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News Nuggets, 08.06.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

West shakes up Memphis football team over arson incident

One day after one of his teammates was dismissed from the team over charges related to the burning of a vehicle, junior nose tackle LaVale Washington was suspended for Memphis's first two football games of 2004.

Washington, who appeared in 12 games for the Tigers last season, was arrested in July, along with teammate Derron Parquet, and charged with arson. All charges against Washington were dropped during his court appearance on Thursday.

"LaVale Washington has been a distraction to the football team this summer and will be suspended for the first two football games," said U of M head coach Tommy West in a statement.

Parquet, who was charged in July with setting fire to his SUV in Collierville, TN, was booted from the team the previous day.

"I met with Derron on Tuesday and I have decided that it is in the best interest of our football program and Derron's future that he completes his football career at another institution," said West in a Wednesday news release. "I wish him the best of luck."

Dogs basketball in the doghouse

ATHENS, GA � Georgia's basketball team was placed on four years' probation Thursday for rules violations under former coach Jim Harrick involving academic fraud, unethical conduct and improper benefits.

The NCAA decided not to impose a one-year postseason ban on the basketball team, citing the school's self-imposed penalties that banned the team from the 2003 SEC and NCAA Tournaments.

The school's athletic department is on notice for the next five years. A violation by any Georgia athletic program before April 2009 could result in stiffer penalties.

The violations centered on former assistant coach Jim Harrick Jr., the son of the Bulldogs' former head coach.

The NCAA found that Harrick Jr. violated the organization's principles of ethical conduct by providing $300 in a wire transfer to Eva Davis, a friend of former Georgia player Tony Cole, for Cole's personal expenses.

The NCAA also found that Harrick Jr. violated the ethical conduct code during the fall semester of 2001 when he gave an 'A' to three players � Cole, Rashad Wright and Chris Daniels � who did not attend the class in basketball strategy he was teaching.

Harrick Jr. also encouraged Daniels and Wright to lie to university and NCAA investigators, the committee found.

The NCAA Committee on Infractions said it was troubled by "the number and range of instances of unethical conduct in which the assistant coach engaged. In this regard, the committee could recall few, if any, instances in which three separate and substantively different findings of unethical conduct were made against one individual."

Harrick now must get permission from the NCAA before accepting any sports-related position at any school governed by the organization.

The committee noted that it "found each of the several explanations of the assistant coach not credible and also found that these explanations were inconsistent."

The NCAA also found that the university staff was responsible in permitting six basketball players in November and December 2001 to receive extra benefits by not requiring them to pay for long-distance telephone calls made while the team was on the road. The costs of the calls totaled $1,572.66.

The Bulldogs will now have to vacate the 30 wins involving the six players over two seasons. The team's records will be revised in all official publications, including the media guide and recruiting materials.

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.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007