Monday, January 08, 2001
UK to submit its own sanctions to NCAA
The Associated Press
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky will propose its own sanctions when it submits the results of an internal investigation of its football program to the NCAA this week, athletics director Larry Ivy said.
Ivy called for the probe about a month before the Louisville Courier-Journal uncovered evidence that recruiting coordinator Claude Bassett sent $1,400 in money orders to a high school football coach in Memphis, Tenn. Bassett admitted Friday that he had sent the money.
Ivy said possible sanctions against the program could include a reduction in football scholarships and a reduction in the number of official visits to campus by recruits. He would not say what sanctions the school planned to propose.
NCAA spokeswoman Jane Jankowski said it's customary for universities to suggest penalties when self-reporting violations.
What is unclear, Jankowski said, is how the infractions committee will view the report and how long it will take for the infractions committee to act.
“I really can't speculate on where any of this might go,” Jankowski said. “Certainly that's the job of the enforcement staff, to take a look at the entire situation and take the appropriate next step. Where this may end up, I don't think I should speculate on that.”
Bassett was among four assistant coaches fired by coach Hal Mumme in late November. Ivy said Saturday that a $500 check from a donor that was cashed by Bassett led to Bassett's firing, the Courier-Journal reported.
Ivy also said that while the check was cashed in June 1999, the university didn't take any action until last November because UK athletic administrators didn't learn about it until then.
Asked if Bassett was forced to resign, Ivy said, “You can make a judgment there, but basically, at that point in time, that is a terminating offense by the university.”
Former UK athletic director C.M. Newton and Ivy both said they were upset that they weren't informed about the check, but both said they're convinced that Mumme did not know about it.
Newton, who hired Mumme in 1996, also said that he's confident that Bassett also acted on his own in sending the money orders to Thompson.
“I have no doubts about Hal Mumme,” Newton said.
Ivy said the findings of UK's internal investigation will include the $1,400 Bassett directed to be sent to Thompson and other violations that have been uncovered but not publicly disclosed.
Ivy emphasized that although the investigation is nearly finished, UK has not yet written its report or reached a conclusion regarding the severity of the violations it has uncovered.
Sports Stories
Xavier 81, LaSalle 66
DAUGHERTY: XU's West no flash in the pan
McAfee is winning the battle
Coaches drop UC from poll
UC women 66, South Florida 52
UK to submit its own sanctions to NCAA
