NCAA Puts Minnesota Hoops on Probation

M I N N E A P O L I S, Oct. 24, 2000 -- The Minnesota men’s basketball program wasplaced on four years probation and stripped of five scholarshipstoday for what the NCAA termed “academic fraud” and some of“the most serious” rules violations in two decades.

The Golden Gophers will not be banned from another year ofpostseason play, although that was “seriously considered,”according to an NCAA news release obtained by The Associated Press.

University officials had hoped to avoid such a ban.

In addition, three former university employees, including formercoach Clem Haskins, will have to come before the NCAA infractionscommittee if they want to return to college sports. For Haskins,that “show cause” period is seven years.

The scholarship reduction is spread over three years.

The committee agreed with the university’s conclusions that from1994 to 1998, a former tutor did some 400 pieces of coursework forat least 18 men’s basketball student-athletes.

“The violations were significant, widespread and intentional,”the NCAA said in its release. “More than that, their nature —academic fraud — undermined the bedrock foundation of a universityand the operation of its intercollegiate athletics program.”

The punishment from the NCAA was first reported Monday night bythe Saint Paul Pioneer Press and the Star Tribune of Minneapolis,and later confirmed to the AP by a school official, who spoke onthe condition of anonymity.

The NCAA planned formal release of the report later today.

Coursework Done for 18 Ball Players

The scandal broke in March 1999, when former tutor and officemanager Jan Gangelhoff came forward with her story of helpingathletes cheat.

The NCAA commended Minnesota for its investigation andcomprehensive self-punishment, which included an offer to repay 90percent of its money for playing in the 1994, 1995 and 1997 NCAAbasketball tournaments, or about $350,000.

But the NCAA ordered that team records from the NCAA tournamentand National Invitation Tournament — and the tournament records ofplayers who engaged in academic fraud from 1993-94 through 1998-99— be erased.

Haskins, who accepted a $1.5 million buyout to leave the schoolseveral months after Gangelhoff came forward, also will have thosetournament victories and any mention of the Final Four appearanceerased from his record.

The infractions committee’s report found that Gangelhoff, aformer office manager in the university’s academic counseling unit,completed coursework for at least 18 basketball players — and thatformer academic adviser Alonzo Newby arranged the work withHaskins’ knowledge.

Newby and Gangelhoff also must go before the infractionscommittee if they want to return to college athletics, Newby forthe next seven years and Gangelhoff for the next five, according tothe news release.

Attorneys for Haskins and Newby did not immediately return phonecalls this morning. A woman who answered the phone at Haskins’Kentucky ranch said he did not want to comment. Gangelhoff’sattorney, Jim Lord, said she would decide later today whether tocomment. Lord said he had seen the NCAA report but would notdiscuss the contents until it was officially released.

Breadth of On-Campus Fraud

Minnesota officials highlighted the school’s self-sanctions inApril at a hearing before the NCAA infractions committee, andpointed out that ties were severed to most of the people closelylinked to the scandal.

The NCAA committee has weighed those facts against what has beencalled one of the most serious cases of academic fraud in recenthistory.

Other high-profile penalties handed down in the past 10 or 15years — such as sanctions against UNLV, Kansas and Kentucky — dealtmostly with recruiting violations. The Minnesota case is rare forthe scope of the on-campus fraud.

Second-year coach Dan Monson compared waiting for the NCAAdecision to being like a child waiting for the spanking he’ll getwhen his father gets home.

Scandal Hurts Recruiting

But the scandal has been more than frustrating for Monson andother Minnesota officials. It has hurt recruiting.

Center Rick Rickert of Duluth, Minnesota’s top high-schoolprospect and one of the nation’s top recruits, delayed announcinghis college choice until Wednesday. He was considering Minnesotaand Arizona.

In March 1999, the day before the Gophers started play in theNCAA tournament, the Pioneer Press reported that Gangelhoffadmitted writing papers for players.

The story prompted a nine-month, $2.2 million investigation bythe university. Federal prosecutors are still looking into thecase.

Minnesota and the NCAA allege that Newby steered players toGangelhoff and that Haskins rewarded her. Investigators also saythat Newby helped get grades or classes changed to keep severalplayers eligible and that Haskins told players to lie after thestory broke.

Haskins admitted — after several denials — that he paidGangelhoff $3,000 cash to tutor a student after she was ordered tostay away from the team. Minnesota is suing to retrieve the $1.5million buyout given Haskins, claiming he broke school and NCAArules and violated his contract when he admitted paying Gangelhoff.