Like or loathe the NCAA, this much is certain about this unique, voluntary association that houses the largest collegiate athletic organization in the world: It's good to be the King -- and royalty certainly works at its own pace and plays by its own rules.
Following Thursday's announcement that 16 teams at the University of Alabama have been penalized for their involvement in improperly obtaining free textbooks for other students, three high-profile NCAA investigations are currently on the books for fans to score at their leisure.
Officials from the University of Memphis met with the NCAA Committee on Infractions in Indianapolis last Saturday to answer allegations of major violations within the men's basketball program under then-coach John Calipari during the 2007-08 season.
The meeting, which was closed to the public and media, reportedly lasted about four hours. A decision on a ruling is expected in 6-to-8 weeks.
At Florida State, the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee has notified FSU that it had granted the school's request for a 14-day extension to submit a rebuttal to the NCAA Committee on Infractions. FSU has confirmed that the new deadline is July 1 to appeal sanctions imposed in the wake of an academic misconduct case.
This is just another step of a process that will likely go into the fall, according to FSU officials. The scandal first surfaced and was investigated by the school in March 2007, and the fallout could cost head football coach Bobby Bowden 14 victories.
Word is the NCAA has not moved from its position that FSU must vacate victories in multiple sports, including football and track, which would also lose a national championship. Such a penalty would leave Bowden, who turns 80 in November, unable to keep pace with Penn State's Joe Paterno.
Bowden has 382 wins, one fewer than the 82-year-old Paterno. Bowden has said it would be unfortunate if the NCAA ends that battle, but he wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Hopefully, coach is fluffing his pillow after the NCAA ruled that Alabama has been ordered to vacate an unspecified number of victories between the 2005 and 2007 seasons.
It's a safe bet nobody at Alabama will be tossing and turning at night over vacated victories, especially since the football team won't lose any future scholarships and postseason opportunities. That decision ensures the Crimson Tide will remain on equal footing with its fellow Southeastern Conference powers.
In other words, it won't hurt the program's ability to continue to compete -- isn't that what NCAA penalties are supposed to do? -- and make money -- and isn't that what Big Business is supposed to do?
While many believe Bowden's future at FSU could depend on the school's appeal, the only season actually in question is 2010. FSU has a contract in place with offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher to take over by 2011 or it will pay a $5 million penalty -- and FSU President T.K. Wetherell has said that's not going to happen.
Of course, the NCAA's hush-hush handling of FSU's appeal has drawn the attention of elected officials in Florida.
The NCAA secretly responded to the Seminoles' appeal and that's a no-no under Florida's open government laws. Wetherell said he asked the NCAA to release its response to FSU, but the NCAA denied the request. The NCAA also had the university's outside counsel sign a confidentiality agreement, and The Tallahassee Democrat reported Thursday that civil and criminal actions were threatened if the agreement was violated.
Alexis Lambert, the sunshine and public records lawyer for Attorney General Bill McCollum, said Thursday that Florida statues are clear that a third party -- NCAA can take a bow -- that generates a document cannot designate it to be private.
Across the country, at the University of Southern California, weeks have also turned to months and months to years. On April 24, 2006, the NCAA became a participant in the school's investigation into allegations that star football player Reggie Bush broke rules by accepting cash, a car and free housing from to San Diego businessmen who hoped to profit from him after he turned professional.
The men's basketball team is now under NCAA scrutiny following recent accusations against ex-Trojans coach Tim Floyd, who resigned Tuesday, and his former marquee player, O.J. Mayo, who is accused of accepting cash and other benefits from a middleman representing a sports agency before and during the one season he played for the Trojans in 2007-08.
NCAA investigations into the football and basketball allegations have been combined into one probe of the Trojans' athletic program. The NCAA reportedly wants to determine whether USC lost "institutional control" over its athletics program and is examining whether USC administrators knew of any transgressions, or should have known by being vigilant.
In recent interviews with Los Angeles newspaper and radio outlets, USC coach Pete Carroll indicated the university has cooperated fully with the NCAA.
A Los Angeles Times story published Sunday examined USC's policies concerning an NCAA investigation into allegations against the Trojans' football and men's basketball programs. The story said USC had not directly interviewed at least two of its main accusers, and pointed out that school personnel were under instructions not to talk publicly about issues connected to the investigation.
"This is really an old investigation that has taken to this point ... really we haven't heard anything, I haven't heard a question about it in a couple of years now," Carroll said last week on Los Angeles sports talk radio "The Petros and Money Show" in regard to the Bush allegations.
"We contributed in every possible way with the investigation, we gave them all the information, we gave them all of our records, we did everything we could possibly do to contribute to the process of putting all the information together within the university and with the NCAA. ... There's nothing new about it, nothing changing, nothing happening, I think they've done all of their homework on the football program."
The NCAA, a voluntary association of about 1,200 institutions, as well as conferences and individuals that organize the athletic programs of many college and universities around the country, takes its homework seriously. And least that's the image it portrays, though many will argue the organization is all bark and no bite when it comes to dealing with established schools.
What's a little public embarrassment compared to fat deposit slips?
Still, it was 1952 when membership created the mechanism that allows the NCAA to enforce its legislation. That legislation, at least on the surface, is self-explanatory. And it also goes without saying that card-carrying schools that don't abide by NCAA legislation can find themselves in hot water.
Allegations of rules violations are referred to the NCAA's investigative staff. A preliminary investigation is initiated to determine if an official inquiry is warranted and to categorize any resultant violations as secondary or major. If several violations are found, the NCAA may determine that the school as a whole has exhibited a "lack of institutional control." The institution involved is notified and may appear in its own behalf before the NCAA Committee on Infractions.
Findings of the Committee on Infractions are reported to the institution. Sanctions will generally include having the institution placed on "probation" for a period of time, in addition to other penalties that could be as extreme as the "death penalty." The NCAA can ban institutions from participating in certain sports. It's the most severe punishment in athletics that a school can receive, and has been implemented only five times.
Of course, the institution may appeal the findings or sanctions to an appeals committee.
Let's also keep in mind the NCAA does have a sense of humor. When an NCAA investigator involved in the USC case walked into his office one morning, he discovered that a co-worker had hung a USC banner on the wall. And let's not forget about the NCAA's heart either. After it initially ruled that Oklahoma had to vacate its nine football victories during the 2005 season because of violations involving players working at a local car dealership, the Sooners successfully appealed that verdict.
NCAA bylaws forbid schools from publicly disclosing information from the association's investigations until the probes are complete. But colleges are not barred from going public with their own findings, including material that might exonerate the school, NCAA officials say.
"We don't put a gag order on a school," NCAA spokeswoman Stacey Osburn told the Los Angeles Times. "And they can do their own complete investigation. ... It's an incredibly common practice for schools to self-impose penalties."
Carroll stressed the university has been diligent in its investigation into the allegations against the football and basketball programs.
"The whole issue whenever somebody comes after the university with allegations is of great concern and we take it extremely seriously," he said during his radio interview.
"However, in terms of the football program there hasn't been a topic raised in years. That doesn't mean the investigation is closed, we just don't hear anything about it. What's came up in basketball, somebody made an allegation against the program and so those have to be dealt with. You can count on the university to be contributing in every way and cooperating in every way in that they can possibly do with the NCA
A and understand what's going on. We are not instructed go ahead and talk outwardly and throw our opinions around about what's going on because it's an on-going investigation and we have to respect that." In their meeting with the NCAA, Memphis officials, meanwhile, answered charges that Derrick Rose, who played only the 2007-08 season at Memphis before becoming the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls, cheated on his SAT while attending Chicago's Simeon Career Academy. Former Memphis coach John Calipari, now at Kentucky, participated in the hearing by phone from China, where he is on a previously scheduled trip.
Memphis officials last week released the findings of an internal investigation, which turned up no proof that Rose had a stand-in take his SAT. The Tigers also are accused of providing improper travel-related benefits to Rose's older brother, Reggie.
"Although we cannot comment on the specifics of what occurred during the hearing, I can say that, as president, I reiterated the university's commitment to NCAA rules compliance," Memphis president Dr. Shirley Raines said.
"As a member institution with several of our staff participating in NCAA leadership positions, I expect the university to live up to its commitment. We believe we were able to fully answer the committee's questions and present the actions that we have already taken based upon our internal investigations. Throughout this process, we have had a cooperative relationship with the NCAA enforcement staff, and we want to thank the NCAA for that.
"We are hopeful that we will receive a favorable decision on behalf of the university in this matter. We appreciate your interest and we look forward to having more to say after the committee has released its decision."
The NCAA is on it.
It's good to be the King.
