustle will appear before the committee along with Walker and assistant athletic director for compliance Kristi Stake.

Walker said the group will depart Lafayette at approximately 11 a.m. today, meaning that Lee will not be on the bench for the Cajuns' Sun Belt contest against ULM tonight at the Cajundome. UL assistant coach Rennie Bailey will be acting head coach.

The rest of the story

Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com