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Stokes counters unflattering N&O
article
Bonesville.net staff report
�2006 Bonesville.net
Wholesale personnel changes in the East
Carolina basketball program, which were publicized in March, prompted a
follow-up
story in The Raleigh News & Observer's June 8
edition, which used the perspective of transferring player
Quinton Goods as a device of development.
As a result of player departures, ECU has
only four players returning from a team that produced an 8-20 record in
Ricky Stokes' first season as head coach of the Pirates in 2005-06.
The N&O story apparently presented some
incorrect information which Stokes
took the opportunity to refute at a
recent luncheon with selected media.
The story made the point, confirmed by NCAA
spokeswoman Crissy Schluep, that member institutions, including ECU, have
the right to remove a student-athlete from scholarship status. Scholarships
are essentially one-year contracts awarded at the discretion of the
university's designated representatives.
ECU athletic director Terry Holland said he
was aware of Stokes' intentions to evaluate expectations individually with
players at the conclusion of the 2005-06 season. Those meetings apparently
produced an inordinate numbers of exits from the program. Holland compared
the exodus to Auburn's loss of four players after Jeff Lebo became coach.
The N&O account said that ECU faculty
representative David Dosser believed the transfers were mutual decisions
between the Pirate coaches and players. Dosser said he had received no
feedback from departing players.
Stokes took exception to statements in the
N&O story attributed to Charleston Southern coach Barclay Radebaugh and
Eckerd coach Tom Ryan. Goods is transferring to Charleston Southern and
former ECU 3-point shooter Josh King will continue his career at Eckerd.
The N&O story, carrying a byline from
Jaymes Powell, Jr., with a credit to correspondent Eric Gilmore, indicated
that Stokes did nothing to assist the transfers of Goods and King. Stokes
presented statements from Radebaugh and Ryan at the recent luncheon that
indicated the ECU coach had been helpful in the transfer process of his
former players.
�2006 All rights rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A report by the East Carolina
Athletics Media Relation Office on
ecupirates.com contributed to this
report.
02/23/2007 11:45:21 AM |
