That didn’t take too long, did it? We can’t even enjoy two weeks of college basketball without a story about cheating surfacing. This is kind of a doozy, and there’s a lot of layers involved, so follow along.
Said cheating involves the University of South Florida, and it has to do with a conditioning coach, primarily. Clearly, these gruff guys are getting involved in all the gritty, behind-the-scenes dirty work, right? How many strength and conditioning coaches have been involved in taboo stories in college sports the past three years, anyway?
Last night, Fanhouse reported that a conditioning coach, a guy by the name of Terrelle Woody, has helped out players in some capacity or another. Some things involve frequent rides around campus (as silly as it sounds, that’s a no-no) and coaches watching over unsanctioned practices; an open gym session that involves more than four players playing hoop while coaches are in the gym.
An excerpt:
Most of the NCAA violations involve USF video and conditioning assistant Terrell Woody, who was hired Aug. 26, 2008, in a non-coaching position by USF coach Stan Heath as part of a package deal to guarantee the signing of highly touted Maryland transfer Gus Gilchrist.
The violations include Woody providing transportation to student-athletes, watching “open gyms,” coaching players and illegally working out USF players.
Ah, yes, the ever-present package deal. When’s that going to be outlawed, by the way?
A big violation? Woody allegedly took Gilchrist to an NBA Finals game in Orlando in June. Of course, it might not seem so strange since the 18-year-old Gilchrist was supposedly the best freaking man at the 38-year-old Woody’s wedding.
Yeah, that’s perfectly normal!
Bulls coach Stan Heath, as you’d expect, plead ignorance to the entire situation and called it “stupid.”
Stan Heath knows nothing of these allegations!
If you read the story, you’ll see Gilchrist’s path to USF is a shady one, littered with multiple high schools, many promises to other universities and his odd, close relationship with a man twice his age.
Another excerpt, this one relating to illegal practice sessions:
– On Aug. 25, 2009, a reporter witnessed nine USF players practicing with basketballs in the Sun Dome, while Heath, assistant Jeremy Cox and Woody watched. Coaches may attend workouts once school has begun, but NCAA rules prohibit more than four players in the gym at a time with a basketball until Sept. 15, 2009.
“I never did that,” Heath said.
Big picture, these violations are far from the worst, but there could be some more improprieties when you look at the Gilchrist-Woody situation and just how much Heath knows. Given Heath’s unhealthy 23-41 record at the school, he could be gone before the end of the season if the NCAA looks into the situation (of course, that has already begun behind the scenes) and finds more bad behavior. Losing + bad pub = see ya.
It should be noted that USF is still in shady territory following the robbery of $8,000 worth of personal property belonging to former players Gaby Belardo and Jesus Verdejo. Dominique Jones, Anthony Crater and Justin Leemow — all current players on the Bulls’ roster — were suspects.
Terrific. AND, on top of that, there are six “secondary” violations that the Bulls’ program has been cited for. USF AD Doug Woolard isn’t talking yet, either. Someone go get the toolbox, because the hammer probably needs to be brought out.
Numerous NCAA violations surface at South Florida {Fanhouse}
