BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) -Indiana University will not request a second hearing in front of the NCAA infractions committee, but will send a written response to the NCAA’s newest allegation of failing to monitor the men’s basketball program.
University spokesman Larry MacIntyre confirmed the decision Thursday. He had no explanation for why it was made after university president Michael McRobbie promised to vigorously fight the charge in June.
Indiana has until Sept. 17 to file a response, something MacIntyre said has not happened yet.
The allegation is the latest twist in a phone-call scandal that has rocked the Hoosiers’ basketball program.
Former coach Kelvin Sampson accepted a contract buyout in February, none of his assistants were retained when Tom Crean was named Sampson’s successor April 1 and all but two players from last season’s roster have left the program. Some opted to transfer and others were dismissed.
The fallout didn’t stop there.
Athletic director Rick Greenspan announced a reorganization of the athletic department and then said in late June he would resign at the end of the year after the NCAA said it was filing a fifth major accusation, failure to monitor, against the program.
Sampson and his staff were accused of making more than 100 impermissible phone calls, including about 10 three-way calls, while Sampson was still under NCAA restrictions because of another phone-call scandal at Oklahoma prior to joining the Hoosiers in 2006.
Sampson has repeatedly denied he was knowingly involved in three-way calls at Indiana and disputed the NCAA’s contention that he did not tell investigators the whole truth.
A decision in the case was initially expected in late July or early August, but the new charge of failure to monitor prompted a delay since Indiana officials were given more time to respond.
Sending a written response, rather than appearing in front of the infractions committee, could produce a conclusion before the basketball season opens in November.
Indiana has not been found guilty of a major NCAA violation in any program since 1960.
Add A Comment