e Louisville
VOL. 69, N0.14, 16 PAGES AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 21, 1996
There are no classes Nov. 27-
29, because of Thanksgiving
Break. Therefore, The
Cardinal will not be
published again until Dec. 5.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
barely ruffles Cards' feathers
U of l escapes serious punishment;
faced with two year's probation
• No penalties handed
down on f!OSt-season play
or televiszon time
By Steve Bittenbender
Staff Writer
After 16 months of investigations and review,
the NCAA Committee on Infractions placed
the University of Louisville on two year 's
probation for 10 violations in the men's
basketball program.
Nine of the 10 infractions were discovered
by the University during a self-imposed
investigation filed in November 1995. The
NCAA later found that former Cardinal
Samaki Walker's 1991 Honda Accord was not
paid for as earlier thought.
However, the University contested that
infraction and met with the committee last
September at a hearing in Atlanta. In the report
issued on Wednesday, Nov. 20, the lnfractiorts
Committee stated that while Walker's father
had not purchased the automobile as he had
previously said, neither Walker nor the
University had any knowledge of this.
Coach Denny Crum (foreground), and U of L president John Shumaker, addressed
a crowd after the NCAA announced the penalties against the men's basketball
program on Wednesday, at which ttme Crum said the Investigation never worried
him; "I didn't do anything wrong/' Crum said.
Had there been any knowledge, Infractions
Committee
resign a month tater);
decidirig not to hire a
replacement for Gay until a
full five
chair ·David
Swank said, the
penalties would
have been more
severe.
"If there had
been evidence
that the student-athlete
''I'm glad it's over. It's a
process I'm glad we've
been through. I learned
a lqt from it."
months after
h . s
resignation,
resulting in a
o n e· -·man
reduction in
the coaching
ranks; a ban
was
aware that his
father didn't
purchase the
vehicle, the
penalties would
-Denny Crum,
U of L Basketball Coach
on all phone
contact
between the
coaching
staff and
------------------ Mark Blount,
have been different," Swank' said.
In the report, the committee praised the
University for it cooperation during the ordeal.
"The committee commends the University
for i Is
careful
a n d
thorough
investigation
of the
matters
involved
In this
case," the
committee's
report
said. "In
response .
to the
violations,
t h e
university
implemented
a number
0 f
corrective
actions
a n d
imposed pointman during
significant investigation.
penalties on the men's basketball program.''
While there was a spirit of cooperation within
the University, U of L President John Shumaker
hoped this was the last one he would have to
endure.
''This was not an experience I want to have
again in my time as President," he said.
Shumaker praised head coach Denny Crum
and the athletic department for their cooperation
with the investigations.
"I believe that Denny Crum runs an honest
program," Shumaker said. "And both he and the
athletics staff have cooperated fully in ensuring
that we continue to have an effective handle on
NCAA compliance issues in the future.
"I think this case is a good model of how well ,
the NCAA and a university can work together
to ensure that we have an athletic program we
can all be proud of," Shumaker added.
The committee accepted the sanctions self­imposed
by U of L which included: a recruiting
ban and a salary freeze on former assistant coach
Larry Gay (Gay was then suspended with pay
by the University in December 1995, only to
a former
recruiting prospect now with
the University of Pittsburgh,
from July 4 to Sept. 20, 1995;
disassociation of
two individuals
that were deemed
"representatives
of the
institution's
athletic
interests" ; and
mandating that
two former
assistants attend
an NCAA­sponsored
regional · compliance
seminar.
However, the NCAA also added
four other penalties to the self­imposed
sanctions. Besides the two­year
probation, the NCAA also
handed the University a requirement
that the University must continue to
develop a comprehensive athletics
compliance education program, and
must annually report to the
committee during the probation
period; the University must send it's
current men's basketball coaching
staff to a regional compliance
seminar; and U of L must recetify it's current
athletic policies and practices.
Swank said that the committee never thought
of imposing any television or post-season ban
on the· program.
"The significance of the violations did not
rise to the level to inflict such penalties," he
added.
University officials thought that the NCAA
was just in its findings.
"I believe that today's decision is fair,"
Shumaker said. "The NCAA's findings reaffirm
the integrity and the thoroughness of our self­investigation,
and underscore the fact that we
are serious about 'maintaining complete
institutional control over our athletics program.
"Not only did we report nine of the 10
violations cited by the NCAA, but we
implemented many changes in the documenting
and monitoring procedures we use in the
athletics program," Shumaker added.
Crum said the he was relieved that the
investigation is complete.
"I'm glad it's over," he said. " It's a process
I'm gIad.we've been through, I learned a lot from
it."
Crum said that he was never concerned about
the future of the progr<!m or of his own future at
Louisville, because he knew the inside facts ..
"I didn't do anything Wrong," Crum added.
Because the University was involved in a
major infractions case, it is now subject to the
repeat-violator rules within the NCAA's bylaws
for the next five years. Under those provisions,
any U of L athletics program could face more
significant penalities if they are found guilty of
violating NCAA bylaws within the next five
years.
Athletic Director Bill Olsen said he was
happy with the outcome.
"I'm proud of our department; because of our
strong record of compliance," he added.
"However, it's something I hope we never have
to go through again."
I
Players react to
NCAA ruling ...
See story in the
Cardinal
Basketball
preview, page 11.
The NCAA Sanctions
On November 20, 1996, Ihe NCAA Committee on Infractlonll adopted as its own the folluwing self-Imposed
sanctions by the Un iv~rsity of Louisville!
1) Prohibition against an assistant men's basketball coach per:fonning any f!:Cl'Uiting activities from July 17,
1995 to June 30, t«J96, and an io'lpos1tiol1 of a sl!lary freeze for one year.
2) Decision not to hiw a replacement for the men's assistant coach, wllo resigned during prohibition, until five
tnOnlhs after lhe mignation, resulting In a reduction by one In tiie number of coaches.
3) Proh!bitl()tl of all'telephone eontal!t between the rnen•~ baskotb4ll coaching slllft' and a pto~pectlvt ~tudent•
athlete Mnd his famlly ftom July 4to September 20, 1995.
4) Dl!!llssocllltion ()f two :represenuntves of thi: lnstlrulion's ~ti\Jellil illtert~ts. .
5) Requirement that two assistant men's basketball coaches attend an NCAA regional compliance seminar.
The NCAA added lo 1~ self-imposed 5llnctiol:l5 the following ott N()velflber 20, 1996.
6) 'TWo years of' probatlon from september 21' j 996.
7) That tbe instltuli()il cobtibut: to develop a comprehensive athletits compliance cdutat1o11 prtlgtim, with
annual reports to the cornmlttoo dul'lng tho probation period.
8) That tbe Institution send It's tnen's basketball coaching !Uaff to lill NCAA teglonal cdi)1Jllillnllti~W~inat.
9) Recertification o( cllttellt athletles policies and ptactlces.
Source: 'rhe NCAA's Public lhftactions Report
Administration responds to ruling
By Michael Cunningham
Staff Writer
Louisville Athletic Director Bill Olsen thinks
David Swank has got it all wrong.
Not about the two yeats probation that Swank 's
NCAA Committee on Infractions handed down
to the Cardinals on Nov. 20. Olsen said he was
"happy and relieved" to hear about the probation
and other penalties, which he learned about upon
arriving at Louisville International Airport from
Chicago on Tuesday.
· Rather, Olsen thinks Swank has got It
backwards when he says the probation is art "image
penalty.''
"It is an embarrassment to the President of the
University," Swank said at a news conference
announcing penalties against Louisville for
violations in the men's basketball program. "No
president wants probation.''
But, according to Olsen, it is the process of
gathering facts artd reporting to the NCAA, rather
than the actual probation, that hurts the school.
"From the first (sign) of a problem, it's been an
image problem," Olsen said. "Hopefully, (the
probation) improves instead of clouding and
tarnishing the image. It was clouded and tarnished
throughout the process."
Indeed, by conducting its own internal
investigation and presenting its findings to the
NCAA, U of L may have avoided stiffer penalties
and further embarrassment. While Swank called
the rules violations "serious", he also praised the
,University's efforts.
"I think it's appropriate to commend the
University f~r a thorough evaluation of the case,"
Swank said. "This was an excellent effort. When
the school learned of the violations, it was very
forthright. I think it is a good example of what a
school should do" in a similar situation.
The University, upon advice from special
counsel Mike Glazer, decided early in the
investigation that it would withhold public
comment until the investigation was complete. It
was during this time, Olsen said, that the
University's image may have suffered.
· "It's frustrating, it's distressing, it wears on
you/' Olsen said of the closed process. "A lot of
my staff put in weekends and long nights working
with the media and trying to be as forthright as
possible.
"It takes a toll, and hopefully at the end there
are no hard feelings (with the media)."
But, Olsen said, in the end, the efforts payed off.
"I'm very pleased with the outcome," Olsen
said. "I'm proud of our department.''
Basketball coach Denny Crum also was happy
with the decision and agreed that the process was
trying.
"It was distracting," Crum said. "(But) I'm glad
we've been through it. •. Obviously I don't want to
do it again, but I've learned from it."
U of L President Johrt Shumaker was asked if
the probation was indeed embarrassing to him, as
Swank suggested it should be.
"This is not an experience I want to have again
in my administration as president,'' Shumaker said.
"(The probation) is a warning sign we should hold
the program high above (NCAA standards).
"(But) I take comfort that we were very
thoro.ugh (with the investigation). I'm very proud
of U of L and this athletic program."
Fans react· to sanctions
By J, Scott Jennings
Staff Writer
In the aftermath of the two-year probation
levied against the men's basketball team by the
NCAA, University of Louisville students were
mostly in agreement; the Cardinals saved
themselves by admitting to the allegations.
"I think it 's what they
deserve," said Mark Nabor, a
sophomore. "Anything else
Louisville's cooperation was the factor that
cushioned the University from stiffer sanctions.
Jacqui Meier, a freshman who a(imittedly
wasn't "following the situation," said that after
she found out exactly what the sanctions were,
she "thought it was the right thing ... but if they
do it agailil, they should clean everybody [in the
men's basketball program] out. .. " .
In defense of her stance, she said, "Hey, you
can only give
people so many
would have been too much
considering the way the
University dealt with the
situation."
Brad Lesshafft , also a
sophomore, thought that U of
L was "really very lucky." He
agreed with Nabor, saying, "I
think the reason we got off so
leniently was because we sort
of fessed up."
"I think the reason we
got off so leniently was
because we sort of
fessed up."
breaks ... "
Bill Ohstrom,
who is also a
freshman at
Louisv ille, said
that the penalties U
of L incurred were
"fine," and that
"since we really
didn't lose
anything, it's no
-Brad Lesshafft,
U of L sophomore
Natalie Heinen, a freshr:nan, said she didn't
know much about the situation, but that "turning
themselves in was morally the right thing to do
in the first place.'' She added, "It shows a lot of
character ... that's why they weren't punished very ,
harshly." ·
Ben Humphries thought the penalty placed
upon the Cards was "good, because none of the
players or people here were involved anyway."
Ben Oramig, also a freshman, had a slightly
different view on the matter.
"We got lucky we didn't get it any worse than
we got it." He did agree with the others in that
big deal."
Jack Copeland, a Cardinal season ticket holder,
had mixed emotions about the announcement.
" I am relieved more than anything," he said. " I
think the longer that this [situation] shadowed (the
University of Louisville], the more it hurt
recruiting." fie did say of the sanctions that " It's
the best we could have asked for ... "
Copeland also commented on head coach
Denny Crum. .
"I am no big Denny Crum fan, but I do respect
what he has accomplished ... but after the mesS1 I
think he should retire with dignity ... "