BY MIKE DeCOURCY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
University of Cincinnati basketball player Charles Williams was presented with the possibility of playing the 1997-98 season at another NCAA Division I school as a means of ensuring his cooperation with the investigation into his eligibility, according to sources close to the inquiry.
Sources said Williams has been interviewed at least six times since the inquiry began Jan. 28. He has been concerned about his future in Division I because he sat out a year as a medical redshirt while in junior college. NCAA rules permit players five years to play four seasons of college basketball.
Williams' attorney, Anne Frayne of Dayton, said she was told last week that although the investigation could proceed through the summer, Williams' eligibility for NCAA play should be restored within three weeks.
''I have been told as his attorney,'' Frayne said, ''that the university feels very badly about what's happened, and they will release him to any school that he wants to attend.''
Frayne said NCAA enforcement representative Jeff Friedman told her that when Williams' eligibility was restored, the NCAA would have no problem with him playing for another member school.
Attorney Mike Glazier, who was hired by UC to handle its investigation, said he ''wouldn't be in a position to comment on any of the interviews at this time.''
A transfer from Chaffey (Calif.) College, Williams was suspended Feb. 26 from his junior season at UC and missed the final six games of UC's season.
Frayne said she and Williams have not been informed precisely what is being investigated, but she said the investigators' interviews with the player revealed at least one possible minor violation: an automobile ride given to Williams by assistant coach John Loyer from a class at Trade Tech in Los Angeles to his home in that city.
Loyer declined comment Tuesday on the allegation.
The NCAA rarely grants players the right to transfer immediately between Division I programs. The organization's rules mandate a one-year absence from competition to dissuade players from making frequent school changes.
In selected cases - because a school has gained an unfair advantage through rules violations or to facilitate testimony - a player may be permitted immediate eligibility upon transferring.
The decision by the University of Arkansas to permit forward Sunday Adebayo to practice in the fall of 1995, before his eligibility had been certified by the NCAA, led to him being forbidden to continue playing for the Razorbacks.
In 1995-96, forward Paul Jarrett was permitted to play his senior season at San Diego State without sitting out one year after transferring from New Mexico State. This was in exchange for his cooperation in an infractions case against NMSU.
UC DENIES REPORTS LOYER WAS SUSPENDED
Postseason
UC PRESIDENT: CAUTION NEEDED IN WILLIAMS PROBE April 29, 1997
SNOOP O'DELL COULD'VE FOUND BETTER WAY Daugherty column, April 29, 1997
HUGGINS' RIFT WITH O'DELL ERUPTS April 26, 1997
BLIZZARD PICKS UMASS OVER UC April 25, 1997
NORTH IDAHO GUARD TO SIGD April 21, 1997
UC GETS SPRING VISITS FROM BLIZZARD, JONES April 19, 1997
UC LOSES OUSLEY TO MEMPHIS April 15, 1997
JUCO PAIR COMMITS TO UC April 14, 1997
BRANNEN: NO FOOTBALL THIS YEAR April 11, 1997
KAMBALA PICKS UNLV OVER UC April 10, 1997
PREP STAR NARROWS LIST TO 3 April 7, 1997
WILLIAMS SAYS HE'S RETURNING April 5, 1997
BRANNEN WALKS ON FOOTBALL SQUAD April 4, 1997
FORTSON: 'I KNOW I CAN PLAY' April 2, 1997
RECRUITING TAKES ON URGENCY April 2, 1997
WOODEN SELECTORS SPURN FORTSON April 2, 1997
FORTSON LEAPS TO NBA April 1, 1997
BEST GUESS: FORTSON'S GONE, AND HUGGINS COULD GO, TOO March 17, 1997
NCAA Tournament stories
MARCH 16, 1997
IOWA STATE 67, UC 66
UC LOSS NOT ALL SURPRISING Daugherty column
BRANNEN BECOMES SCORER
MARCH 15, 1997
IDENTITY CHECK FOR UC
IOWA STATE GETS ASSISTS FROM HOLLOWAY
MARCH 14, 1997
UC 80, BUTLER 69
IOWA STATE IS TALL ORDER
20 MINUTES ENOUGH FOR UC THIS TIME Daugherty column
MARCH 13, 1997
UC'S FORTUNES HINGE ON FORTSON
NCAA LETTER LED TO WILLIAMS INQUIRY
WILLIAMS PUNISHED BEFORE TRIAL Daugherty column
HUGGINS TO OSU? A COMMON QUERY
MARCH 12,1997
GUARD PROBLEMS PLAGUE BEARCATS
HUGGINS QUOTES GILLEN ON OSU JOB
MARCH 11, 1997
FORTSON ALL-AMERICAN
WILLIAMS PREPARES TO START
MARSHALL HAS THE MUSCLE TO CHECK FORTSON
MARCH 10, 1997
UC, XU ON COLLISION COURSE IN SWEET 16
LET FORTSON PLAY, REFS - IT'S HIS TIME Daugherty column
OPPONENT DOESN'T MATTER TO BEARCATS
BUTLER ROSTER HAS LOCAL FLAVOR
