Rich Rodriguez now has an alleged pattern of NCAA abuses stretching back five years at two different schools.
The NCAA on Thursday accused West Virginia of major violations going back to 2005. Most of the allegations deal with non-coaching staff interacting with players during offseason voluntary workouts.
You can see the entire 10-page notice of allegations here. David Price's letter to West Virginia president James Clements is here. Price is the outgoing NCAA vice president of enforcement.
The accusations involve both Rodriguez and current West Virginia coach Bill Stewart. Rodriguez and Michigan already are awaiting a hearing before the NCAA infractions committee next week in Seattle. The football program is accused of five major violations that occurred in 2008 and 2009.
At both schools, the NCAA said Rodriguez, "failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance within the football program." The NCAA said the same thing about Stewart, who was an assistant to Rodriguez at West Virginia.
This latest NCAA dust-up could impact the job security of both Rodriguez and Stewart. Stewart has won won 18 games in first two seasons since replacing Rodriguez. Rodriguez already is under pressure after going 8-16 in his first two seasons since replacing Lloyd Carr.
Michigan already has self-penalized in its case. Rodriguez allegedly violated the maximum 20-hour "work week" rule for players. It could be a strange next few months for Rich Rod and the Wolverines. The infractions committee's findings on the football program could be handed down in the middle of the season.
Think of Michigan getting the NCAA hammer the week of the Ohio State game.
Some of the juicier tidbits from the notice of allegations ...
*West Virginia is being asked its position on whether Rodriguez and Stewart, "knew or should have known that non-coaching sport-specific staff members involvement ... was permissible."
Putting that in focus, the NCAA essentially found that USC should have known about Reggie Bush's relationship nefarious marketers who were funneling him money.
*Among the West Virginia staff in question is a video grad assistant and an academic grad assistant. The NCAA alleged that these members coached players through "skill-development activities" at least two days a week during the offseason. Offseason practice, aside from spring practice, is considered voluntary and is not allowed to be viewed or worked by coaches.
*During the 2005-06 academic year, certain members of the Mountaineers' non-coaching staff allegedly analyzed film with players. From 2005-2009 non-coaching staff basically conducted voluntary workouts at times, according to the NCAA.
*From 2005-2010 the NCAA said the "football staff failed to consistently communicate the [West Virginia] compliance staff." During a week in October 2006, the NCAA said West Virginia violated the 20-hour work week maximum by 75 minutes.
*Perhaps most telling for West Virginia, the NCAA is asking for the won-loss records for the last four seasons including the dates and results and all postseason competition. Never mind that the NCAA could fire up a laptop or open a Big East media guide to get those results. Is the NCAA looking into vacating victories?
*Also, the NCAA wants a review of West Virginia's television appearances over the next three seasons. That includes a look at all TV contracts. The NCAA hasn't taken away TV appearances as a penalty in years. However, it's clear these allegations are serious.
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