FanHouse Ncaa Investigation

Saturday, Memphis appears before the NCAA Infractions Committee to discuss the Derrick Rose -- excuse us, name redacted -- imbroglio. Kentucky coach John Calipari will not be physically present. Why not? Because he has a previously scheduled trip to China. Boy, is that convenient. Coach Cal has known since mid-January that Memphis would be appearing before the infractions committee on June 5-7, 2009 (the letter preceding the notice of allegations informed Memphis of this date), and he just happens to schedule a trip to China during that time?

What a coincidence!

Calipari informed the NCAA via letter that he'd love to attend the hearing, but would be in China. The NCAA replied that they wanted him there anyway, by phone if necessary, foiling Calipari's ultimate rejoinder. "The NCAA hearing? I don't know anything about that. I was in China when they had the infractions hearing!"

The NCAA is alleging that a third, unnamed Oklahoma player may have received excess pay as an employee of an automobile dealership that overcompensated at least two Sooner players last year, quarterback Rhett Bomar and offensive lineman J.D. Quinn. Both players were kicked off the team and Oklahoma later filed its investigation and punishment results to the NCAA after self-reporting the incident.

UPDATE: The Oklahoma City Oklahoman's Mike Koehler writes in to tell us that the third player has been identified: walk-on receiver Jermaine Hardison. Thank you Mike.

Oklahoma's report appears to contradict the NCAA's allegation.

The [Dallas Morning News] reported that in the preliminary report Oklahoma submitted to the NCAA in August, the university said only Bomar and Quinn had accepted the excess pay. A third, unidentified player was referenced, but aside from Bomar and Quinn, "all other student-athletes were paid for the number of hours worked," the university said.

So who is that third player? To my knowledge no other player has been publicly named, but for purely dramatic reasons I'm sure some people will naturally jump to the conclusion that Adrian Peterson was in on the scheme. That's doubtful at best to these eyes, but you never know. Peterson was investigated and cleared last year for driving and later returning a car from Big Red Imports when his family decided not to purchase the vehicle.

College football's governing body informed Oklahoma this week that their compliance kinda messed up in about as many words.

The NCAA alleges Oklahoma failed to adequately monitor the employment of several athletes, including some football players who worked during the academic year.

Well no freaking duh. Either the NCAA was just being thorough or it moves about as fast as a glacier. The story broke in August and it's now February.

Either way, Oklahoma and everyone else in college football already realizes the nature of the alleged violation. Oklahoma responded swiftly in booting quarterback Rhett Bomar and offensive lineman J.D. Quinn off the team after it was learned they were involved in a cash for fake work scheme at a nearby auto dealership.

How much of this is Oklahoma's actual fault is anybody's guess but the Sooners did respond quickly and that has to be given some weight at their hearing before the NCAA in April. I'm more apt to blame the players, as Bomar was twice arrested during his short Sooner stay for underage drinking, once while at an NBA game.

All of this and more is what is troublesome about college football's offseason. What passes for news this week is mostly a series of allegations against big time programs for recruiting improprieties and the rehasing of old gaffes whose expiration date passed long ago.

When's spring ball? Please tell me it's tomorrow somewhere, anywhere. Is there a college football team in Alaska we can follow for a few weeks? Can USC or Florida assemble a skeleton squad and barnstorm? Where is the real news? Aaaaargh.