INVESTIGATION OF SOUTHEAST MAY DRAG OUT

Southeast Missouri State University basketball fans who are anxiously awaiting the results of an NCAA investigation into the Indians' program could be in for quite a wait.

At least that's what could be surmised from a telephone interview with Robin Green of the NCAA Enforcement Office. Green serves as a member of the NCAA Committee on Infractions that is responsible for determining possible violations and penalties.

While Green is not allowed to comment on specific cases, she did offer a general insight when reached this week at the NCAA offices in Overland Park, Kan.

When reminded that it took about 16 months for the entire process to be completed in a recent NCAA violations case against the University of Arkansas, Green said, "That may even be on the short side. Sometimes it takes even longer than that."

According to Green, the NCAA Committee on Infractions that determines potential violations and penalties does not even become involved in a case until the NCAA Enforcement Staff -- made up of investigators that work for the NCAA -- completes its entire investigation and is ready to prepare its case to the infractions committee.

"It could take quite a while," said Green. "Some cases are processed fairly quickly, but some take a year or more, depending on various factors."

Green said that, at some point, the school involved will have a chance to respond to any allegations made by the NCAA investigative team. That process in itself could take a month or more.

According to Green, after the NCAA investigators conclude their work and forward it to the infractions committee, and then the infractions committee reaches its decision, an infractions report will be issued to the school. The school will be notified in advance as to what particular date the report will be issued on.

Green said that, as far as the public receiving information on the NCAA's decision, the NCAA will hold a telephone press conference with the media. A media alert will be issued by fax 24 hours prior to the scheduled telephone press conference.

Green said it is then up to the school, if it wishes, to call its own press conference addressing the NCAA's findings.

Southeast's men's basketball program apparently fell under NCAA investigation some time in late April or early May.

The first official announcement made by the university regarding an NCAA investigation came on May 15, the same day former head basketball coach Ron Shumate was terminated.

A statement released by the university said, in part, that Shumate's firing was "based on information from the ongoing NCAA investigation of the men's basketball program."

As first reported in the Southeast Missourian on March 29, an in-house review of Southeast's men's basketball program -- with the assistance of Ohio Valley Conference commissioner Dan Beebe -- was instituted in March after the basketball season. The NCAA apparently became involved as a result of that review.

Southeast officials never did publicly say whether they thought NCAA violations had actually taken place, but the abrupt dismissal of longtime coach Shumate led one to speculate that the university believed violations did in fact occur.

The university said it has cooperated fully with the NCAA and will not comment specifically on the investigation until the NCAA reports its findings.