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March 15, 2000 SportsLine.com wire reports |
LAS VEGAS -- Some things never change at UNLV, where the euphoria of
getting back into the NCAA Tournament is being tempered by a new batch of NCAA
charges that include allegations a booster paid several thousand dollars to
Lamar Odom.
The NCAA has put UNLV on notice that it could face harsher sanctions under
the so-called "repeat violator" rule if it is found guilty of the latest
charges.
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UNLV was told last week that it is the target of an official inquiry, and was given until May 10 to respond to the allegations. The charges will be reviewed by the NCAA Committee on Infractions when it meets June 16-18 in Lake Tahoe.
UNLV athletic director Charles Cavagnaro said there is no evidence UNLV coach Bill Bayno or his assistants knew of the payments, and promised the university will conduct a full investigation.
Still, Bayno acknowledged that "any allegation that involves cash is serious."
The most serious of the allegations released Tuesday by the university center around the payment of $5,600 to Odom by UNLV booster and Las Vegas dentist David Chapman. Part of the money allegedly was paid while Odom was enrolled in a summer class at UNLV.
Odom, who never played for UNLV, is now with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The inquiry also alleges that Bayno solicited booster Sig Rogich to give Odom a job and "failed to adequately monitor" the basketball program for compliance with NCAA guidelines.
The latest allegations come as the Runnin' Rebels flew Wednesday to Nashville, Tenn., where they play Tulsa on Friday in a first-round game in the South Regional.
The appearance in the tournament is only the second under Bayno, who was touted as a coach who would run a clean program when he was hired five years ago.
UNLV hired a Kansas City lawyer who specializes in such cases to help it through the NCAA probe, which began in March 1999 when the organization notified UNLV that it was looking into possible improprieties in the basketball program.
UNLV was put on probation in 1993 for violations in the recruitment of Lloyd Daniels. Since the alleged new violations occurred within that time period, UNLV faces the possibility of stricter sanctions this time.
"We take this matter very seriously," said UNLV president Carol Harter, who is often seen at games hugging Bayno on the court during pregame introductions. "The university's integrity is paramount. Therefore, my overriding desire in this matter is to learn the truth, to submit a complete and unbiased response to the allegations and to take swift corrective measures as necessary."
In addition to the possible Odom violations, the NCAA alleges that:
- Bayno and assistant Max Good made illegal contact with potential recruits by phone.
- Assistant David Rice delivered a car payment for a player to a leasing agency, though the player made the payment with his own money.
- A current player, whose name wasn't disclosed, provided false and misleading information to investigators.
- Lawyer and local booster Steve Stein gave a total of $400 to a prospective player and a current player.
A lawyer for Chapman, the booster who allegedly gave Odom money, said his client only gave Odom money after he had left UNLV and that Odom baby-sat for Chapman's children in return for the assistance.
Stein called the allegations involving him "a blatant lie" and said he might sue the NCAA.
Stein was associated with UNLV's program under former coach Jerry Tarkanian, and said he thinks the NCAA is out to get the university.
"They're a bunch of Nazis," Stein said. "I think their enforcement division stinks and they are getting even with me. But they're not a government agency. If they slander me, I'll sue them."
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