Possible pending agreement between NCAA and Balogun? Mike Balogun's attorney, Woody Glass, told The Oklahoman that today's temporary injunction hearing against the NCAA has been cancelled, and that he is working on an agreement that will have the NCAA re-evaluate his client's eligibility outside the courts. "Our hope is to get all this information that I've uncovered the last several weeks back to the NCAA," Glass said, "and let them make a decision." Glass said part of the pending agreement with the NCAA is "getting in place deadline dates," so a ruling can be made before Oklahoma's Sept. 5 opener with Brigham Young. "Their attorneys have been very helpful and have shown a willingness to speed up the issue," Glass said. The main reason, Glass said, for taking Balogun's case back out of court is NCAA bylaw 19.7. which allows for penalties against schools that allow student-athletes to play under a court order and that order is later overturned or found to be unjustified. (More at The Oklahoman)

Previous Post:
FSU Questioned Balogun's Eligibility
NCAA Investigates Linebacker's Eligibility

Labels: Mike Balogun, NCAA Investigation, Oklahoma Sooners

Comments made during telecast raised questions: In the first half of the BCS National Championship game, Mike Balogun corralled Florida running back Chris Rainey for a 3-yard loss. Had Balogun not made that tackle, his eligibility at Oklahoma may have never come under investigation by the NCAA. Court documents obtained by The Oklahoman from Balogun's lawsuit against the NCAA allege that comments made by TV announcers during the national-title telecast about Balogun being age 25 and playing semi-pro ball before coming to OU sparked the NCAA's inquiry into his past. Balogun filed a civil lawsuit against the NCAA on Tuesday and was granted a temporary restraining order against the governing body by a Cleveland County Court judge. According to court records, the day after watching the title game and hearing what the announcers had said about Balogun, officials from Florida State's compliance department contacted the Big 12 Conference and suggested league officials investigate Balogun's eligibility. After a follow-up, the Big 12 was satisfied with the information provided by OU's compliance department. (More at The Oklahoman)

Related:
NCAA Investigates Linebacker's Eligibility

Labels: Mike Balogun, NCAA Investigation, Oklahoma Sooners

Mike Balogun allowed to practice with Sooners: Oklahoma linebacker Mike Balogun can still practice with the team thanks to a temporary restraining order issued by a Cleveland County District Judge Tuesday afternoon in a case concerning his amateur status with the NCAA. Balogun was to become decertified today as an eligible football player due to an NCAA ruling having to do with the linebacker's involvement with a semi-professional league and whether or not he participated in games after the age of 21. Until the matter is resolved with the NCAA, Balogun will not be allowed to play in any games. (Norman Transcript)

Related:
NCAA Investigates Linebacker's Eligibility

Labels: Mike Balogun, NCAA Investigation, Oklahoma Sooners

OU Linebacker Mike Balogun's eligibility called into question: As a result of information provided by the University of Oklahoma, the NCAA has decertified the eligibility of OU linebacker Mike Balogun pending further review. The senior is eligible to continue in practice through Wed., Aug. 19, but may be sidelined after that time. The matter that is being reviewed is Balogun's participation in the North American Football League, a semi-professional league, and whether he participated in any games after the age of 21. Any participation during each 12-month period after his 21st birthday would result in a corresponding loss of a season of collegiate eligibility. The NCAA is responsible for the certification of amateur status for all student-athletes. As part of that process, the NCAA was aware of Balogun's participation in the league prior to the 2008 season. The NCAA interviewed Balogun, reviewed information, then certified him on May 28, 2008. OU's compliance office subsequently confirmed the NCAA's information and certification. More information came to light after the 2008 season and OU again reviewed the matter and shared its information with the NCAA. "I don't know how we could have done more than we have in this matter, and we've had a good working relationship with the NCAA on Mike's case all along," said OU Head Coach Bob Stoops. "We're still hopeful that Mike will be eligible for this season, but we'll have to see what happens over the coming days." (SoonerSports.com)

OU linebacker Mike Balogun's eligibility in question: The Oklahoman

Labels: Mike Balogun, NCAA Investigation, Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

NCAA rules in Oklahoma's appeal case: University of Oklahoma President David Boren announced that he had been notified today by the NCAA that it had reversed the penalty vacating the wins of the 2005 season. The University will be able to count its eight victories during the 2005 season including the victory in the Holiday Bowl. "While we are pleased with the findings by the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee, we are most pleased for the 100 student athletes and coaches who played by the rules and worked their hearts out for a successful 2005 season," Boren said. The Appeals Committee upheld the University's contention that the 2005 victories should remain intact. On appeal, OU officials said that erasing the 2005 season from the record books was unfair to the more than 100 student-athletes and coaches who had abided by the rules. In reversing the penalty, the Appeals Committee specifically noted the immediate actions of the institution upon its discovery of the violations, the institution's "powerful self-imposed penalty" in permanently dismissing the two involved student athletes, and the institution's cooperation as significant factors in the ultimate detection of the violations. Additionally, the NCAA reversed a portion of the failure to monitor finding handed down earlier by the Committee on Infractions while sustaining the rest of the committee's finding on monitoring and compliance. "We are committed to continue to work to improve our process in an effort to become a model compliance program using best national practices," Boren said. (SoonerSports.com PR)

Appeals panel allows Oklahoma records to stand: NCAA Press Release

Past Post:
Oklahoma Begins Appeals Process to NCAA Ruling
NCAA Lays the Law Down to Oklahoma -- Sooners to Vacate Wins

Labels: NCAA, NCAA Investigation, Oklahoma Sooners, University of Oklahoma

I've been e-mailed and asked. What's the history of NCAA violations involving the University of Oklahoma football team. This includes only major violations (as listed by the NCAA) for football team. The NCAA list six major infractions by the Oklahoma football team dating back to January 1956.

January 11, 1956 - NCAA found University of Oklahoma football team violated improper transportation; extra benefits; improper recruiting inducements.

Result: 1 year Probation

January 11, 1960 - NCAA found University of Oklahoma football team violated improper financial aid; improper recruiting inducements; outside fund; lack of institutional control.

Result: 1 year Probation, 1 year post season ban, 1 year television ban

September 20, 1973 - NCAA found University of Oklahoma football team violated extra benefits; including improper recruiting inducements; lodging, publicity and transportation; tryouts; excessive number of official visits; excessive time for official visits; in addition to academic fraud; eligibility; unethical conduct.

Result: 2 year Probation, 2 year post season ban, 2 year television ban, one assistant football coach not allowed to recruit.

November 11, 1980 - NCAA found University of Oklahoma football team violated improper financial aid; improper recruiting contacts, entertainment and transportation.

Result: Publicly reprimand.

December 19, 1988 - NCAA found University of Oklahoma football team violated improper transportation; extra benefits; complimentary tickets; improper recruiting contacts, employment, entertainment, inducements and transportation; unethical conduct; outside fund; lack of institutional control; certification of compliance.

Result: 3 years probation; 1 year television ban; 3 years probation; Maximum of 18 initial grants for 1989-90 and 1990-91 football season. maximum of eight coaches may recruit off campus for 1989-90; OU limited to maximum of 50 official visits for 1988-89 and 1989-90; The University of Oklahoma files annual reports regarding compliance programs; University of Oklahoma must show cause why more penalties should not be imposed if institution does not remove two assistant coaches and recruiting coordinator from recruiting and disassociate one representative.

And then the latest July 11, 2007. The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions has penalized the University of Oklahoma for major violations in its football program.

Source: NCAA

Labels: NCAA, NCAA Investigation, Oklahoma Sooners, University of Oklahoma, Violations

The University of Oklahoma to vacate 2005 wins: The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions has penalized the University of Oklahoma for major violations in its football program.

These violations involve three football student-athletes receiving payment for work not performed at a Norman, Oklahoma automobile dealership. The impermissible benefits totaled approximately $17,000 in unearned wages and led to the committee finding that the institution failed to monitor the employment of football student-athletes.

Penalties for the violations include adding two years to the university's current probationary period, a reduction in allowable financial aid, and a vacation of records for the 2005 season including a bowl game victory.

The committee stated in its report that, "although this case centered on a few violations involving three student-athletes, the committee finds this case to be significant and serious for several reasons." These reasons include the value of the extra benefits provided by a booster; the fact that the violations continued over several months, which led to two of the student-athletes competing while ineligible; and the university had appeared before the committee only one year earlier for a case in which the committee found that the institution failed to monitor the men's basketball staff's telephone contacts with prospective student-athletes.

The violations were intentional on the part of the involved student-athletes and the dealership's manager, who was also a representative of the university's athletics interest. Two of the involved student-athletes received payment from the dealership for time that they were participating in football practices and voluntary workouts, attending class and otherwise away from the dealership.

As a regular practice, the two student-athletes clocked in for work, left the dealership, then returned later to clock out of work. On other occasions, one of them would clock the other in or out, so that both would be paid when only one was present. Based on records obtained from the dealership, it was also found that the third student-athlete was also clocked in and paid for times that he did not work, including time that was spent participating in a scrimmage and game.

In finding that the university demonstrated a failure to monitor, the committee noted the university failed to follow established procedures for the monitoring of student-athletes' employment when it did not timely collect gross earnings statements for 12 student-athletes who notified the university of their employment at the auto dealership during the 2005 summer vacation period. It was also found that the university failed to detect that football student-athletes worked at the auto dealership during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 fall and spring academic terms.

The university disagreed that facts of the case demonstrated a failure to monitor, stating that the compliance monitoring system was adequate and effective, but could not have been expected to detect this specific situation. The university noted that the situation involved student-athletes, in concert with the dealership's manager, engaging "in a deliberate scheme to deceive both the employer's payroll system and the university's employment monitoring system in an attempt to violate NCAA rules of which they were well aware."

However, the committee found that the university "made several mistakes in a narrow, but significant area – the employment of football student-athletes at the dealership, which resulted in a breakdown of its monitoring. When such mistakes result in significant violations of NCAA legislation, as in this case, a finding of failure to monitor is appropriate and justified."

The committee stated that because the dealership was the apparent largest employer of student-athletes, the university should have undertaken more extensive efforts to monitor the student-athletes' employment. It was noted that the university relied on the initiative of the football student-athletes to register their employment with the school as the only means of triggering the monitoring process. The committee also stated that the delay in detecting the violations meant that two of the student-athletes were able to compete during the entire 2005 season and practice during the spring of 2006.

In determining the penalties, the Committee on Infractions considered the university's self-imposed penalties and corrective actions. The penalties, some of which were self-imposed by the institution and adopted by the committee, are as follows:

-Public reprimand and censure.

-Two additional years of probation to be added to the conclusion of the institution's current probationary period. As a result, the institution's extended probationary period will expire on May 23, 2010.

-The institution permanently dismissed two student-athletes from the football team at the point when it determined they had knowingly and willfully been involved in receiving payment for work not performed. The third student-athlete had been previously dismissed for violations of team rules (self-imposed by the university).

-During the 2006-07 academic year, the university did not re-award or reallocate the financial aid awarded to the two dismissed student-athletes, resulting in a reduction of two scholarships in football (self-imposed by the university). The university shall further reduce football scholarships by two for each of the 2008-09 and 2009-10 academic years. This limits the university to a total of 83 football scholarships for those two years.

-Vacation of all wins in which the two ineligible student-athletes competed during the 2005 football season. The individual records of these student-athletes shall be vacated as well. Further, the university's records regarding football as well as the record of the head coach will be reconfigured to reflect the vacated wins and so recorded in all publications in which football records for the 2005 season are reported, including, but not limited to, university media guides, recruiting material, and university and NCAA archives. Finally, any public reference to these vacated contests, including the bowl game, won during this time shall be removed from athletics department stationary, banners displayed in public areas and any other forum in which they may appear.

-The institution disassociated the dealership's manager who supervised the student-athletes at the center of this case. This period of disassociation will be for at least five years (until Aug. 21, 2011) (self-imposed by the university).

-The committee further requires that the dealership manager be restricted from supervising or otherwise overseeing, in an employment capacity, any of the university's student-athletes during the five-year period.

-The university will reduce the number of football coaches who can recruit off campus by one during the fall 2007 evaluation period (self-imposed by the university).

The Committee on Infractions consists of conference and institutional athletics administrators, faculty and members of the public. The committee independently rules on cases investigated by the NCAA enforcement staff and determines appropriate penalties. The committee's findings may be appealed to the Infractions Appeals Committee.

Members of the Committee on Infractions who reviewed this case are Paul Dee, director of athletics at the University of Miami, formerly the university's general counsel, and acting chair; Eileen Jennings, general counsel at Central Michigan University; Alfred "Jim" Lechner, Jr., attorney with the Westfield, N.J., law firm of Lerner David and formerly a federal district judge in New Jersey; Gene Marsh, James M. Kidd Sr. Professor of Law at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa School of Law; Thomas Phillips, attorney with the Austin, Texas, office of the law firm Baker Botts and formerly the chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court; Bonnie Slatton, professor of physical education and sport science, University of Iowa; and Dennis Thomas, the commissioner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and formerly director of athletics at Hampton University. (NCAA PR)

As a result Oklahoma will finish the 2005 season record as 0-4. Forfeiting all regular and post-season games. Including, Oklahoma's 2005 Holiday Bowl victory over Oregon.

More to come....

*Updated

Labels: JD Quinn, NCAA, NCAA Investigation, Oklahoma Sooners, Rhett Bomar, University of Oklahoma

I've been told, NCAA will announce their findings into the University of Oklahoma football violations this afternoon. NCAA penalties and/or sanctions (are likely) expected to be announced via conference call. More to come when available. Remember, it's been awhile since May 24, when Oklahoma expected the announcement in one to two weeks.

Labels: NCAA, NCAA Investigation, Oklahoma Sooners, University of Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

OU expects NCAA announcement in the 'next week or two': Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said an announcement from the NCAA on the Sooners' football sanctions could come any time. "Maybe in the next week or two," Castiglione said. Castiglione doesn't think the NCAA will come down with anything more than probation for the Sooners, who have already reduced scholarships on their own. (Dallas Morning News)

Cotton Bowl to increase annual OU-Texas payout: Dallas leaders on Wednesday approved a beefed up incentive package for four colleges planning to play annual football games at Fair Park's Cotton Bowl, through 2015. The University of Texas and University of Oklahoma will receive an annual $425,000 each between 2008 and 2011, and $500,000 each between 2012 and 2015, according to the City Council-approved deal. That amounts to a fourfold increase in public subsidies: Through this year, the schools have received $125,000 each annually. (Dallas Morning News)

Labels: Cotton Bowl, NCAA, NCAA Investigation, Oklahoma Sooners, OU-Texas

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

OU meets with NCAA Committee: During a break Saturday morning, Brian Halloran wandered over to a small group of reporters and asked for the inside scoop: Who would win Oklahoma's quarterback battle? Halloran, a member of the NCAA's Committee on Infractions, politely declined to return the favor and answer reporters' questions. But the brief exchange might be of some encouragement to OU officials, who met with the infractions committee for more than four hours behind closed doors. Afterward, OU president David Boren said the school received "a fair chance” to answer charges of major rules violations involving football players' employment at Big Red Sports and Imports. And Halloran's question might lend credence to Boren's contention that the infractions committee appreciated the impact of OU's quick action when it discovered three players were paid for work they did not perform. Rhett Bomar's dismissal last summer led to the current quarterback quandary. "I think they have a good understanding of the harshness of the penalties,” Boren said. OU's official party, which numbered about a dozen, included coach Bob Stoops, athletic director Joe Castiglione and director of football operations Merv Johnson. (In part and more at NewsOK.com)

Washington Keynote speaker: Joe Washington says he always welcomes any chance to get back to Oklahoma. But this one will be extra special. Washington, the former University of Oklahoma running back and College Football Hall of Famer, is the keynote speaker at Friday's annual Awards and Scholarship Gala of the 100 Black Men of Tulsa. The banquet starts at 7 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel Downtown. (Tulsa World)

Peterson thinks the Brown will draft him: Adrian Peterson on where he thinks he'll be drafted: "My gut feeling? Cleveland at three. Sitting down with them [coach Romeo Crennel, GM Phil Savage], I get the feeling they're very, very interested. I would love it there. The fans in Cleveland are the closest to college fans in the NFL. I love the Dawg Pound. I think I can be a franchise back and really help the Browns turn it around.'' (SI.com)

Murray a future star, but unlikely to start: The Oklahoman

Spring Football and Bold Predictions: The Oklahoman

No surprises as OU, NCAA meet: Dallas Morning News

OU pleads its case at hearing: Tulsa World

OU awaits ruling from NCAA: Tulsa World

Gresham learning to block: Tulsa World

Two from NCAA panel back out for hearing: Tulsa World

Labels: Adrian Peterson, Joe Washington, NCAA, NCAA Investigation, Oklahoma Compliance, University of Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Rhett Bomar sits down with ESPN: ESPN.com's Joe Schad sits down with former OU quarterback Rhett Bomar.. Rhett Bomar is standing in his bedroom, a room so small that it barely contains his bed and two dressers. On one wood dresser rests the most valuable player trophy he claimed while quarterbacking Oklahoma to victory at the Holiday Bowl two seasons ago. "I'm proud of my time there," Bomar explains. "I'm not going to throw it away or anything like that." Bomar says when he arrived at Oklahoma at a true freshman in the summer of 2004, a school administrator mentioned the dealership as an employment opportunity... How often did he go to Big Red? "There were certain times we were not there," Bomar said. "The majority of the time we were there. It started out, we went there all the time, and things like that, and then one thing leads to another, you know, and you get in trouble." Why did this happen? Did Bomar, who was raised in suburban Dallas, the son of two schoolteachers, need the money? "You don't have time for a job," Bomar said. "Football is basically a full-time job at big-time schools and everything like that. Things happen. And things are easy. And you do it. Ultimately, it was my decision. And I got caught up in it. My actions, you know, are there. They are clear what happened. And so, I mean, I'll take full blame." (Much more, plus video at ESPN.com)

Labels: ESPN, NCAA Investigation, Rhett Bomar

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

McRae speaks for the first time: Brad McRae, the booster at the center of the excessive-pay scheme that landed Oklahoma a date with the NCAA infractions committee, blamed the problem on OU football players Wednesday and said he had no knowledge of what was happening. "Did I tell Rhett Bomar that he could come in there and punch in and out anytime he wanted to? I did not," McRae said in a telephone interview with The Dallas Morning News. "I never liked Rhett Bomar, anyway." Asked if he felt persecuted for being blamed, McRae said: "Yes. What are you doing to me right now?" He said reporters were just writing what they wanted about the situation without regard for the truth. (More at Dallas Morning News) So why does McRae speak now? Who knows? After KFOR-TV tried to track him down months ago.

Bomar says, he didn't intend to break the rules: The former Sooner quarterback just sort of veered astray, according to comments Bomar made to ESPN.com for a story that will appear online Friday. "It started out, we went there all the time" Bomar told ESPN.com. "And then one thing leads to another, you know, and you get in trouble" Bomar took responsibility for his missteps. "Ultimately, it was my decision" Bomar said. "And I got caught up in it. My actions, you know, are there. They are clear what happened. And so, I mean, I'll take full blame" (NewsOK.com)

Roommate to players at Big Red Sports/Imports speaks: A former University of Oklahoma walk-on football player accused of being paid for work he didn't perform at a Norman auto dealership regularly brought home dealership cars for his personal use, a former roommate said. Logan Brosky roomed with Jermaine Hardison, the walk-on, for about a year. Brosky said he knew several players who worked at Big Red Sports/Imports. Some of them would talk about how easy the job was. "They'd just sit there and not do anything and let the Mexicans do all the detailing," Brosky recently said the players told him. "They'd clock in and go eat." Former Big Red manager Brad McRae often threw parties at his house for players and other guests, Brosky said. "He'd buy pizzas, Chinese, Quiznos -- anything they wanted," Brosky said. "I know it happened for sure three times, and it probably happened more than that." (More at Dallas Morning News)

Joe Washington joins the OU Athletics Department: Joe Washington, a three-time All-America running back at Oklahoma from 1972-75, has been named Special Assistant to the Athletics Director and Executive Director of the Varsity O Association at his alma mater. The position being assumed by Washington is newly created. It is part of a restructuring effort designed to place added emphasis on outreach to former student-athletes. OU Athletics Director Joe Castiglione made the announcement. Washington will assume his new duties in May. (More about the announcements at SoonerSports.com)

Go inside spring practice No. 11: SoonerSports.com

Receivers gain ground: Tulsa World

Labels: Jermaine Hardison, Joe Washington, Keeping them Honest, NCAA Investigation, Oklahoma Sooners, Rhett Bomar

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Former Sooner Bomar highlighted on ESPN Outside the Lines: The Oklahoman has learned that Bomar will be the subject of a segment on Wednesday's Outside the Lines program, which airs at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN (Cox 29) (DirecTV 73 HD). He's not the focus of the show, but part of one segment. ESPN reporter Joe Schad recently visited Bomar in Huntsville, Texas, where the former Sooner bad boy is trying to revive his career with Sam Houston State. Schad tells The Oklahoman that Bomar spills forth no new revelations. (NewsOK.com) Update: ESPN did not air the Rhett Bomar piece, due to Outside the Lines special coverage of the death one of the Greatest coaches in college history, Grambling State's Eddie Robinson dead at 88. No word on later air time.

Quinn defends himself, calling penalties harsh: JD Quinn telling the Tulsa World.. "All I did was take cash," Quinn said. "I didn't break any laws and I get kicked off the team, but there's people on the team that are breaking laws and failing drug tests and stuff like that, and there's nobody getting kicked off the team for that type of stuff." Quinn, 21, refused to give any details of his allegations about other players. He was in legal trouble at OU before last summer's incident. In 2004, Quinn was convicted of two misdemeanors (actual physical control of a vehicle while intoxicated and possession of a fake ID). When asked to clarify his allegations in a second telephone interview on Tuesday, Quinn said, "I said that, but I wasn't really regarding as much about Oklahoma. I was just saying around the country. I wasn't saying it in the context of Oklahoma. There's just people I've heard of doing things." OU football coach Bob Stoops and Oklahoma on Tuesday declined comment, other than associate athletic director Kenny Mossman saying, "the university has turned over all of our material to the NCAA and we stand by that dialogue." (Much more at the TulsaWorld.com) Its obvious Quinn, has little if any remorse, only that of being caught breaking NCAA rules and regulations.. A selfish act of putting self in front of team.

Labels: JD Quinn, Keeping them Honest, NCAA Investigation, Oklahoma Sooners, Rhett Bomar

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Sooners held Friday's practice indoors: Undaunted by heavy rain and booming thunder, the Oklahoma football team rolled through its eighth workout of the spring at the Everest Indoor Practice Facility Friday afternoon. The Sooners entertained an audience of high school coaches from across the country, in town for a weekend clinic hosted by the OU football staff. Weather permitting, Oklahoma is scheduled to hold an open scrimmage at Owen Field on Saturday at 11 a.m. (SoonerSports.com)

Switzer deserves praise for his actions on and off field: SI.com

OU to challenge 'failure to monitor' findings: The Oklahoman

Gresham loves to compete: The Oklahoman

OU football notebook: The Oklahoman

OU to NCAA -- Players conspired in scandal: Tulsa World

OU responds to NCAA: Norman Transcript

OU disagrees with NCAA allegation: Dallas Morning News

Labels: NCAA Investigation, Oklahoma Sooners, Spring Practice

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

University of Oklahoma disputes NCAA allegations: The Associated Press reports.. Oklahoma "strongly disagrees" with the NCAA's allegation that the university failed to adequately monitor the employment of dismissed starting quarterback Rhett Bomar and other athletes at a Norman car dealership, according to documents released by the university Friday. "We ... assert that the University met, if not exceeded, industry standards regarding our student-athlete employment monitoring," university president David Boren said in a letter dated March 7, which was obtained by The Associated Press through an open records request. "There were no other reasonable additional steps we could have taken that would have prevented these violations or detected them any sooner," Boren said in the letter. The NCAA has claimed that Oklahoma violated its own guidelines by failing to collect earnings statements from 12 football players who worked at the dealership, and as a result did not detect NCAA rules violations. (AP/ESPN.com)

Bradford, Halzle, Nichol competing in OU's QB race: ESPN.com

Labels: JD Quinn, NCAA, NCAA Investigation, Oklahoma Sooners, Rhett Bomar, University of Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Hardison the third unnamed player? A University of Oklahoma walk-on football player who never saw game action earned about twice as much from a Norman, Okla., auto dealership as Rhett Bomar over roughly the same period in 2005, records show. Jermaine Hardison, a wide receiver from Midwest City, Okla., was paid for an average of 43 hours a week from late February through mid-May 2005, while school was in session and spring practice was held, the records show. His pay from Big Red Sports/Imports averaged $459 a week over that 12-week period. NCAA documents released Monday, however, allege that a third player also took money "for work not performed." The player's name is blacked out. Hardison earned a total of $9,926 through mid-July 2005 and Bomar earned $5,092.30 from late-March through mid-August, according to pay stubs, which were among hundreds of pages of materials obtained by The News through several open records requests since last August. Hardison didn't respond to multiple messages left for him by The News since mid-September or to written questions sent to him via a delivery service. (Dallas Morning News)

From previous blog post, August 11, 2006... Hardison dismissed from team: Walk-on Jermaine Hardison has been dismissed from Oklahoma's football team after violating team rules, spokesman Kenny Mossman said Thursday night. Mossman said Hardison, a 6-foot-3 junior from Midwest City High School, was not on scholarship. Mossman didn't elaborate on which rules were violated. Hardison had never played in a game at Oklahoma. He was listed as a wide receiver on the Sooners' roster. (AP/SportingNews) According to broadcast reports, Hardison was dismissed for going to a local tribal casino. Which would be a violation of team rules, Oklahoma would not comfirm that report.

Lawsuit pending: Citing student privacy regulations, OU officials blacked out the names of all players identified in hundreds of pages of investigation documents that it released to The News. It also blacked out some information pertaining to the players. But Hardison's name can be deciphered, along with the names of 14 other OU players, through close examination of some documents. The names include eight players on the 2006 roster. Seeking the redacted information, The News filed suit against the university in September. The case is pending in federal court. (Dallas Morning News)

With the First Pick: Adrian Peterson Hype or the Real Deal?: MVN

Labels: Jermaine Hardison, Lawsuit, NCAA Investigation, Oklahoma Sooners, University of Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

NCAA Releases final report on Bomar/Quinn: As anticipated, the University of Oklahoma has received its notice of allegations from the NCAA related to the employment of student-athletes at a Norman automobile dealership and has announced its self-imposed penalties. According to OU officials, after several months of additional review and investigation by the University and the NCAA the content of the notice revealed nothing new from the University's original report with respect to the focus of the investigation. "The notice is part of the process we anticipated and is based on information contained in the report we submitted to the NCAA on August 21, 2006," said OU Athletics Director Joe Castiglione. "The University diligently investigated this matter and has worked closely with the NCAA throughout this process so there are no surprises." The first allegation was reported by the University based on facts developed by its athletics compliance staff. The lone additional allegation included in the notice by the NCAA is that the institution failed to adequately monitor the specific employment of some student athletes during a limited period of time, a more limited allegation than "failure to monitor." "Upon completing our investigation, the University took action above and beyond what was required under the NCAA rules. The University permanently banned the involved parties from further athletics participation at the school. "Upon review, the NCAA reinstated the eligibility of the involved students. However, we maintained our original action of permanent dismissal of the involved parties. " More at SoonerSports.com

A third player took benefits, NCAA meeting set for April 14: Three Oklahoma football players, one more than the university has previously acknowledged, may have accepted money for work they did not perform at a local car dealership, according to an NCAA document disclosed Monday. School officials, including football coach Bob Stoops, will go before the NCAA committee on infractions on April 14 and argue their self-imposed penalties announced Monday are sufficient. OU spokesman Kenny Mossman said Monday night that the NCAA is alleging three players took money they didn't earn. But the university maintains that only two players, Rhett Bomar and J.D. Quinn, took excess pay from Big Red Sports/Imports in Norman. The NCAA, in its notice of allegations, says Oklahoma failed to monitor the working relationship of its players and Big Red, particularly with booster Brad McRae, who used to run the car dealership. (Dallas Morning News)

One Less Recruiting Coach: OU will also reduce the number of football coaches who can recruit off campus by one this fall. (Dallas Morning News)

NCAA Tells Oklahoma Something It Already Knew: AOL Sports Blog

NCAA drops no bombshells on OU: Norman Transcript

'No surprises' in call before NCAA: The Oklahoman

NCAA details case against OU: Tulsa World

Labels: Bob Stoops, JD Quinn, NCAA, NCAA Investigation, Oklahoma Compliance, Oklahoma Sooners, Rhett Bomar, University of Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Could USC lose the 2004 National Title? A federal investigation into extortion claims by New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush and his family has revealed the existence of taped conversations that could confirm Bush took cash and gifts while he was playing football for the University of Southern California. Lloyd Lake, an investor in a failed sports marketing agency which attempted to launch with Bush as its first client, is the subject of a grand jury probe into the extortion claims. The agency -- called New Era Sports & Entertainment -- was founded by Lake and San Diego businessman Michael Michaels. Lake told Yahoo! Sports in August 2006 that he contributed a portion of the cash and gifts allegedly given to Bush and his family as part of an agreement to represent the then-USC running back when he signed an NFL contract. According to multiple sources in an ongoing Yahoo! Sports investigation, nearly $280,000 in cash, rent and gifts was allegedly given to Bush and his family. Lake and Michaels both said in August 2006 that they planned to file a lawsuit against Bush. If the NCAA rules that Bush received extra benefits during his playing career at USC, he could be ruled retroactively ineligible. Since some of the benefits date to the 2004 season, the Trojans' national championship that season could be rescinded. USC could face further NCAA sanctions and Bush's 2005 Heisman Trophy could be in jeopardy. The Heisman ballot indicates that an athlete must meet NCAA eligibility requirements to be considered for college football's most prestigious award. (More at Yahoo! Sports) Not sure what this means for the Sooners, Auburn finished the 2004 season 13-0.. Although, the Sooners played the USC Trojans in the BCS National Championship..

Stoops Committed to Oklahoma: Oklahoma FanHouse

Labels: BCS, NCAA, NCAA Investigation, Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

University of Oklahoma releases investigation documents: The University of Oklahoma asked an attorney for a Norman car dealership to provide a list of players who used vehicles from the dealership during an investigation that resulted in the dismissal of two players from the school's football team. The university released two pages of documents Friday after an open records request by The Associated Press. The documents are a letter from the university's legal counsel, Joseph Harroz Jr., to Jeff Atkins, an attorney for David Hudiburg, the current owner of Big Red Sports and Imports, and an attachment to that letter. In the letter, dated Sept. 5, Harroz asks Atkins to require two employees be made available to interview with university officials. It said that OU had no reason to believe the employees were involved in any NCAA violations but that their testimony was needed "to clarify and confirm our current understanding of the relevant facts of the matter.” Among the documents requested in the attachment to the letter are the dealership's service records for an unknown number of people; tax forms, paycheck stubs and-or timesheets from 2005 and-or 2006 for 10 student-athletes; and "names of football student-athletes who have made purchases from Big Red, driven Big Red vehicles and-or had their vehicles serviced by Big Red.” The names on the list of requested documents were redacted. (More at AP/NewsOK.com)

Labels: JD Quinn, NCAA Investigation, Rhett Bomar, University of Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Bomar , Quinn ruled ineligible and pay money back: Former Oklahoma quarterback Rhett Bomar was ruled ineligible Wednesday to play for Sam Houston State this season but will return in 2007 with two years of eligibility remaining. Bomar and offensive lineman J.D. Quinn were kicked off the Sooners' squad in August for accepting payment for more work than they performed at a car dealership, a violation of NCAA rules. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Bomar transferred to Sam Houston and Quinn to Montana, both Division I-AA schools. Quinn also was ruled ineligible by the NCAA this year but will be allowed to play next season, Montana associate athletic director Dave Guffey said. Bomar must pay $7,406.88 and Quinn must pay $8,137.17 to charities of their choice for receiving wages for work not performed. "I am happy to get this behind me," said Bomar, who has been allowed to practice with the Bearkats. "I look forward to having the opportunity to represent Sam Houston State. This decision today will help take the focus off me and put the focus on the team." "Obviously, we would have liked for him to able to play in games this season," Sam Houston coach Todd Whitten said. "But, with his experience working with the squad this fall and spring training ahead next year, we look forward to having him as a Bearkat for the next two seasons." (AP/KHOU)

Labels: JD Quinn, NCAA Investigation, Rhett Bomar

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

A&M-Oklahoma tickets still available: As of late Tuesday, about 1,500 tickets remained for Saturday's game. The $83 tickets can be bought online at AggieAthletics.com or 12thmanfoundation.com or by calling (888) 992-4443.

NCAA Bomar Investigation "ongoing": The NCAA's investigation into rules violations by former Oklahoma football players Rhett Bomar and J.D. Quinn is "ongoing," according to OU athletic director Joe Castiglione. In the notice of inquiry, dated Sept. 20, NCAA director of enforcement Julie Roe said the investigative portion of the process could be completed by today. "That date is just a target," Castiglione said. "It would be great if (the enforcement staff) would hit it, but I don't know if it's possible, or probable."(More at NewsOK.com)

Coach Stoops 100th Game, Maybe another 100? Bob Stoops will coach his 100th game at Oklahoma on Saturday. In his eighth season, Stoops, 46, is 81-18 and said Tuesday he could see himself coaching another 100 games at OU. Yet there is speculation that Stoops will leave campus life for the NFL, possibly for the Cowboys if Bill Parcells retires. "I've never tried to speculate on his behalf," OU athletic director Joe Castiglione said. "I do know that he is happy, and that he is very, very focused on how this program can get better, better and better. Likewise, we're trying to match his passion and continue our improvement." (Dallas Morning News)

Davis Imitating Lane in practice: OU will use sophomore fullback Alan Davis in practice to emulate Jovorskie Lane, Texas A&M’s 6-4, 274-pound running back, OU head coach Bob Stoops said after practice Monday. Lane has 554 rushing yards on 124 attempts and is tied for second place nationally with 17 touchdowns. The 6-2, 253-pound Davis played last season as a defensive lineman but was converted to fullback this year. (The Oklahoma Daily)

Stoops pleased with Dotson: OU defensive end Alonzo Dotson saw his most significant action of the season Saturday at Missouri and came up big for the Sooners, especially on the goal-line stand in the third quarter. "I should have given him a game ball immediately after the game, but sometimes you don't realize it until you watch tape," OU coach Bob Stoops said. "He makes the first three plays on the goal line. All three of them in a row are Alonzo." (NewsOK.com)

They know it will be loud: Norman Transcript

Stoops hitting century mark: Norman Transcript

Defense improves as Holmes adjusts to cornerback job: The Oklahoman

Making a difference -- Lendy Holmes: The Oklahoman

At 99 games in, Stoops still cherishes first team: Tulsa World

OU Notebook -- Much more to come?: Tulsa World

Patrick survives hardship and finds home at Oklahoma: Tulsa World

Franchione says McGee's fire making the difference: Bryan College Station Eagle

Aggies prepare for OU and ESPN for big game: Austin American-Statesman

Here and now remains primary focus for Sooners: San Antonio Express News

Aggies face fearsome threesome: Houston Chronicle

Receiver looking to go deep at A&M: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

Labels: Alonzo Dotson, Bob Stoops, NCAA Investigation, Rhett Bomar, Texas A M, Tickets