Texas opens independent investigation in allegations of academic misconduct

[Halldan1]

Texas opens independent investigation in allegations of academic misconduct
Rob Dauster

Jun 16, 2015, 1:15 PM EDT

Getty Images

Texas announced on Monday night that the university has opened an independent investigation into recent allegations of academic impropriety within the athletic department.

A school spokesman said that the probe will be overseen by Gene Marsh, a former chairman of the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions, and that his work has already started. The story was first reported by the Austin-American Statesman.

“I take anything having to do with questions of academic integrity very seriously, including those outside of academics,” Greg Fenvus, the new school president, said during a teleconference on Tuesday. “Any practices that are recommended to us, we’ll embrace. All indications are that everything is fine.”

Fenvus ordered the review after a story last week in the Chronicle of Higher Education that tied three separate players to potential academic misconduct over the course of the last nine seasons of Rick Barnes’ tenure. The story stated that former Longhorns P.J. Tucker and J’Covan Brown were aided in writing papers for classes; in Tucker’s case, the paper helped protect Texas’ APR score. The report also stated that Martez Walker, who has since transferred out of the program, passed a class after he was caught cheating on a test.

A previous story in the Chronicle accused Brown of cheating during his high school days in order to get eligible for the college level.

“There was nothing specific that [Marsh] found at this point,” Fenvus added. “He is just beginning his investigation into this. It will take some time for him and will be a very thorough investigation. At this point, he has not found anything of major concern.”

 

[Halldan1]

Texas president: Rick Barnes’ departure had ‘nothing to do’ with academic fraud allegations
Rob Dauster

Jun 16, 2015, 2:22 PM EDT

AP

Earlier today, Texas held a teleconference to discuss the independent review that the school has opened regarding allegations of academic impropriety within the men’s basketball program.

During the call, the university’s new president, Greg Fenvus, happened to be asked about former head coach Rick Barnes. Barnes had been the head coach of the Longhorns for 17 years, including the time at which these allegations occurred. He parted ways with the school in March, and there had been some speculation that it had to do with these specific allegations.

“Rick Barnes’ departure had nothing to do with any academic infractions,” Fenvus said.

To my knowledge, that is a truthful statement.

Barnes was fired because it was time for the administration to make a change. After struggling in recent years, including a season in which Texas lost in the first round of the CBI to Houston, the Longhorns entered this season as a top ten team. They proceeded to finish the year 20-14 overall and 8-10 in the Big 12, losing eight out of 11 at one point. In the days before it became official, Barnes was told by his bosses to fire his staff, who he had worked with for a long time, or find a new job. Barnes is loyal, and it was not a secret that he would not fire his guys.

Barnes has since taken over as the head coach at Tennessee.

 

[hallball95]

go ut austin pirates!

 

[SHUSource]

Yeah, I'm sure this will be a most vigorous and thorough investigation.

 

[Halldan1]

Chris Simms enjoyed some ‘$100 handshakes’ at Texas

By Teddy Mitrosilis, Fox Sports
June 18, 2015 | 2:18pm

Chris Simms at Texas in 2003. Photo: AP

Originally published by:


Former Texas quarterback Chris Simms caused a stir on the radio Thursday.

As a fill-in host on a CBS Sports show, Simms told a story about his time in Austin, which included, apparently, receiving some money from boosters.

Said Simms, “I may have gotten a few $100 handshakes every now and then to sign some autographs for alumni.”

Before that quote Simms said, “They didn’t pay me, but there may have been cash going around to some other players. I’m not going to deny that.”

Assuming “they” is the Texas football program, we presume Simms means Texas didn’t pay him to play football, and we presume the $100 handshakes didn’t come directly from the program but rather from rich boosters. Whatever you want to call it, that’s certainly “getting paid.”

Simms, the son of former NFL quarterback Phil Simms, said, “I don’t care how rich your upbringing was. Yes, I grew up with a silver spoon, but if you give me a few extra $100 as a college kid, that’s great.”

None of this is surprising at all, nor is it some kind of transgression for the QB at Texas to get some cash for his autograph. But it violates NCAA rules and will certainly force folks in Austin to respond.

This article originally appeared on Fox Sports.

 

[JIMSOULS]

Chris Simms? Why were they talking to him? Does he have a book coming out?

Love this quote:
“I don’t care how rich your upbringing was. Yes, I grew up with a silver spoon, but if you give me a few extra $100 as a college kid, that’s great.”

 

[Halldan1]

Report: Heat on Texas AD stems in part from treatment of Rick Barnes

Rob Dauster

Jun 18, 2015, 12:06 PM EDT

Getty Images

A year and a half ago, Texas reached into the professional ranks to hire Steve Patterson as Athletic Director, replacing Deloss Dodds, who spent three decades in that role.

Patterson has made two strong hires in the school’s most high profile coaching positions — poaching football coach Charlie Strong from Louisville and the highly-sought after Shaka Smart from VCU — but according to a bombshell story from Horns Digest on Thursday morning, Patterson is facing some serious questions in the athletic department. The biggest issues, according to the story, are that Patterson is ruthlessly frugal, putting the bottom line over student athlete welfare and community relations, and that he’s not good at dealing with people.

There are a myriad of examples in that story, but we’re going to stick with what Patterson’s has reportedly done to hurt the hoops program. For starters, he has reportedly changed the way that the basketball team can recruit. Former head coach Rick Barnes was allowed to use a 737 with 50 first class seats to travel to recruiting events, per Horns Digest. It was negotiated into Barnes’ contract as a way to compete with Kansas, the only other Big 12 team to use a jet that big to travel, but Patterson has cut the 737. Texas will be using smaller charter jets under Smart.

Patterson also failed to discuss this season’s travel plans with the basketball team. They’ll be flying to China for a game on Nov. 13 against Washington, an effort to develop the Pac-12’s brand in the basketball-mad country, and then heading to the Bahamas on Nov. 21 for a tournament. According to Horns Digest, when he was asked by the basketball staff about that decision, he simply responded, “we’re going”.

Last September, Patterson told Texas Monthly that the city of Austin should chip in on the new Texas basketball arena, scheduled to be built in the coming years, because they’ve gotten a free ride with the Erwin Center.

But here’s the big one: Patterson planted the story that Barnes had to fire his staff to keep his job. From Horns Digest:

Former basketball coach Rick Barnes indicated publicly Patterson was the source of a vicious press leak before Barnes’ firing.

A source told the Austin American-Statesman, Dallas Morning News and San Antonio Express-News that Barnes had to change out his staff or face termination. All the while, sources said, Patterson was telling Barnes privately that he was fighting for him but that “people above me” wanted Barnes out.

Barnes’ accusation caught the attention of other UT coaches and some key power brokers at Texas and raised serious questions about the way Patterson does business, multiple sources said.

There’s a lot more in that story, and if you’re a Texas sports fan, I really suggest you read it. The story’s author, Chip Brown, has covered Texas sports for a long time and was one of the biggest news-breakers when it came to conference realignment a few years back.