More trouble apparently brewing at SEMO

As if the SEMO athletics department didn’t have enough problems, now comes even more.

Tuesday’s announcement that the NCAA again is investigating the SEMO athletics program — this time following up on new information relating to the men’s basketball program — was stunning to say the least.

Sources have told me that the latest NCAA probe centers around the men’s basketball program under current coach Scott Edgar, who took over after Gary Garner’s contract was not renewed following the 2005-06 season.

I especially point that out because at least one media report seemed to indicate the probe was to try and gather further information regarding the NCAA violations committed under Garner.

From what I’ve heard, that’s not the case. Also not the case, from what I’ve heard, is that this latest probe basically resulted from Garner contesting that the violations committed under his watch were major. I don’t think that had anything to do with it.

The letter SEMO received from the NCAA, which was made public Tuesday, said information that was developed between April, when university officials made an appearance before the NCAA Committee on Infractions, and June, when the committee released its report on the previous infractions, led to the new investigation.

That report concluded a 29-month process that began with allegations about the women’s basketball program, led to the finding of numerous violations under former coach B.J. Smith and also led to several penalties, including taking away the Redhawks’ two OVC championships in 2005-06 that resulted in the program’s first NCAA Division I tournament appearance.

The investigation also included violations in the men’s program under former coach Garner centering around the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons.

Those violations involved the university’s payment of travel costs for three players who had transferred and were not eligible to compete, but were permitted by Garner to travel to away games during that two-year period.

SEMO paid a fine of approximately $12,600, double the amount of the costs paid for the athletes to travel, under a recommended self-imposed sanction.

Tuesday’s release from SEMO said the university, in addition to receiving a letter informing it of the latest investigation, also received a letter containing a case study of the men’s basketball investigation under Garner’s watch because Garner is disputing the NCAA Committee on Infractions’ ruling that it was a major infraction.

But, like I wrote earlier, I don’t think Garner’s disputing the ruling about his violations being major had anything to do with starting this latest probe.

As to what the NCAA might uncover, your guess is as good as mine because SEMO and NCAA officials say they won’t comment on an ongoing NCAA investigation.

The NCAA said in its letter that it hopes to complete the investigation by the fall, although considering how long the women’s basketball probe took, I wouldn’t count on it.

But regardless, it should definitely be a few interesting months.

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