Saturday, November 17, 2001
Mumme's the word
Infractions committee holds 9-hour hearing in Kentucky case
The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA's committee on infractions spent about nine hours asking questions and reviewing evidence in an investigation of University of Kentucky football that has uncovered more than three dozen alleged violations, including 11 designated as “major.”
The panel will determine Kentucky's penalties, but probably not for another six to eight weeks.
“We'd sure like to have it as soon as possible, and close this chapter,” university President Lee Todd said after the hearing Friday in downtown Indianapolis.
Former Kentucky coach Hal Mumme, who was forced to resign in February, was asked by reporters what he planned to say to the committee.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” Mumme said, turning to leave with his wife, June, and his legal team.
As a reporter tagged along for a few steps, Mumme clarified his response: “Happy Thanksgiving. Go away.”
Among the list of transgressions found by UK and NCAA officials:
—Academic fraud.
—Shipping free UK apparel to high school coaches.
—Improper fund raising.
—Money given to players for shopping trips.
—Forging signatures of academic deans to induce recruits to sign.
The majority of violations were attributed to former recruiting coordinator Claude Bassett, currently a high school football coach in Texas. Bassett was unable to attend Friday because of financial restrictions, according to his attorney, Robert Furnier of Cincinnati.
In a letter to the NCAA, Bassett admitted to several violations, but denied others, such as receiving cash payments or favors from boosters who were later dissociated from the university.
Todd couldn't say whether that letter came up in Friday's discussions.
“I'm going to have to check into that,” he said. “It's been a long day.”
Mumme, too, was named in the list of alleged violations. NCAA investigators reported that Mumme arranged for a booster group to supplement his personal assistant's salary, and that he ignored several warnings about Bassett's behavior.
The infractions committee could come back with anything from a reduction in scholarships to a prohibition on TV appearances. The school has suggested taking away 19 scholarships in the next three years.
For Mumme, the outcome could have a big effect on his job search. Should the committee issue a “show-cause order,” any NCAA member school that hired Mumme would run the risk of incurring penalties against him, even though the infractions took place at Kentucky.
Although he declined to comment about the possibility of a show-cause scenario, Mumme's attorney, Travis Bryan, said there was plenty of discussion.
“Oh yeah, we talked a lot,” said Bryan, who along with an associate toted three cases of paperwork. “We're going to have to wait and see what happens.”
Mumme was among the last to enter the hearing room. A parade of UK notables preceded him, including Todd, Athletics Director Larry Ivy, football coach Guy Morriss and former Athletics Director C.M. Newton. None spoke to reporters as they hustled into a conference room.
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Mumme's the word
