C5SilverBullet
01-07-2011, 5:40pm
Texas Tech accused of major violations
LUBBOCK, Texas -- The NCAA accused Texas Tech of major rules violations tied to recruiting on Friday, saying 16 athletics department staff members sent nearly 1,000 impermissible text messages sent to football, softball and golf prospects.
The NCAA said the school discovered the violations and reported them. It did not add punishments beyond the school's self-imposed two years of probation, recruiting restrictions and scholarship reductions.
The NCAA said the football violations occurred between August 2007 and February 2009, which would have come under former coach Mike Leach. The NCAA said the football coaching staff sent approximately 234 text messages to 45 prospective student-athletes.
Leach, who was fired in December 2009 amid allegations he had mistreated a player with a concussion, told the Finebaum Radio Network no one on his staff broke any rules.
"I don't know anything about it," said Leach, who has sued the school over his termination. "We never had anything more than a secondary violation when I was there."
Tommy Tuberville, who just completed his first year as Tech's football coach, said every coach and staff member understands NCAA and Big 12 Conference rules.
"The infractions that occurred with football here at Tech happened between 2007 and early 2009, before I arrived as head coach," he said. "We are glad to have this behind us."
The worst infractions occurred in the men's golf and women's softball programs, the NCAA said.
Between August 2007 and November 2008, the head men's golf coach and the former assistant men's golf coach sent approximately 399 impermissible text messages to six prospective student-athletes and 25 impermissible text messages to a parent.
During the same time, the former head softball coach and two former assistants sent 293 impermissible text messages to 10 prospects.
Both the men's golf and softball coach were accused of failing to promote an atmosphere of compliance, a major violation under NCAA rules. The golf program was hit with the strictest limits on recruiting as punishment.
NCAA: Texas Tech broke major recruiting rules in football, softball, golf - ESPN
LUBBOCK, Texas -- The NCAA accused Texas Tech of major rules violations tied to recruiting on Friday, saying 16 athletics department staff members sent nearly 1,000 impermissible text messages sent to football, softball and golf prospects.
The NCAA said the school discovered the violations and reported them. It did not add punishments beyond the school's self-imposed two years of probation, recruiting restrictions and scholarship reductions.
The NCAA said the football violations occurred between August 2007 and February 2009, which would have come under former coach Mike Leach. The NCAA said the football coaching staff sent approximately 234 text messages to 45 prospective student-athletes.
Leach, who was fired in December 2009 amid allegations he had mistreated a player with a concussion, told the Finebaum Radio Network no one on his staff broke any rules.
"I don't know anything about it," said Leach, who has sued the school over his termination. "We never had anything more than a secondary violation when I was there."
Tommy Tuberville, who just completed his first year as Tech's football coach, said every coach and staff member understands NCAA and Big 12 Conference rules.
"The infractions that occurred with football here at Tech happened between 2007 and early 2009, before I arrived as head coach," he said. "We are glad to have this behind us."
The worst infractions occurred in the men's golf and women's softball programs, the NCAA said.
Between August 2007 and November 2008, the head men's golf coach and the former assistant men's golf coach sent approximately 399 impermissible text messages to six prospective student-athletes and 25 impermissible text messages to a parent.
During the same time, the former head softball coach and two former assistants sent 293 impermissible text messages to 10 prospects.
Both the men's golf and softball coach were accused of failing to promote an atmosphere of compliance, a major violation under NCAA rules. The golf program was hit with the strictest limits on recruiting as punishment.
NCAA: Texas Tech broke major recruiting rules in football, softball, golf - ESPN