Ryan Reynolds loses NCAA medical hardship appeal: Coach Bob Stoops confirmed Monday that senior middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds has lost his appeal to the NCAA for a hardship waiver that would have given him an extra year of eligibility because of injuries. Instead, Reynolds, who overcame three major knee injuries while in college, will play his final game as a Sooner in the Sun Bowl. Reynolds missed OU’s regular-season finale against Oklahoma State with a strained hamstring. Stoops, however, said Reynolds has been practicing and should be fine for the bowl game. (The Oklahoman)
DeMarcus Granger denied medical hardship waiver: The NCAA has denied a request for a medical hardship that would allow Oklahoma defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger to play another season for the Sooners. "It's very unfortunate for DeMarcus," OU coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. "He has fought through that back, and he has part of a nerve that hasn't quite fully come back yet. They believe it will, it just hasn't over time to where he's not able to fire the one leg as strong or quick as he needs to. "It's been frustrating. He's been a great teammate. He's been out there working, up until the last week, trying to help. He's just not able to quite do it." Granger has been sidelined all season, his fifth at OU, after undergoing back surgery last December. (Tulsa World)
LB Reynolds applying for NCAA medical hardship: Oklahoma middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds said Tuesday he is in the process of petitioning the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility. "We're trying to get a medical (hardship) right now," Reynolds said. "It's in the process with the NCAA right now. I don't think I'll find until the end of the season." Reynolds, a fifth year senior, has suffered three major knee injuries during his time at Oklahoma. (Norman Transcript)
In case you missed it over the weekend, as I did, Oklahoma linebacker Mike Balogun was denied his final appeal by the NCAA's committee on Amateurism Certification, according to his attorney Woody Glass.
"I am so disapointed for Mike," Glass said. "His only avenue now is in the courts."
With that statement, Balogun's collegiate career is likely over. Oklahoma is unlikely to challenge the ruling in the courts, considering NCAA can penalize any team who allows a student-athlete to play under a court order and that order is later to be found unjustified.
Oklahoma LB Balogun won't play for Sooners this season: Oklahoma linebacker Mike Balogun won't be playing for the Sooners this season. Woody Glass, Balogun's attorney, said Monday morning the fact-finding wing of the NCAA has sided with the NCAA's original ruling that Balogun played semi-pro football after his 21st birthday and is out of eligibility. "The writing is clearly on the wall," Glass said. "They made the finding Mike played in 2004, 2005 and 2006." Balogun turned 21 in September of 2004. Glass, who has obtained sworn testimony from various sources suggesting Balogun didn't play semi-pro ball after his 21st birthday, said he has already filed an appeal with the NCAA, but is doubtful it will have any effect. (The Oklahoman)
Attorney: Sooners linebacker Balogun will not likely be re-certified: The Fort Worth Star-Telegram is reporting, NCAA will likely not reinstate Mike Balogun's eligibility according to his attorney. And the Balogun saga will drag out for weeks to come.
"I am confident they will not certify him," attorney Woody Glass said. "If [the staff] was going to certify him, they would have done it a long, long time ago."
However, if Balogun is denied eligibility that's not the final judgement, NCAA's committee on Amateurism Certification could have the final ruling.
"If we cannot agree, we will submit our proposed findings of fact. The two position statements will then be submitted to a fact finding committee that will resolve the factual issues. Once the factual issues are decided, the case gets submitted to the Amateurism Certification Committee for decision."
Attorney: Balogun will sit against BYU:Tulsa World is reporting.. Mike Balogun won't make the trip to Dallas for the season-opening football game Saturday against Brigham Young, his attorney said in an e-mail this afternoon. "The NCAA has not made a decision and they will not have a decision before Friday," Balogun's attorney, Woody Glass, said in an e-mail. "Mike will not be able to travel with the team or participate in the game." Glass said the investigation into Balogun's eligibility has continued this week in Maryland. "They are conducting an additional investigation, and we are currently in Baltimore," Glass wrote in the e-mail. "They are trying to locate people that might have information about Mike's participation. I don't know anything else at this point." (Tulsa World)
No word on Mike Balogun's status: The Mike Balogun saga continues without any resolution. Asked Monday morning whether he had a sense about a final decision, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said: "I do not. I really don't. I wish I could tell you something different, but I don't." Balogun is listed as the backup middle linebacker to Reynolds in the Sooners' most recent depth chart released today. (Tulsa World)
Decision on LB Mike Balogun's eligibility soon? Mike Balogun's lawyer said in an e-mail interview Wednesday night that he expects to know Thursday when the NCAA will make a final determination. Norman attorney Woody Glass also said he filed an additional supplement to his original motion for a temporary restraining order. The new supplement contains an affidavit from Charles McGriff, Balogun's former coach with the semi-pro Maryland Marauders, that supports three other sworn affidavits submitted last Friday claiming Balogun did not play for the Marauders or the Prince George Jets after his 21st birthday. McGriff told the NCAA during its initial investigation that he thought Balogun had played for him in 2005, but in the affidavit, he says now he does not believe Balogun played for him at that time. (Tulsa World)
NCAA asks Oklahoma to keep better student-athlete employment records: The NCAA has asked Oklahoma to enhance its compliance education program relating to the employment of athletes as part of the school's continuing probation following rules violations by former quarterback Rhett Bomar. In a letter sent to the school last month, Committee on Infractions assistant director James A. Elworth asked Oklahoma to emphasize the proper use of forms provided to athletes, their employers and coaches. When the school ran into trouble because Bomar and two other football players were being paid for work they didn't do at a Norman car dealership, Oklahoma was unable to detect the violations because it wasn't making sure athletes were filling out employment forms. The letter was released Friday after an open records request by The Associated Press. Oklahoma must submit annual compliance reports to the NCAA as part of its probation, which is set to end in May. Elworth's one-page letter informed the school that the NCAA had received and approved its 2009 report, but was seeking more information on the monitoring of athletes' employment in next year's report. (Associated Press)
Unknown Oklahoma player received benefits from agent: In a six-month long investigation of how Universities and athletics programs report NCAA violations, The Columbus Dispatch found schools are being less than open with their public records. In most cases, Universities are using FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) to hide the identities and accounts of those involved in NCAA violations (including rogue boosters and agents), while other Universities make it unaffordable to obtain records.
The Dispatch investigation found Oklahoma committed a secondary violation concerning an unknown player.
Date violation discovered: Nov. 2008
The school's report: An unidentified football player traveled to an NFL draft party as the guest of a former college teammate. The $1,300 trip, which included use of a credit card, was paid for by the former teammate's agent. The school erased all names from the violation report.
Penalty: The football player had to repay $832 to a charity from his scholarship, a federal Pell grant, and the school-issued spending money he received during the team's trip to the BCS National Championship game.
The whole story: Publicly unknown.
The player you ask? He's unknown, the University blacked-out the player's name who is question in the name of FERPA.
The same report found, Oklahoma was less-than-transparent, the University often provided little to no information concerning NCAA violations, summer job forms and other public records.
You would think a University, who has reported 224 violations in 17 sports since 2000 would be more open. Then, again, maybe not. Oklahoma remains on probation until May 2010.
Murry suffers knee injury; expected to play bowl game: Oklahoma running back DeMarco Murray left the game after taking a helmet to his left knee on the opening kickoff. After being examined on the OU sideline, Murray was taken to the locker room with 4:37 left in the first quarter and didn't return to the game. He came back to the sidelines later in the second quarter wearing sweats. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, however, said Murray only suffered a knee bruise and that holding him out was just for precaution. Murray is expected to be fine for the Sooners' bowl game. (The Oklahoman)
OU offense sets NCAA record: With 38 points scored in the first half, the Sooners set a record for points scored in a season during the modern era with 678, besting the previous mark held by Hawaii in 2006 (656). The all-time mark is 765 posted by the 1886 Harvard team. The Sooners currently rank third on the all-time list with 702. (SoonerSports PR)
Quality competition: Oklahoma is the only team this season to record five wins over ranked opponents, topping TCU, Kansas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Missouri. (SoonerSports PR) In addition, Oklahoma defeated Cincinnati who is currently ranked 12th.
60 or more points consecutive games: The OU offense has scored 60 or more points in five straight games, an NCAA record. Overall, Sooner teams have scored 50 or more points in 134 games in school history. (SoonerSports PR)
Lewis surpasses Bosworth to set record: Travis Lewis recorded his 136th tackle of the season in the fourth quarter and set an OU freshman record held by Brian Bosworth. Bosworth had 133 tackles in 1984. (SoonerSports PR)
Oklahoma football team above the national average in Academic Progress Rate: Three Big 12 programs and two teams at Texas State are losing scholarships after being hit Tuesday with NCAA penalties for poor academic performance. The Texas football team had an APR of 942, down from 944 a year ago but tied with Oklahoma for tops in the Big 12. Nationwide, the UT team ranked above average. The APR is designed to track student-athletes' progress toward graduation. A perfect score of 1,000 would mean that all team members are academically eligible. Students who lose eligibility count against a team, as do those who transfer in poor academic standing. Three Big 12 programs that scored below 880 -- Iowa State basketball (861), Texas Tech baseball (864) and Oklahoma State baseball (877) -- were not penalized. Oklahoma had three teams score below 915 -- baseball, men's basketball and golf -- but was not penalized in any sport. (Austin American Statesman)
Big 12 Football APR:
Baylor 938 Colorado 929 Iowa State 927 Kansas 919 Kansas St. 935 Missouri 939 Nebraska 941 Oklahoma 942 Oklahoma St. 935 Texas 942 Texas A&M 932 Texas Tech 928
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)
Julio Jones at 'Bama hoops game: Julio Jones, the wide receiver from Foley, Ala., who's ranked by some services as the No. 1 player in the nation, reportedly took an official visit to Alabama this weekend for the Crimson Tide's basketball game against LSU. During a second-half timeout, Tide fans reportedly began chanting Jones' first name as he sat with Foley teammate Robert Lester and previous verbal commitment Burton Scott. (Tulsa World)
Sooners offense and Bradford recognized by NCAA: Each year the NCAA sends out certificates to recognize statistical champions for the sport of football. For all its success and probably due to its balance, Oklahoma has been something of a rare recipient. That changed this year when Sam Bradford finished as the nation's leader in passing efficiency and OU's team topped the nation in the same category. Bradford finished with an efficiency of 176.5 to outdistance Florida quarterback and Heisman winner Tim Tebow, who finished at 172.5. As a team, Oklahoma finished at 170.6 with Florida second at 170.1. Oklahoma had not won an individual statistical championship since 1979 when running back Billy Sims led the nation in scoring with 138 points. (SoonerSports.com)
Seven Former Sooners invited to NFL Combine: Over the weekend, the NFL Combine released its invite list, which includes receiver Malcolm Kelly, linebacker Curtis Lofton, cornerback Reggie Smith, running back Allen Patrick, cornerback Marcus Walker, tight end Joe Jon Finley and safety D.J. Wolfe. The combine will take place Feb. 20-26 in Indianapolis. (The Oklahoman)The NFL combine will be televised on NFL Network.
Junior day at OU: It's the last weekend senior prospects can make campus visits before Wednesday's signing day, but with several dozen juniors on campus for OU's official "Junior Day," there are no official visits scheduled for this weekend. Among those in Norman: Bryce Brown, a running back from Wichita, Kan., who might project as the No. 1 back in the country next year; David Oku, the 5-foot-8, 176-pound running back from Midwest City Carl Albert (widely considered the top back in the state next season), wide receiver Greg Timmons of Aldine, Texas, who's widely considered one of the top wideout prospects in Texas, and Thomas Ashcraft of Cedar Hill, Texas, who may rank as the top offensive lineman in Texas. (Tulsa World)
John Williams granted NCAA hardship waiver: Update a previous post, Oklahoma defensive end John Williams has received a hardship waiver from the NCAA and has been granted a sixth season of athletics eligibility. The 6-5, 249-pound Williams started three games of the 2007 season, but suffered a torn left Achilles tendon in the fourth game at Tulsa and missed the remainder of the campaign. "We're excited to have John back for another season," said OU Head Coach Bob Stoops. "We've felt for some time that John is an excellent player. He was off to a great start before the injury. I know he's looking forward to making a strong contribution for us next season." Williams, who has battled knee surgery and Achilles surgery, said he's looking forward to playing a full season. "The latter part of my career here is going to be my most successful," he said. "Everything is a process. This is what I'm living right now. I've got no choice but to move ahead." The NCAA's decision to grant him another year of eligibility was a stress reliever for Williams. "I'm very relieved, very thankful and grateful," he said. "I really want a chance to finish what I started." The Houston native is continuing rehabilitation efforts. (SoonerSports PR)
OSU Official: No single-game Bedlam tickets to be sold: In order to witness the 2008 Bedlam football game -- Oklahoma at Oklahoma State on Nov. 29 -- Cowboy fans must purchase a $419 season ticket. No single-game Bedlam tickets will be made available. "Our decision to eliminate single-game tickets for Bedlam is based upon our desire to grow our season-ticket sales," OSU athletic director Mike Holder explained. "I just hope our fan base responds to this as a call to buy more season tickets." On a per-game average, the price of an OSU season ticket basically remains the same. (Tulsa World)
DE Williams to apply for medical redshirt after two season-ending injuries: Update a previous story, Oklahoma defensive end John Williams will be applying for a medical redshirt to the NCAA with hopes of returning for a sixth season, according to the Oklahoma sports information department. Williams suffered a torn Achilles tendon against Tulsa this past year, causing him to miss the entire season. The 6-foot-5, 256-pound Williams started alongside Auston English at defensive end for the first four games before the injury. (The Oklahoman)
OU wants secondary violation dropped: As previously posted; After consulting with a fellow Big 12 Conference school, Oklahoma wants the NCAA to strike a self-reported secondary rules violation from its record. Oklahoma reported that it had broken NCAA rules when it hung jerseys with three prospects' high school numbers in the Sooners' locker room when the recruits came to visit. The university's executive director of compliance, Jason Leonard, subsequently sent a letter to the NCAA asking to have that violation removed, according to documents obtained Friday through an open records request by The Associated Press. Leonard wrote that Oklahoma heard from compliance staff at Missouri after they'd read an AP story published June 12 detailing secondary violations that had been self-reported by Oklahoma. Leonard wrote that he was informed that Missouri – in a similar situation – had been told by a former NCAA official in 2005 that no secondary violation had occurred in that instance. (AP/Dallas Morning News)
Boren said, "The university has limited its appeal to only two specific areas among several findings made by the NCAA and penalties assessed. We have accepted the large majority of the NCAA's findings and penalties because we agree that the highest possible standards of conduct and ethics should be maintained and that when mistakes are made, even if they are unintentional, institutions must be held accountable.
"I personally feel that the Infractions Committee provided the university with a full and fair opportunity to present its view of the case. I also appreciate the comments made by the committee chairman Paul Dee in saying that the committee took into account the fact that OU investigated and found the evidence of wrong doing in this case, immediately reported the evidence to the NCAA, and acted decisively to permanently remove the players involved from the team.
"Even as we appeal these two limited items, OU will continue its vigorous effort to build a compliance system that is second to none. Almost five years ago, I tasked our Director of Athletics, Joe Castiglione, to develop a set of best practices from other major programs for us to implement. It is ironic that our effort to move employment oversight from the Athletics Department academic office to the compliance office, which was part of our enhanced monitoring plan, resulted in an unintended temporary lapse in recordkeeping as the new plan was being implemented. We agree with the NCAA that this mistake was made, but believe that it was an unintentional mistake and not a failure to monitor, which implies a failure to have a comprehensive monitoring system.
"Almost a year ago, as another part of our enhanced monitoring plan, I directed that the compliance staff be moved for reporting purposes from the Athletics Department to the Office of the General Counsel. This assures the complete independence of the compliance operations. We have continued, even as the current case was pending, to enhance our compliance staff which now has eight full-time professional positions, including three with law degrees, and one part-time employee. Jason Leonard, the executive director, is also an attorney. In addition, electronic software to speedily track all records continues to be substantially upgraded.
"Our goal is to have a compliance program which will be a model for other NCAA member institutions. I hope that the continued upgrading of our compliance system and our quick action in dealing with any wrongdoing has sent a message to the NCAA and to the public that OU has set the highest possible standards for itself. I will always be proud of the immediate action taken by Coach (Bob) Stoops just days before the 2006 season began.
"In addition to the finding on the monitoring issue, we have also served notice today that we will appeal the penalty which involves the vacating of the 2005 record of the team and the coaches. Since two of the players involved have been allowed to play at other schools, I felt an obligation to appeal that part of the ruling which punishes all of those players and coaches who worked so hard and played by the rules. I feel that we would be letting down these student athletes if we did not appeal on that issue." (University of Oklahoma PR)
Major conferences considering a College Football Final Four?New York Post reports.. Sources in several conference offices, athletic directors and television networks told The Post that support is steadily growing for a "Plus-1," format in which there will be a national championship game following the playing of two "semifinal games." The first title game could be played in 2011. "There haven't been any official discussions among conference commissioners, but the overwhelming sense is that that's where we're headed," one conference source said. "There's simply too much money at stake and there's been too much debate with the current system." Under the new format, the top four teams would be seeded, probably using a voter/computer formula similar to the current BCS system and a sixth major bowl game would be created. (NY Post) Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has said previously, he's "on the fence" about any college football playoff system.
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.
If you missed the NCAA ruling, find it at NCAA Lays Down the Law to Oklahoma -- Sooners to Vacate Wins. Oklahoma does not forfeit games: "Vacate does not mean forfeit," explained Paul Dee, acting chair of the committee, which issued the findings and assessed the penalties. The teams that Oklahoma beat wouldn't get credit for victories. The Sooners' record for 2005 would be 0-4. (Dallas Morning News)
Audio from the NCAA teleconference available at KFOR.com:Part 1 - Part 2
No Response from Rhett Bomar or Brad McRae: Former Big Red general manager Brad McRae and Bomar did not return phone calls Wednesday. Bomar's father, Jerry Bomar, declined comment. Quinn told The Associated Press the ruling was "dumb." "I have no idea," Quinn said. "I don't care." (NewsOK.com)
It's comical when he tells KFOR's Brian Brinkley get a REAL job.
Two ESPY wins related to Oklahoma-Boise State:Boise State's improbable last-second win over Oklahoma during a wild finish in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl helped take the team to the top of the Internet voting in the best game category -- over an Oklahoma State/Texas college hoops tilt, and the Colts/Patriots NFC Championship game. The Jared Zabransky to Ian Johnson two-point conversion play that won the game in overtime took the best play category. The so-called "trick play" beat out plays from Major League Baseball, NFL, NBA and the X Games. (AP/KTVB)
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)
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.
Secondary self-reported violations expected: As Big 12 Conference senior associate commissioner / chief operating officer Dan Beebe said in a statement Wednesday: "NCAA and Big 12 Conference rules require that member institutions self-report violations of NCAA legislation. It is common and expected that institutional athletics compliance programs that are functioning effectively will discover secondary violations from time to time." [Kenny] Mossman said "the NCAA is concerned if you don't have a number of secondary violations to report. They know the complexity of the rulebook, and they know that member institutions are going to misstep. (Secondary violations) are not a phenomenon unique to OU." (Tulsa World)
Oklahoma Statement on the NCAA Secondary Infraction and Supplement Error: From University of Oklahoma athletic department press release..
* The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department's compliance staff, as part of routine checks, recently uncovered NCAA rules infractions that were self-reported by the University and deemed to be secondary violations by the NCAA.
* The most recent self-report from OU to the NCAA included the distribution of ready-to-drink health supplements Cytomax and Endurox R4.
* CytoSport, the maker of Cytomax, acknowledged its error in a formal letter and subsequently sent the correct product.
* Products were returned in shipment April 17, 2007.
* Both are permissible substances for NCAA student-athletes to ingest, although it is impermissible for NCAA members to provide the products to student-athletes.
Report: Oklahoma distributed Cytomax and Endurox R4 to players:The University of Oklahoma identified two drinks containing amino acids as the impermissible nutritional supplements it provided to football players last season, resulting in a secondary violation of NCAA rules. In a fact sheet released Thursday night, the university said it gave players Cytomax and Endurox R4, which it identified as "ready-to-drink health supplements." Oklahoma said both supplements "are permissible substances for NCAA student-athletes to ingest, although it is impermissible for NCAA members to provide the products to student-athletes." NCAA bylaws allow schools to provide "only nonmuscle-building nutritional supplements" that give athletes additional calories or electrolytes. Schools aren't allowed to give athletes products containing amino acids. California-based CytoSport makes several products under the Cytomax name, including the sports drink that it sent to Oklahoma. The university said it ordered the correct product, but instead received one that contained amino acids. (AP/Yahoo!)
University of Oklahoma reports violations, distributing banned supplements: Football players at Oklahoma were given two nutritional supplements banned by the NCAA before the school's compliance department detected the error and stopped the practice. According to documents obtained Tuesday through an open records request by The Associated Press, Oklahoma self-reported to the Big 12 Conference that it committed a secondary violation of NCAA bylaws last fall by providing "two nutritional supplements that contained impermissible substances." Oklahoma blamed one violation on a nutritional company inadvertently shipping a banned substance it identified as "an identical product bearing the same name" as a legal product that had been ordered by the university. In the second instance, Oklahoma reported the football program's strength and conditioning staff failed to review the ingredients of a new nutritional supplement. Both supplements were given to athletes before the mistakes were detected during a routine check by compliance staff. The remainder of the supplements were returned to the company that provided them. (AP/ESPN.com)
OU also reports improper contact: Oklahoma also reported that it committed a secondary violation when co-offensive coordinator Kevin Sumlin called a football prospect the same week coach Bob Stoops had telephoned him and another when three prospects were shown lockers with jerseys featuring the numbers they wore in high school. (AP/ESPN.com)
Sooners land two more Texas recruits: Bob Stoops and Oklahoma just keep getting commitments out of Texas. The Sooners landed two more recruits from the state -- both from the Dallas/Fort Worth area - getting oral commitments from Garland defensive tackle Casey Walker (6-2, 290) and South Garland safety Joseph Ibiloye (6-3, 195). Oral commitments are nonbinding. The first day a recruit in the class of 2008 can sign a national letter of intent is Feb. 6. Walker chose the Sooners over Wisconsin, Boise State, Colorado and Ole Miss. Ibiloye went with the Sooners over Miami, Fla., Southern Cal and Texas A&M. (Dallas Morning News)
Reggie Smith on Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list: Oklahoma cornerback Reggie Smith has been named to watch list for the 2007 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, awarded annually to the best defensive player in college football by the Football Writers Association of America. Smith is one of 49 players on the initial list. A junior, Smith was a first-team All-Big 12 selection by the Associated Press and a second-team pick by league coaches. (NewsOK.com)
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)
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)
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)
Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes What to watch for; NFL Combines: Sunday, Feb. 25 11 a.m. ET: Workouts: Quarterbacks, Running Backs and Wide Receivers (LIVE!) (repeats at 4 & 8 p.m.) 2 p.m. ET: 2007 Scouting Combine Press Conferences (LIVE!) 7 p.m. ET/PT: NFL Total Access at the Scouting Combine (LIVE!) (NFL Scouting Combine Schedule via NFL.com)
ESPN's Mel Kiper's take on Peterson: Mel Kiper, ESPN's draft guru, thinks Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, already the top-rated runner, would help himself even more with a great showing."If he comes in at 6-foot-1, 223 pounds and runs a 4.38, he's going to make people go 'Wow,'" Kiper said. So much so, Kiper added, that teams such as the Ravens and the Denver Broncos, which are in the market for ball carriers, might be willing to trade up in the draft to get him. (Baltimore Sun)
NFLPA discusses rules on college players: NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw is expected to push for rules preventing agents from talking with college players until those players either have become seniors or declared for the NFL draft after their junior season. Upshaw spent Wednesday meeting with a group of agents on the subject. He will address a significantly larger group of agents Friday. "The reaction to it was about 50-50," Upshaw said of the smaller group of agents. "The biggest concern for them is making sure we can get control of the other people involved with the college players, like the financial advisors and the marketing agents." The NFLPA currently has no jurisdiction over advisors or marketing agents. (Yahoo! Sports) Who Will Be On The Cover of the NCAA 08 Video Game? AOL Sports Blog
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)
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..
