SHUMATE LOSES SEMO LAWSUIT

Circuit Judge Bernhardt C. Drumm Jr. has ruled in favor of Southeast Missouri State University in a lawsuit brought by former Southeast basketball coach Ron Shumate.

Drumm granted the university's motion for summary judgment last week, ruling against Shumate on all counts. Oral arguments were heard Aug. 24 in the judge's chambers in St. Louis County. The ruling came five days later.

Shumate's lawyer, Eric Sowers of St. Louis, couldn't be reached for comment Monday. University officials said they don't know if Shumate will appeal the ruling.

The case had been scheduled to go to trial next week in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court.

Shumate last year sued the university's Board of Regents and the school's then-executive vice president Ken Dobbins. Dobbins since became president of the university.

Shumate claimed he was wrongfully fired and that the university concocted false charges of National Collegiate Athletic Association violations and encouraged others to make false statements before the NCAA.

Shumate, now 60, claimed he was fired after 16 seasons in large part because of his age. He sought nearly $300,000 in damages.

Shumate was fired in the midst of an NCAA investigation of the basketball program in May 1997. The investigation later concluded that there were violations in the areas of extra benefits for players, recruiting, financial aid, institutional responsibility and ethical conduct.

In addition to firing Shumate, the university didn't renew the contracts of three assistant coaches.

St. Louis lawyer James Virtel represented the university. Virtel said the judge found there was no cause for action against the university.

Don Dickerson, president of the Board of Regents, said the ruling was "gratifying to the board." Dickerson said the ruling supports what the regents have said all along: They were justified in firing Shumate.

"We felt that our taking a strong stand and upholding the NCAA rules was the only sensible course for the university to take," he said. "There was never any doubt in the board's mind that we did what we had to do."

Shumate violated NCAA rules and his actions could have jeopardized the university's whole sports program, Dickerson said.

As it was, the NCAA put the university's basketball program on probation for three years and took away one basketball scholarship.

Dickerson said he holds no grudge against Shumate. "I think there is no question Coach Shumate did a fine job for us for many, many years," Dickerson said.

He said he hopes the ruling will put an end to "a regrettable chapter."

"I think it would be good if we could close the door on that," he said.