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News Nuggets, 05.12.04
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NOTES FROM ECU AND BEYOND...

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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Beleaguered Odom, former ECU assistant, quits Mizzou

COLUMBIA, MO — The Missouri basketball program failed to monitor NCAA compliance and violated multiple rules from 1999-2003, according to a 19-page formal notice of allegations that was released by the school Tuesday.

One member of the athletic department staff, whose name was taken out of the letter, "failed at all times to maintain an environment of NCAA rules compliance."

The violations don't include anything related to academic dishonesty or fraud, the school said. If the allegations are validated by the NCAA's Infractions Committee, the school could face recruiting sanctions, including loss of scholarships or recruiting privileges.

After a lengthy investigation, the NCAA threw out allegations that troubled former player Ricky Clemons received improper academic help to get into Missouri.

Associate head coach Tony Harvey, top assistant to Quin Snyder, is alleged to have given Clemons $250, an anonymous source familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press on Monday.

Harvey has denied the allegation. "My story isn't changing," he said Monday.

Other alleged violations between 1999-03 included a breach of ethical conduct by a member of the athletic department staff in trying to conceal rule-breaking; providing meals and transportation for current athletes and recruits; out-of-season league play by team members; impermissible contacts with recruits; and impermissible meals for Amateur Athletic Union coaches.

The notice arrived at Missouri last Friday.

University Chancellor Richard Wallace said Missouri will challenge some of the allegations by a July 1 deadline. A hearing has already been scheduled by the NCAA's Infractions Committee during its meetings Aug. 13-15 in Seattle.

Harvey and Snyder have said no Missouri coaches gave money to Clemons. In a television interview with HBO taped Feb. 21, Clemons replied "yes" when asked whether he had been paid by coaches at Missouri.

Clemons, who has moved to North Carolina, said he didn't know the total amount he received.

Snyder apologized Tuesday for any violations committed under his watch.

"Mistakes have been made," Snyder told a news conference in the university's alumni center. "I take full responsibility for the commission of those mistakes."

The school confirmed Tuesday night that assistant coach Lane Odom — who led Missouri's recruiting of Clemons and was implicated in several of the alleged NCAA violations — was quitting.

Odom, the son of South Carolina head coach Dave Odom, was hired at Missouri in 2000 after serving stints as an assistant coach at Charlotte from 1998-2000, East Carolina from 1995-1998, and Alabama from 1991-1995.

Odom did not return calls seeking comment Tuesday, but in a statement from the athletic department said he was resigning "to pursue other opportunities."

"It was important to me that I remain on staff at the University of Missouri until a notice of allegations outlining the NCAA's position was received and reviewed. It's now time for me to move forward," Odom said.

Basketball rules panel elevates status of instant replay

INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA basketball rules committee has proposed eliminating the period-ending buzzer in determining if a shot counts.

The proposal, released earlier this week, would use the game clock to determine if the shot was taken in time. If the clock is unclear during the officials' viewing of a replay, then the red light behind the backboard would be the determining factor.

If neither is clear, then the original call by the officials would stand.

The buzzer, previously the first determinant, would be eliminated as a factor.

The new rule will be voted on next month. Division II and III schools are not required to have lights behind the backboards.

Officials also would be able to use replay to determine which player should be shooting a free throw.

The men's committee also approved a measure that would adopt a trapezoid lane and a longer 3-point line for exempt games, such as the Maui Invitational. The 3-point line would be extended to 20 feet, 6 inches.

Those tournaments also will use a charge-block arc under the basket like the one used in the NBA. The arc also could be used in exhibition games.

Those changes need no further approval.

The women's committee did not approve use of the trapezoid lane, longer 3-point line or charge-block arc.

South Florida to name new AD today

University of South Florida President Judy Genshaft will hold an 11:30 a.m. press conference today to name a successor to former athletic directory Lee Roy Selmon, who stepped down in January for health reasons.

At the press conference, according to an announcement published by the school, Genshaft and the new AD will make statements and then make themselves available for one-on-one media sessions.

USF officials said they would not make comments regarding the announcement prior to today's press conference.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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