THE LATEST LINE: WHAT REALLY IS GOING ON WITH SEMO BASKETBALL?

So, what in the name of Houck Field House really is happening with Southeast Missouri State University's basketball program?

We can only speculate, because -- as has been the case for the past couple of months -- nobody is willing to say much on the record, other than Thursday's four-paragraph statement announcing the firing of 16-year coach Ron Shumate amid an NCAA investigation.

Also out are Shumate's three assistant coaches: Randy Curl, who was suspended and whose contract will not be renewed when it expires at the end of June; and Kirt Cochran and Scott McCowan, who resigned.

Rumors have been flying as to what -- if any -- NCAA violations Southeast's basketball program actually commited.

Early rumors ran rampant when Ohio Valley Conference commissioner Dan Beebe -- who was brought in to assist with Southeast's original in-house review that ultimately trigged the NCAA investigation -- reportedly questioned players about the validity of their signatures on various documents and the purchase of airline tickets.

One recent rumor had a former high school recruit playing with some current players while a member of the coaching staff was present, but that would be such a nit-picky violation that it's probably not even worth repeating. No way you get rid of a coach with Shumate's stature because of that.

My take on the whole thing? First of all, let me say that I have the utmost respect for Shumate as well as Curl, Cochran and McCowan. They have been nothing but good to me -- and good friends as well -- as I have covered the team the past few years. I never had any doubt to question the character of any of the four.

Shumate took over a Southeast program that was about as low as it could get in the early 1980s and built it into one of the nation's finest on the Division II level.

True, the luster has come off Shumate's shine quite a bit since Southeast made the major move to Division I. Still, the mark Shumate made on Southeast hoops cannot be denied.

Shumate insisted to me that he has run nothing but a clean program and will ultimately be exonerated once the NCAA investigation is complete. He also told me that the Indians' recent poor record was the underlying reason for the firing.

I hope that's not the case, because if it is, then the school will eventually have plenty of explaining to do.

From a personal standpoint, I want to believe that Shumate and his staff commited no infractions.

On the other hand, I can't believe Southeast would so unceremoniously dump a coach who has done so much for the program -- and has had an excellent record in graduating his players -- unless they know for certain that some serious violations took place.

Put it this way: if in six months or eight months or a year -- or however long the NCAA investigation takes -- it comes out that no rules were broken, or if only something very minor took place, then I think Shumate will have a heck of a case for a big-time lawsuit.

And I'll have a heck of a case for a new column ripping the university administration.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian