Oklahoma’s basketball program may never come off probation.
The Sooners – already on probation for major rules violations incurred during Kelvin Sampson’s tenure and related to football and basketball – were put on three years of probation and fined $15,000 for major violations that happened under coach Jeff Capel. Also, all 13 wins from the 2009-10 season were vacated, a scholarship was removed and more recruiting limits were placed on OU.
But the NCAA did not label the school a “repeat violator,” which might have brought more severe penalties. That might’ve meant a year without college hoops.
Instead, it’s probation time. Again.
It helps that Oklahoma admitted rules violations and self-imposed some penalties and that the new violations were under a different coach. From the AP:“This is an isolated incident involving a single member of the coaching staff, who clearly knew his lack of action to prevent or report the violation was not acceptable,” the university said.
The NCAA agreed, saying “the violations in this case were serious, but limited” to one player and [former assistant Orande] Taliaferro. Former center Keith “Tiny” Gallon has said in interviews that he took $3,000 from a Florida financial adviser to pay debts owed to his high school to allow transcripts to be released and clear the way for him to attend college.
Capel was not implicated in the violations.
Maybe new coach Lon Kruger can spend the new few years rebuilding the program and keeping OU’s nose clean. Then they can be off probation when his new recruits are almost done with school …
Related stories:
- Oklahoma’s $50,000 investigation actually a bargain?
- Big 12 preview: What’s in store for the Sooners?
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