Self-policing keeps Baylor from being locked up longer

Sporting News, The, Oct 2, 1995 by Gene Wojciechowski

If you're going to spend time in the NCAA big house, then it's best to do what Baylor did when news of academic fraud hit last year: ban yourself from TV and the postseason, accept no TV money, reduce your scholarships, fire your coaching staff and hire a compliance coordinator.

It was painful stuff, but the self-imposed sanctions saved the program from further damage from the NCAA. The NCAA Committee on Infractions, impressed by Baylor's aggressive actions, decided last week that the Bears had suffered enough. Rather than add its own stiff penalties, the Committee basically said the program had rehabilitated itself, meaning Baylor is now eligible for postseason play.

Baylor's administration, said acting Committee Chairman Roy Kramer, "did exactly what the NCAA and its member institutions expect in a case of serious violations." Did you hear that, Alabama?

Of course, the Committee did add a few of its own touches to the list of sanctions. In addition to Baylor's self-imposed penalties, which the NCAA adopted as its own, the committee made it tough for the fired coaches to find new jobs in the business.

By imposing a "show-cause" requirement, the NCAA will require any school wishing to hire one of the former Baylor coaches to appear in front of the Committee. Then, the Committee will decide what limitations, if any, the coach will have in the new job.

Former coach Darrel Johnson is under show-cause until September 1, 1999, as are two former Baylor assistants. Another assistant is under show-cause requirements until September 1, 2001. Tbe NCAA did not specify which former assistant (Gary Thomas, Troy Drummond or Kevin Gray) must serve the longest penalty.

The four coaches, who helped players secure fraudulent academic credit, have until early October to appeal the Committee's punishment. According to Johnson's attorney, the former Baylor boss has yet to decide where or when to pursue another coaching job.

"The events that brought us to this day are events about which no one could possibly be happy," said recently appointed Baylor President Robert Sloan. "But we are pleased with the outcome. What occurred at Baylor University was an aberration with respect to our long history and tradition of integrity."

Attacking the Shark

Well, that didn't take long.

Already, Fresno State is investigating an allegation that new Coach Jerry Tarkanian and his assistants oversaw a workout of players at a local health club over the summer. If true, it would be an NCAA rules violation.

Tarkanian, who was hired in April and is used to this sort of thing, says he was at the club ... not to coach, but to exercise.

Everything we did was all done according to the rules," Tarkanian says. "We didn't hide anything. I'm disappointed that someone would start a rumor like this."

Interim Athletic Director Ben Quillian was first told of the rumor last month by former Fresno A.D. Gary Cunningham. Since then, Quillian has conducted an investigation and says he has found no wrongdoing.

See ya later

Two more coaching changes:

Rob Standifer, whose decision to give convicted sex offender Richie Parker a scholarship was later denied by school officials, has resigned as Mesa (Ariz.) Community College coach.

Parker, the New York high school star guard who can't find a college willing to take a chance on him, is serving a five-year probation after pleading guilty to sexual assault.

Alabama State has fired Coach James Oliver, who, according to the Mobile (Ala.) Register, will be reassigned to another position.

Four Alabama State athletic programs, including men's basketball, are under NCAA investigation.

Scheduling changes

The Big 12 Conference, which begins play in 1996-97, still has work to do on its upcoming schedules. The postseason tournament is set; it will be at Kansas City's Kemper Arena the first two years. But the regular-season lineup hasn't been finalized.

Kansas Athletic Director Bob Frederick, who doubles as the league's director of athletics committee, says Big 12 teams won't play more than two consecutive conference road games and everybody's last four games will be split - two at home, two on the road.

As always, TV was an issue. Look for the conference to tinker with its schedule, moving marquee games that might otherwise have been played on Saturday or Wednesday to the ESPN "Big Monday" time slot.

Gene Wojciechowski covers college basketball for the Los Angeles Times.