ON THURSDAY, West Virginia University officials released a Notice of Allegations handed to them by the NCAA.
That can't instill a great deal of confidence in WVU's caretakers.
The NCAA took it a step beyond, saying "the athletics department failed to adequately monitor its football program to assure compliance regarding the limitations on the number, duties and activities of countable football coaches.''
The NCAA report says the Mountaineer compliance staff "communicated concerns to the football staff regarding various individuals,'' but those individuals "continued to engage in impermissible activities.''
In sum, the athletic department, which seems to have more assistant ADs than Wal-Mart has employees, lacked diligence and fortitude, according to the NCAA.
Of course, the school has a new athletic director, and the hope is Oliver Luck will run a tighter ship. (Why wouldn't one with all that money on the line?)
What's yet to be seen, however, is what will be on that ship.
WVU fans will have to wait until either December or February (depending on how long it takes the school to respond) to learn of sanctions. One should be able to get a good idea of penalties, however, when Michigan's punishment is handed down.
Luck does have a football team on his hands with a great chance of winning a Big East title this season. But he also has a coach on his hands implicated by the NCAA. ("It is alleged that from the spring semester of the 2007-08 academic year through the fall semester of the 2009-10 academic year, the scope and nature of the violations detailed in Allegation Nos. 1-b and 2-b demonstrate that Bill Stewart, head football coach, failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance within the football program and failed to adequately monitor the duties'' of graduate assistants, etc.)
It's probable that most around here, including this writer, believe Stewart meant no harm. However, WVU opponents will pounce on the situation. There is no doubt about it. They will point to impending sanctions when recruiting. And it doesn't help the Mountaineer cause that recruiting experts say WVU's current crop of 2011 commitments is less than lights-out.
It will be interesting to see the final effect. Yes, other schools like USC, Florida, LSU, Georgia and, of course, Michigan are likewise dealing with NCAA issues. But those schools are almost bulletproof.
Unfortunately for Mountaineer fans, WVU is not.
Reach Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827, mitchvin...@wvgazette.com or follow him at http://twitter.com/MitchVingle.
ON THURSDAY, West Virginia University officials released a Notice of Allegations handed to them by the NCAA.
Five allegations are of the major violation variety; one is of the minor variety.
They were similar to those handed to Michigan officials in regard to football coach - and former Mountaineer head coach - Rich Rodriguez.
He, one probably correctly assumes, is the root of WVU's evil. UM uprooted Rodriguez and planted him in Ann Arbor. So, more than likely, Mountaineer fans have every right to look toward the Great Lake State and shake a fist.
According to the NCAA, however, they shouldn't stop there.
Michigan's alleged violations centered on one head coach. WVU's centers on two, including Bill Stewart, the current coach.
And, when the paperwork is completed, when/if penalties are handed down, the Notice of Allegations could morph into indictments of many within WVU's athletic department.
Yes, Rodriguez is the central character. He may have put the wheels in motion to gain an edge. Stewart may have simply kept the wheels in motion via ignorance.
In the eyes of the NCAA, however, neither ambition nor incomprehension excuses breaking of the rules. Case No. M330 - that sitting on the desk of WVU President James P. Clements - is proof positive.
Also, if WVU fans are shaking their fists, they might want to aim a couple shakes toward their own athletic department.
When Michigan was handed its Notice, then-Mountaineer athletic director Ed Pastilong indicated his department's house was in order.
"Our compliance requirements include monthly, weekly and sometimes even daily reports and they're all in our records,'' Pastilong said at the time. "They work in both a prevention mode and an educational mode in making sure our coaches are doing the right things. I have every confidence that during that time we were in full compliance.''
"We looked into it,'' WVU's Patrick Hairston, now assistant AD in charge of compliance, said. "We're very comfortable no NCAA rules were broken."
The comfort level was questioned here. Michigan hired outside help in its investigation. WVU officials "looked into it'' and were "very comfortable.''
That can't instill a great deal of confidence in WVU's caretakers.
The NCAA took it a step beyond, saying "the athletics department failed to adequately monitor its football program to assure compliance regarding the limitations on the number, duties and activities of countable football coaches.''
The NCAA report says the Mountaineer compliance staff "communicated concerns to the football staff regarding various individuals,'' but those individuals "continued to engage in impermissible activities.''
In sum, the athletic department, which seems to have more assistant ADs than Wal-Mart has employees, lacked diligence and fortitude, according to the NCAA.
Of course, the school has a new athletic director, and the hope is Oliver Luck will run a tighter ship. (Why wouldn't one with all that money on the line?)
What's yet to be seen, however, is what will be on that ship.
WVU fans will have to wait until either December or February (depending on how long it takes the school to respond) to learn of sanctions. One should be able to get a good idea of penalties, however, when Michigan's punishment is handed down.
Luck does have a football team on his hands with a great chance of winning a Big East title this season. But he also has a coach on his hands implicated by the NCAA. ("It is alleged that from the spring semester of the 2007-08 academic year through the fall semester of the 2009-10 academic year, the scope and nature of the violations detailed in Allegation Nos. 1-b and 2-b demonstrate that Bill Stewart, head football coach, failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance within the football program and failed to adequately monitor the duties'' of graduate assistants, etc.)
It's probable that most around here, including this writer, believe Stewart meant no harm. However, WVU opponents will pounce on the situation. There is no doubt about it. They will point to impending sanctions when recruiting. And it doesn't help the Mountaineer cause that recruiting experts say WVU's current crop of 2011 commitments is less than lights-out.
It will be interesting to see the final effect. Yes, other schools like USC, Florida, LSU, Georgia and, of course, Michigan are likewise dealing with NCAA issues. But those schools are almost bulletproof.
Unfortunately for Mountaineer fans, WVU is not.
Reach Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827, mitchvin...@wvgazette.com or follow him at http://twitter.com/MitchVingle.
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