July 15, 2005
Let's cut to the chase.KU under the careful watch of Roy Williams paid its basketball players.No matter which way you spin it or analyze it, that's what happened.By the way, KU also committed academic violations for some borderline junior college football players, and provided illegal assistance to women's basketball recruits.Nothing brightens your Friday like an NCAA investigation.Kudos to Lew Perkins for spearheading the effort to self-report these violations. The NCAA usually shows sympathy for schools that admit their wrongdoings.Likewise, shame on Al Bohl and Roy Williams. ![][1]Someone should drop off a case of Tylenol and Pizza Shuttle at Allen Fieldhouse. KU has a bad case of Al Bohl hangover. Under his watch, KU committed [NCAA violations in three sports.][2]Football and women's basketball each received self-imposed slaps on the wrist. I can't imagine the NCAA coming down too much harder on either program.Ironically, most of the football violations surrounded the ballyhooed 2003 junior college recruiting class. You may remember that it was labeled the "best junior college class in the country." You may also remember that hardly any of those players amounted to much.The most troublesome violations surround men's basketball.KU officials tried to spin the cash payments to former players like it was a simple misunderstanding of the rules. Unfortunately, the molehill may soon grow into Mount Everest.After their eligibility was complete, KU basketball players received checks from boosters as "graduation gifts." The amount of the checks weren't much usually about 100 dollars but the money was a reward for playing basketball at KU.Williams said he knew about the payments, but didn't think they violated NCAA rules. For a man who prides himself on the details, he should have known better.How is this different than boosters paying SMU football players during the 1980s?I guess this is what happens when you hire a crooked athletics director. You can take the Al Bohl out of Fresno State, but you can't take the Fresno State out of Al Bohl.After a long night on the town with Bohl, KU woke up with a headache and some strange warts.So LongThis is how I'm going out. My last blog is about an NCAA investigation.In a few weeks, I'm starting a job with KOCO, the ABC affiliate in Oklahoma City.I hope you've enjoyed reading this blog for the last year. I've enjoyed writing it. [1]: http://www.kusports.com/art/bohlmug180.jpg [2]: http://www.kusports.com/news/kunews/story/114807
Comments
lawrence.com does not necessarily agree with comments posted below - responsibility lies with the relevant user alone. Read our full policy.
Joel (Joel Mathis) says...
Damn you Rigg for leaving!
Seriously: You'll be muchly missed.
July 15, 2005 at 8:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
leslie (Leslie vonHolten) says...
Good luck, Mike. I'm not much of a sports person, but I've enjoyed your writing. Watch out for the tarantulas!
July 15, 2005 at 9:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rigg (Mike Rigg) says...
Tarantulas? In Oklahoma? I hope not. Hopefully, just armadillos.
Any opinions on the NCAA investigation? Gary Bedore says it's no big deal. Obviously, I disagree.
July 15, 2005 at 9:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reticentscrivener (anonymous) says...
Cash payments to players are never good. Wish I knew more about NCAA investigations to know how troubling they find this sort of conduct.
Putting aside the consequences, I am disturbed by the findings on two fronts. Ethically, my school should behave like a class institution rather some corrupt SEC sports-kleptocracy. Provincially, it's much easier to mock Missouri's problems when we aren't on probation.
Inevitably, some people will view this as an effort by the university as a vengeful effort to tarnish Roy's legacy. I hope that (a) that was not the university's motivation and (b) that those with that perspective are few in number. Perkins seems like a straight shooter, an honorable man, and I give him the benefit of the doubt. It's an unfortunate situation, but as you suggested it appears to have more to do with Bohl's slipshod management.
Hopefully the AD is putting the heat on Mangino to run a clean ship from here on out.
Enjoyed the column. Give em hell in OKC. If anyone gives you any shit, kick them in the groin and sing the alma mater.
July 15, 2005 at 9:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ladylaw (Terry Bush) says...
No.....say it aint so!! You will be missed Mike! We feel proud of you (like parents sending their child off to some other state) and we hope you will return and visit your parents often! Of your own free will. Hope you enjoy Okie land. Oh, in addition to the big spiders, hope you like RED NECKS! LOL.....
Oh, and shame on anyone who violates the rules and then pretends they didn't know any better....BUT.... In your (outgoing) humble opinion...how many college programs are lilly white? Just the losing ones? Or not many? Or most? Or.......
July 15, 2005 at 11:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cwrist (Chris Wristen) says...
Dang it. If Rigg-o-sportis is leaving, how will I possibly fill the three hours per day I spend posting on your blog?
Best of luck Rigg.
As for the violations, I was a wise first move by Perkins to launch the investigation within hours of being hired, and it's good to know all of the violations happened under Dirty Al's watch.
Personally, I don't think the violations as a whole are a huge deal. Programs have violations every day, and the stuff like getting extra tutoring and giving potential student-athletes rides around town and to and from the airport are kind of a crock. The cheating violation by football and the cash to former players violation are eyebrow-raisers though. Both of those are pretty unforgiveable, but I'd be surprised if the NCAA takes any further action. KU handled this thing the right way.
July 16, 2005 at 12:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gccs14r (anonymous) says...
"Tarantulas? In Oklahoma? I hope not. Hopefully, just armadillos."
On the Turner Turnpike (I-44) between Tulsa and OKC, you'll hear them go whump whump when you run over them. They're big down there. Oklahoma tarantulas are big enough to wear tats. Beware.
July 16, 2005 at 6:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Jay_lo (anonymous) says...
Since you've apparently used up your eligibility in Lawrence, I'm sure you wouldn't mind if your supporters sent you their best wishes, and if they happened to include a little monetary gift with no strings attatched, well...
July 16, 2005 at 6:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lchronister (Levi Chronister) says...
Good luck in OKC, buddy. We'll miss ya.
July 16, 2005 at 9:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
davidryan (David Ryan) says...
Ah, good things do indeed end.
I'll miss the blog greatly.
Best wishes for your move to OKC.
July 16, 2005 at 10:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
darkangel (anonymous) says...
I'm not much of a sports person, but I enjoyed reading your blog.
Best of luck!
Oddly, I noticed that the men's basketball violations are being very much down played in the paper. Are they really more eyebrow raising than the women's basketball and football ones? Or is that just KU Jayhawk territory.
July 16, 2005 at 5:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
aquakej (anonymous) says...
Why is it a problem to pay players a small sum of money after they graduate? It seems, to me, that once they graduate, they are unaffiliated with the University and the University should no longer be accountable for their actions. Why is a graduation present a violation???
P.S. Yes, there are many tarantulas in Oklahoma. Woo hoo!
July 17, 2005 at 11:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cwrist (Chris Wristen) says...
aquakej,
to answer your question: it's because the NCAA is full of crap. it's one of the most corrupt organizations in America.
My dad asked me the same question, and here's how the conversation went:
Dad: "Why does it matter if a booster gave them money as a graduation present after they graduated?"
Me: Because the booster wouldn't have known the player or cared about them had it not been for them being a KU basketball player. Dana Anderson didn't mail me a check when I graduated.
Dad: So what. If you're a KU basketball player, and my son, and I give you a check for graduation, is that a violation?
Me: No, because you knew me long before then, and you're my dad.
Dad: How did these guys receiving checks after their eligibility was up impact recruiting?
Me: It didn't.
Dad: I don't understand this. It doesn't make much sense.
Me: That's exactly the point. The NCAA is stupid.
July 17, 2005 at 2:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sadtaco1 (anonymous) says...
cwrist...
You seem to be missing a huge point. The NCAA rules are all made up by its constituent members -- the colleges and universities. All the rules are derived on campus and then voted upon by the entire organization, which is made up of...you guessed it, the constituent members. So every time someone criticizes the NCAA, as if it were some malicious Gestapo, they have only the individual colleges and universities (including KU) to blame. Membership in the NCAA is optional, and all the members agree to the rules (and subsequent consequences) that they themselves drafted.
July 17, 2005 at 5:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gccs14r (anonymous) says...
"Play for us for four years and we'll cut you a fat check when you graduate." That's why the NCAA cares about what happens after graduation.
July 17, 2005 at 7:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
NDHawk (anonymous) says...
Mike -
Your blogs are always a great read! Hopefully I'll be able to catch your stories in OKC. Thanks and good luck, man!
July 17, 2005 at 10:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DavidRose (anonymous) says...
Another bad news day for KU sports. And the beat goes...
Anyway, kick some ass in OKC, Mike!!
July 18, 2005 at 8:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lazz (anonymous) says...
You're not transfering to New Mexico, are you?
July 18, 2005 at 8:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cvillehawk (anonymous) says...
I doubt any of those kids chose KU over some other school because they were going to get $115 after four years of service. I think it's a violation in fact, but not much of one in spirit.
July 18, 2005 at 11:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rgutter (anonymous) says...
I am sorry to see you go, unlike Al Bohl, Roy Williams, J.R. Giddens etc. I will miss your wisdom. Good Luck!
July 18, 2005 at 4:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dcnyc (anonymous) says...
Hey Mike,
Congrats on the new gig! Even though I haven't lived in Kansas for a while every now and then I've checked in on your career, wondering when you were going to be discovered and hit the big time. I hope Oklahoma City appreciates your talent as much as Lawrence did. Good luck!
Deanna
July 18, 2005 at 5:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rigg (Mike Rigg) says...
If I had known that you guys thought all of these nice things -- I would have chosen to stay!
Seriously, thank you for the kind words.
July 19, 2005 at 2:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tiredandsalty (anonymous) says...
What? ku jocks getting special treatment? GASP!
if people actually knew all the shit they get and all the shit they get away with their little brains would collapse.
July 19, 2005 at 5:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cwrist (Chris Wristen) says...
"Al Bohl never would've called Friday's news conference. He never would've hired investigators. Al Bohl, like most athletic directors, would've told Mangino, "This better not ever happen again. And you better hope the media never catches wind of this. Tell this assistant coach he has one month to find another job.""
-- Excerpt from Jason Whitlock's column in the KC Star about the pressure on Mangino after the KU violations report came out.
Obviously Jason didn't attend many KU press conferences or sporting events during Al Bohl's two-year ransacking of Lawrence. If he had, he'd know Al Bohl would've been just fine with the things that went on, and likely would've been content if more of them happened, as long as it helped the football team get players that could help it win games.
July 21, 2005 at 4:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cahought (anonymous) says...
Hey Mike-
Didn't realize you're leaving Lawrence- sorry to hear it, but best of luck! Will miss seeing you downtown. Guess OKC will have to hear about Iowa tennis when the sports world is slow. Thanks for the Al Bohl bashing on your way out of town... he definitely deserves it.
Cari
July 22, 2005 at 1:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
billytfor3 (anonymous) says...
Hey Mike, enjoyed the blog. good luck in the future wherever you go.
July 24, 2005 at 1:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tater (anonymous) says...
Rigg,
Have you heard who is taking over your spot? Is DJ going to be the "new" Rigg? I'd love to see another KUJH alum get a full time tv gig.
July 24, 2005 at 8:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gamer (Matt Cox) says...
Later, Rigg. Who's coordinating the Saturday pick up games now? :)
July 26, 2005 at 3:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rigg (Mike Rigg) says...
On my way out the door...
An announcement on the new 10 p.m. sports anchor should come shortly. I don't think it's my position to say anything, other than Tater is on the right track...
I miss Lawrence already.
July 26, 2005 at 5:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
quinn (Patrick Quinn) says...
It's been a fun blog, Rigg. Hope we still see around these parts. Best of luck w/ the new gig.
The violations cast an even weirder light on Bohl's one-of-a-kind departure press conference....
August 11, 2005 at 3:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )