NORMAN — The Oklahoma football program had a self-reported secondary NCAA violation removed from its record, according to documents obtained Tuesday by The Oklahoman.
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Oklahoma originally reported that it had broken NCAA rules when it hung jerseys with three prospects' high school numbers in the Sooners' locker room when the recruits came to visit.
In a letter dated July 18, NCAA Associate Director for Enforcement of Secondary Violations, Renee Gomila, wrote that "based upon additional information (OU) submitted, it was confirmed by membership services that under the specific facts of this case, no violation of NCAA legislation occurred inasmuch as personalized numbers and names were not placed on the jerseys displayed during the prospects' visits.”
On May 8, the NCAA acknowledged the reported act as a violation and required the Sooners' staff members involved in the display of the jerseys be given letters of admonishment.
None of the three players signed with OU.
Jason Leonard, OU's executive director of compliance, later learned that compliance officers at the University of Missouri were told by a former NCAA official in 2005 in a similar instance that the school was not in violation of "personalization” as defined in the NCAA bylaws.
On June 27, Leonard wrote the NCAA enforcement staff to have the violation expunged.
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Roy, please do not equate honesty with the OU athletic program. Football, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics on probation; that is a lack of institutional control.
Roy, please do not equate honesty with the OU athletic program. Football, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics on probation; that is a lack of institutional control.
Sooner fan, you need to prepare yourself for the fact that USC will probably not get probation. That incident had nothing to do with the university but a guy who was looking for a pay day via prospective client Reggie Bush. It is not selective punishment or picking on OU. The Sooners have a rich history of cheating. You should thank your lucky stars, you got off light with the Miracle Mile Donations, excuse me, paychecks to players. If you want to look at what the NCAA does, watch them hammer lesser programs to make an example. The NCAA is not about to bust on an elite program because it would affect their cash flow. You got a slap on the wrist and public scolding (OOOOH!)
Thank you Roy. I'm glad someone else remembers that Reggie Bush and USC are getting away with there offenses. And let's not forget that Troy Smith, last year's Heisman winner, took money from a car dealership just like Bomar. But instead of booting him from the team and getting hammered by the NCAA, they let him back on the team, he goes and wins a Heisman, they have a crack at the title, and the media says what a wonderful program they have for giving him a second chance. Give me a break.
It does appear that the NCAA has a selective enforcement policy. Oklahoma needs to research the membership requirements to this special club and join. I think Notre Dame, Texas, and USC have been members for 35 years.
If the NCAA is only going to punish teams that try to be honest and come forward with the facts then where is the incentive to be honest? After commending the University of Oklahoma for being upfront they turned around and stripped us of the 8 wins in 2005. When asked by SI why they haven't made a decision on USC involving the over 100K that Reggie Bush and his parents received they sight a lack of willingness from any party to provide information. After the punishment for OU why would any university willingly work with the NCAA? Furthermore, if two guys from Yahoo Sports can dig up detailed facts and documents on the cash flow from a shunned sports agent to Reggie Bush, dating back to 2004, then why can't the NCAA???
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