Repeated violations of NCAA rules have put the U athletics program in quite a bind.
The NCAA brought down its ruling on July 30, placing Utah on three years' probation after an extensive investigation regarding numerous infractions, most of which are considerably minor.
According to U President Bernie Machen and Athletic Director Chris Hill, the violations were first brought to the school's attention in spring 2001, when a former coach-who was fired in 1999 after allegations of misconduct-filed a complaint, stating that several U coaches and programs regularly broke the rules.
Upon Machen's request, the Office of General Counsel conducted an internal investigation on the situation, interviewing more than 100 current and former coaches, employees and students.
The inquiry did produce results. In summer 2001, the U sent a self-report to the NCAA of its misconduct, admitting that, "1) the athletics compliance office had not always adequately identified, reported and resolved NCAA rules issues; 2) the men's basketball program was not sufficiently committed to understanding and complying with all NCAA rules; and 3) the U's compliance monitoring of the men's basketball on-campus recruiting and extra food benefits was inadequate."
Incidents involving the football team and women's track team were a part of the report, but the disciplinary action sent down by the NCAA stems mostly from violations within U men's basketball.
Among other various matters, head coach Rick Majerus was charged with purchasing "impermissible" meals for one or more of his student-athletes on at least 22 occasions. Ironically, if he had met with the student in Majerus' home, the meals would have been perfectly legal.
"The purpose of the meal[s] was to air out or discuss with, or talk about a situation in a particular area that was important to that player," Majerus said.
"I don't think any kid came away from here and said that because I took them out, that we gained a competitive advantage."
Modest sanctions were placed on the program for a three-year probationary period, the most damaging of which is a team limit of 12 scholarships, rather than the normal 13.
During a press conference announcing the NCAA's decision, Machen, along side Hill, Majerus and Vice President of University Relations Fred Esplin, announced a few changes in procedure for the athletic department that the school hopes will prevent further infractions.
"The first was to transfer the responsibility for certification of eligibility from within the athletic department to the office of the university registrar," Machen said. "The second was to more clearly define the roles and responsibilities of the faculty's athletic representatives. And the third is to develop an enhanced compliance monitoring program."
Aside from the NCAA's decisions, "This has been a very painful, but yet a very constructive process for the university," Machen said. "The issues we have identified are serious and must be corrected."
The NCAA's full report is available online at www.ncaa.org/releases/infractions/2003073001in.htm.
cbellamy@chronicle.utah.edu
