The University of Memphis is in the process of responding to an NCAA notice of allegations charging the men’s basketball program with major violations during the 2007-08 season under John Calipari.
The allegations include “knowing fraudulence or misconduct” on an SAT exam by a player on the 2007-08 team.
The NCAA alleged the prospective player became eligible after an unknown individual completed his SAT. The player “subsequently competed for the men’s basketball team through the 2007-08 season, which included his participation in the 2008 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.”
The player’s name was redacted in the report, obtained by The Commercial Appeal through the Freedom of Information Act, due to privacy laws.
The player has subsequently denied the charge, according to university personnel.
The only player on the roster who competed only during that season was Derrick Rose, who subsequently was the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft last June.
Former Tiger Jeff Robinson was, like Rose, a freshman in the 2007-08 season. But Robinson continued with the team into the 2008-09 season before transferring.
If the allegations are proven to be true, the Tigers could be forced to forfeit their NCAA-record 38 victories and Final Four appearance.
“We take it very seriously. We don’t condone it,” said athletic director R.C. Johnson, who declined to comment in detail about the allegations. “We’re doing a thorough investigation.”
The report was the result of an NCAA investigation into the men’s basketball program that began roughly one year ago. It does not include allegations of lack of institutional control, meaning Memphis would likely avoid serious penalties that would have an impact on the program going forward.
The report includes no allegations that would have occurred during the tenure of Josh Pastner, either as an assistant or head coach. Pastner was hired at Memphis as an assistant last June and promoted to head coach on April 6.
Memphis, which received the notice of allegations Jan. 16, is scheduled to appear before the NCAA Committee on Infractions June 6.
Calipari, who left Memphis for Kentucky on March 31, is not named in the report, but the NCAA has requested his presence at the hearing. Calipari did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment.
It is also alleged that Memphis permitted an associate of a player to travel with the team to some road games for free, an extra benefit that would amount to $2,260. The NCAA is charging Memphis with a failure to monitor in that instance, and the university could claim administrative oversight since the associate apparently paid for some of his travel. Those names also were redacted in the report due to privacy laws.
Memphis has been asked to provide a copy of all relevant charter plane and hotel records and a statement describing the athletic department’s procedure for monitoring accommodations used by relatives of a player.
Also included in the NCAA’s notice of allegations were multiple charges of misconduct by former women’s golf coach Jenny Bruun from 2004 through 2008. She allegedly provided extra benefits to players valued at $3,115.70.
Johnson said the university is “still working” on its response to the NCAA notice of allegations.
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Comments » 58
VolFaninCT writes:
Curious as to what the SAT thing could be....
mbible1utk#324980 writes:
sounds like Kentucky hired themselves their own version of a Kelvin Sampson... way to go blue
Seriouslyorange writes:
Calamari, the deep sea slime will have Big Blue in slime before a wildcat can lick his hind quarters.
TNisPeerless writes:
Is there any surprise with this development? It also shows what kind of guy C. is that he would high tail it out of the sticky situation that he created.
panties4tebow writes:
Got out of dodge before he was run off..........watch out ky you are next!
kingsportvolfan writes:
haha coach Cal finally getting explosed! i personally can't stand him. Kentucky might have got themselves into a bad predicament
kingsportvolfan writes:
exposed*
murrayvol writes:
In the immortal words of Anton Chigurh, "you know how this is going to turn out, don't you?"
TopTenn writes:
The player in question is Rose.
Colliervol writes:
I hate to say "I told you so" but.... And some of you guys have wondered why I dislike Calipari so much? Now you know. In my business, I learned to spot B.S. quickly. And it didn't take me 9 years to figure out what was happening with him. The Memphis folks didn't figure it out till he was gone.
I hope all the "good times" were worth it to the Tiger fans. Because the chickens are about to come home to roost. Wait till they get to the bottom of all the Worldwide Wes stuff.
This is all curiously similar to Cal leaving UMass about the time the NCAA came looking at Marcus Camby. (Of course, Cal knew nothing about that situation. Wink, wink.) The bad thing is that Memphis will take the hit and Calipari moves on to his mansion.
KY fans, are you seeing a trend here?
kingsportvolfan writes:
haha yeah sorry didnt try to copy your name
BigVolinCarolina writes:
Wow. Speechless. Unbelievable. Whodathunkit?
Never could have seen this one coming...
TopTenn writes:
A final four that will be null and void. The trolls can only claim one. The 1985 FF was voided. Tigers are repeat offenders.
STNVol09 writes:
Roy Williams did
STNVol09 writes:
Hiresanders just a got sick to hius stomach. Kentucky cheats again. The "K" stands for "Kindergarden Kops"
Colliervol writes:
Good point. So much for that "elite" status. (That was a big joke even before this revelation.) Couldn't get there without cheating. End of story.
Colliervol writes:
As far as the question of "institutional control" goes, that's a joke. They never had "institutional control" of Calipari from the start. (He used to tell R.C. Johnson when he could go to the bathroom.) Nobody at that school monitored him. He did what he wanted to, whenever he wanted.
"We don’t condone it." They condoned it when they hired him.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Dang - you are famous.
Hounddog writes:
"Blue Moon Over Kentucky"
stevefrommemphis writes:
This is a good time to remind readers about the history of Kentucky basketball (things they don't teach kids in Kentucky):
(1) Kentucky basketball program was first to ever receive NCAA death penalty. A defiant Rupp said: "They have found a way to beat Kentucky. They have cancelled our season."
(2) Players charged with point-shaving scandal in another incident, in late 1950s, I think.
(3) Program in such trouble during Eddie Sutton era that Sports Illustrated put out an issue with cover page reading simply: "Kentucky's Shame" (To my knowledge, Sutton was never in trouble with the NCAA before or after coaching at Kentucky.) UNLV's Jerry Tarkanian said: "The NCAA is so mad at Kentucky right now that they put Cleveland State on probation another three years."
If anyone remembers others, please remind me. These just come to mind right off.
tennrich1 writes:
Hey, they danced with the devil 9 years..that was about 7 years longer than anyone expected....I cant imagine this being a surprise to anyone anywhere who knows anything about college basketball...Recruits didnt just flock to the University of Memphis because of its beauty or great educational trendsetting. ESPN news was even commenting on the suspectness of Cal... Sad part is i have a few big time Tigers supporters who are great friends. I do feel sad for them.
smokyredbone writes:
LMFAO!!!! I'll bet you couldn't drive a nail up a "Blue Misters" behind with a jackhammer!!! Ha Ha! There better not be anything wrong with those players UK and the Squid stole from Memphis,the Tigers will serve them up to the NCAA to save themselves! Poetic Justice, for the underhanded way he left the Tigers and stole their recruiting class! The funniest thing is John Wall has yet to score a qualifying score,I wonder if this blows the Squid's plan. Once this comes out UK will look like total idiots and I for one will enjoy that more than Kiffin making Urban Liar his biatch! The savior has arrived they crowed, we're baaaaaaaack!!! Ha Ha Ha! Yup back on probation!!! GO VOLS! KEEP IT CLEAN,THE SQUID CAN'T BEAT PEARL ANYWAY!
smokyredbone writes:
Where's that little girl "hiresanders" when you need him? This should quiet him quicker the squid quieted those Tigger fans! Wow have they ever taken a fall from grace!UK,your the next victim.
golfballs03 writes:
I don't think it's related, but Robert Dozier supposedly took the SAT, but couldn't tell anyone where he took it, and couldn't even say what the room he took it in looked like.
Bigger_Al writes:
How much of Calipari's contract from UK is guaranteed?
Academic fraud and improper payments at Memphis will mean that Memphis will vacate their 2008 Final Four appearance. UMass had to vacate their Final Four appearance under Calipari.
At least UK hasn't had an amazing recruiting month resulting in the anything like the top two players in the country committing to UK...
Ironcity writes:
Rats! It looks like we are just one of 38 teams to shut out Memphis. Could be a short coaching career at UK if this ties back to coach Cal.
BigOrangeJeff writes:
Not basketball, but don't forget that the king of all cheaters - Bear Bryant - coached at UK.
stevefrommemphis writes:
My prediction is that you are stating what is probably going to be the standard Kentucky argument -- this coming from the program that has one of the most corrupt histories in college basketball (though admittedly not during the more recent Pitino and Tubby Smith eras). See my prior post for the sorded details on UK basketball history.
tallfry writes:
no way cal gets in trouble at KY-jaily. sorry, it's late and i had to use it.
Orangeblood13 writes:
you guys r next ahole
thevoice writes:
Calipari not accused or involved? Duh, when was the last time a coach was penalized for wrongdoing? Try never. Hope they find out he knew something and UK is thoroughly embarrassed, little sly feller.
oldvolsfan writes:
when he gets out of his diapers his mind may develope (not)
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Hard to imagine Calapari being connected to anything sleezy.
ctownvol writes:
Where is that guy who posts under the name wearememphis? Memphis? What a joke!
give_him_6 writes:
Naw..it was Roy. He is on the hot seat for not winning more titles with all the talent he has had. He is worried that Calimari is interested in UNC. If Coach K was the Tar Heel coach, Carolina would have banners hanging everywhere. But you guys are stuck with old white hair!!!
give_him_6 writes:
Better watch out out there Rich...Witch Doctor gets a piece of your hair, then you your finished. You better beg forgiveness while you can!!!!
doh writes:
get ready lexington, coming soon to your area, ncaa investigators. you sleep with dogs, you end up with fleas.
halloffamebowler writes:
Memphis,Home of the Blues.
PaulTheVol writes:
You miss the bigger picture in terms of Kentucky. The question isn't so much if Calipari was involved, but whether Calipari knew about it and failed to disclose it during the vetting process at Kentucky. While it seems he didn't know anything about the NCAA investigation, he may have well known about the SAT issue (even if he had no direct involvement). If so, I would guess that the UK President and Board of Regents would have a real problem with that and Calipari's employment would be in jeopardy.
feathersax writes:
Vewy intwesting! Waiting for 'hiresanders' & lil' memphis 'butch' to chime in. Tiger High, this sounds like a rerun. Blue misters, better check the closets, 'cause big brother is gonna be watching you.
b_neas writes:
Even if KY did know of this, they still would have hired him. They would have sold their soul to the devil, desperate times make people do desperate things. They want to be a contender again and will do so at ALL costs.
Colliervol writes:
One slight error there Lazhil. Rose left because he was always going to be the #1 draft pick. Duh. As a matter of fact, he wouldn't have even gone to college but for the one year rule. Now it appears he only went to Memphis because they were the first to arrange his SAT exam.
And all along, the Memphis fans kept talking about their "tradition" and the "elite" status of their program. It's looking like they have a whole new tradition. Having Final Four appearances vacated due to cheating. Yep, that's "elite" alright. Not many folks have accomplished that.
chad_t31 writes:
For all of you who think there is nothing to this story, wake up. First of all, the tiggers were made aware of possible infractions in JANUARY. It's MAY! You think the NCAA has spent almost 5 months on this and it's gonna turn out to be nothing?? Rather or not there was an accounting oversight or if Rose insists he did nothing wrong, the tiggers will be penalized. How much is anyone's guess. No one should be surprised and UK..well, you just cleaned yourself up after the near death-penalty you encountered and about to get in bed with it again. How many top 25 recruits does UK have coming in? 3? 4? Heckuva class...hope it's worth the problems you are about to get with calisafari.
tnboystuckinkentucky writes:
Alright CatScratch, I know you're a huge Big Blue fan and don't want any sort of controversy hanging over the Big Blue Nation after what's happened in the past, but this is the second time that Cal has tucked tail and ran from a school, and afterwards the NCAA has found major violations against the program in which Cal was in charge of. Cal's is one of two things in both situations with UMass and Memphis: 1) stupid or 2) lying. We both know and will admit that he's not a stupid person, so really you've got one option. I'm sorry but ignorance doesn't work as an excuse when you're the head coach. You can have an assistant coach take the fall for your actions, but that still doesn't make it right. Amost everytime something like this happens, an assistant coach takes the fall for the head coach. It's the same as one of the President's cabinet members taking the fall for the President. It looks better all the way around, and you don't want to tarnish the reputation of someone's administration. It's funny to me that UK did a due dillegence test on Cal and knowing this situation decided he was still a good fit for UK. I was hoping UK had more sense that to hire someone with a track record like Cal, but apparently not. I heard Cousins hadn't taken his SAT when he officially signed with UK last month, and now I wonder who's gonna take it for him!
lildhoss76ut#638162 writes:
when the barn catches fire the rats scatter in every direction. cal knew what was coming and got the he!! out. he probably tipped the recriuts off that memphis was in deep sh-t and said come to ky and all will be fine. i hope the dirty f'er gets what he deserves.
OrangePower11 writes:
What's it matter? Don't cheat, and you have no worries, right?
Let me guess. You live by the "no snitch" code of the streets, don't you?
SomeGuy writes:
KY-Jelly is one of the all-time great cheaters in NCAA history. Cal was hired because he fits in well in that environment.
CoachFulmer writes:
Its great to be a Tennessee Vol.
GO VOLS!
Bloodrunzorange writes:
Thats funny! Good stuff! CFP is actually "hiresanders"! Go Vols!
tnboystuckinkentucky writes:
This probably won't affect Calamari or UK, but now I wonder why UK hired this guy knowing all the phooey that's happened on his watch. You can deny it, because he's recruited an awesome class, and you want to win again, but what will you and the rest of the Bluegrass State have to say when he leaves UK and your team has to forfeit wins and possibly tourney appearances?!?
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