JUDGEMENT DAY: TALE OF TWO COACHES; SHUMATE PROCLAIMS INNOCENCE TO MAJOR NCAA VIOLATIONS

Despite Thursday's NCAA ruling that Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball program committed several violations under the direction of former coach Ron Shumate, Shumate emphatically denied that he is guilty of any major rules violations.

The NCAA, in placing the Southeast program on three years probation, cited among the more serious violations cash payments and loans to players and payment for work not performed.

Shumate, living in Kentucky and not currently employed, said in a telephone interview that he was probably guilty of some minor violations. But he denies any major wrongdoing, including giving money to players, which the NCAA says he did.

"Have you ever seen the (NCAA rule) book? I'm sure every coach in America has violated a rule without knowing it," said Shumate. "But I'll say this. Ron Shumate personally is innocent of any major violations they're taking about."

The NCAA infractions report released Thursday did not name players or coaches involved. But in two instances regarding major violations, the head men's basketball coach -- Shumate -- is specifically cited.

In one instance, the report states that the head coach arranged for a player who was sitting out the 1995-96 season to receive compensation as a team manager for work he did not actually perform.

That player is junior David Montgomery, who testified last December during a hearing on felony stealing charges against former assistant coach Randy Curl that he received payment for work he did not do.

In the other instance, the report states that in 1995 the head coach gave a player approximately $200 in cash to help with the payment of a delinquent telephone bill.

Another instance, although it does not specifically cite the head coach, states that a member of the men's basketball coaching staff provided $1,100 in cash to a player who was not on scholarship at the time in order to help pay for his schooling.

But during the same hearing regarding the felony stealing charges against Curl, Montgomery testified that Shumate gave him $1,100 in cash that went toward Montgomery's tuition and fees.

"I didn't give David Montgomery $1,100. I don't know about it," said Shumate. "They (the NCAA) say he (Montgomery) was paid but didn't work. All I know is the films were made and the laundry was done every night. Maybe he had somebody else do it for him, I don't know. But it all got done."

As for the $200 that the NCAA says went to pay a phone bill, Shumate said, "It never happened."

Shumate did admit to some of the minor violations, including allowing players to store personal items at no cost in Southeast's basketball facility, providing improper meals to prospective players and allowing prospective players to take part in workouts that included team members.

"I probably did do some of the minor things," Shumate said. "I let some of the kids store some of their stuff. I probably fed some players I shouldn't have. I would open our gym at night, not just for our players but for any kid in town that wanted to come out and run up and down floor. It wasn't any organized thing, I just let them play. Those are apparently violations.

"But I didn't do any of the major things. I never gave anybody any money."

The day he learned of his dismissal last May, Shumate said, "I remain confident that I will be exonerated and that I have commited no significant or major violations. Ron Shumate has not done anything wrong. Ron Shumate has run the cleanest program in the OVC, the cleanest program in America. Period."

Asked Thursday about that statement made nearly 11 months ago, Shumate said, "Let me tell you. From the programs I'm familiar with, we ran one of the cleanest programs I'm aware of."

Added Shumate, "Everything is over and done with. I still have fond memories of the university and what I accomplished there. I just want to put this behind me."