NCAA Strips UNM of Scholarship, Handcuffing Alford

[badger77]

Monday, December 3, 2007

NCAA Strips UNM of Scholarship, Handcuffing Alford

By Mark Smith
Journal Staff Writer

The ghost of Lobos past has returned to haunt the University of New Mexico men's basketball program— and just in time for the holidays.

On Sunday, UNM officials confirmed that the program has been stripped of its vacant scholarship by the NCAA, thus blocking the way for any possible second-semester additions to the team.

The penalty is a result of the team's dismal Academic Progress Rate the past four years under former coach Ritchie McKay.

The Lobos, who had one scholarship available, anticipated one getting yanked in 2007-08 but not this school year. But the NCAA leveled the penalty late last week. The NCAA's policy is to nix the first available scholarship, and it took the one UNM had.

"That's what the rule states," said Tim Cass, UNM senior associate director of athletics. "You have to take away the first available scholarship. Everyone is trying to get their hands around what needs to be done to improve the APR, and we have an aggressive plan in place. ... But this could still rear its head again."

First-year Lobo coach Steve Alford and his staff had been in the mix for prep stars Leonard Washington and A.J. Hardeman, both who should be eligible when the first semester ends in two weeks.

Each was originally in the class of 2007, but didn't qualify for college and are in prep schools this fall. They both are on pace to be eligible for college when the second semester begins, making them eligible in mid-December.

Washington, a 6-foot-6 forward from Louisiana, goes to prep school in Los Angeles.

Hardeman, an athletic 6-7 forward from Del Valle, Texas, is enrolled at Harmony Prep in Cincinnati.

The Journal has learned that he committed to UNM, and planned to play next semester. He played AAU ball for current UNM assistant Chris Walker for the Houston-based T-Mac All-Stars.

Hardeman originally signed with Texas Tech out of high school, but his services became available after he didn't make it to college this semester.

"There's no question this coaching staff is paying for the problems of the past," Krebs said. "(Those problems are) much historical. It's an institutional problem and we're committed to improving it. The coaching staff has a great handle on it.

"These are not necessarily things that can be totally solved overnight, they can't be solved in one year. But the staff is doing it the right way."

Alford and the Lobos were still in Memphis on Sunday, having lost to Ole Miss 85-77 on Saturday in Oxford, Miss. They are scheduled to leave today for Las Cruces, where they play New Mexico State on Tuesday.

"It's disappointing, because there were a couple of guys we were hoping to get for the second semester," Alford said Sunday. "There's no question the APR is really affecting us, and will affect us down the road. That's why we're working as hard as we can to clean it up. It's definitely the biggest mess we've got to clean up."

The Lobos have 12 scholarship players, but only 10 are healthy. Tony Danridge is out with a broken foot while freshman Kem Nweke is sitting out as a redshirt. They were allowed 13 scholarships until the recent ruling.

The APR, which is based on a four-year period, is intended as a realtime assessment of a team's academic performance. It awards two points to student-athletes who meet academic-eligibility standards and who remain at the institution. A program loses one point when a player transfers and loses two points if that player is academically ineligible.

The men's basketball program had an 899 score and needed to boost it to 925 to escape the sanctions. The Lobos suffered numerous transfers under McKay, who was fired last season after five years.

"We've got to understand reality," Alford said, not wishing to point fingers. "Usually when you're taking over a team, there is some kind of issue. Obviously, this is our biggest issue.

"But this is one of the reasons why our staff was attractive to Paul Krebs and (UNM president) Dr. David Schmidly. It's just going to take some time. It's done over a four-year period and we're feeling the effects of kids who played here two and three years ago."

PLAY TIME: All of the Lobos' 10 players are averaging at least 14 minutes a game.

But Alford said they better not get too comfortable.

"There's no rule that you have to play all 10 guys," he said, referring to a poor defensive performance against Ole Miss. "If they're not going to play defense, they're not going to play."

NEW BLOOD: If any current Lobos leave after the first semester, that still won't open another scholarship in the second semester. Cass says that basketball scholarships are for the entire school year, and cannot be bounced from one individual to another.

Up Next
Tuesday: New Mexico at New Mexico State, 7 p.m. TV: Comcast (Ch. 53) Radio: KKOB-AM (770)

http://www.abqjournal.com/sports/266...ts12-03-07.htm

[Maxwell58]

Is one scholarship lost for one year?
Will the Lobos be back to 13 next school year?

[ArkansasLobo]

This really sucks that players and coaches have to pay for the sins of the past administration. I hope that the majority of the points lost were for transfers and not bad grades. There really is no excuse to allow a college athlete to get bad grades. All of the resources are provided for them to at least get decent grades and graduate. Sounds to me like Alford and Co. will be holding the Lobos players accountable.

[Maxwell58]

This penalty should go with the head coach that caused the problem.
Some penalties move to the fired coach's new school.
How is this Coach Alford's or UNM's mistake.
It was the former coaches who failed to keep the players on track.

[Mark]

This penalty should go with the head coach that caused the problem.
Some penalties move to the fired coach's new school.
How is this Coach Alford's or UNM's mistake.
It was the former coaches who failed to keep the players on track.

Yep, but as good as that sounds it will never happen. Its also up the the AD and others to make sure the kids are making the grades.

[Wolfen1]

That sucks. Hopefully this is the end of it, but the "is affecting us and will affect us down the road", is concerning. Was there something in Rithcie's contract that negates "buyouts" if he "violated NCAA rules" leading to sanctions? Any coaches action/inaction that leads to NCAA santions just gets me riled.I've never said anhthing bad, publicly anyway, about McKay, but losing schollies hurts and I think his buyout agreement should be reviewed because of this.

[MRLobo]

Any comments on the recruit Smith reported as commited for next semester? I don't recall hearing about this guy at all.

"Hardeman, an athletic 6-7 forward from Del Valle, Texas, is enrolled at Harmony Prep in Cincinnati.

The Journal has learned that he committed to UNM, and planned to play next semester. He played AAU ball for current UNM assistant Chris Walker for the Houston-based T-Mac All-Stars.

Hardeman originally signed with Texas Tech out of high school, but his services became available after he didn't make it to college this semester."

[PitCrowd]

We knew this was coming and hopefully we can get it taken care of quickly as possible and move forward from here. I share the frustrations about how a head coach can let this happen and then move on without any punishments from the NCAA. No sense in drudging up the past though let's just hope that the program will not be in a similar situation again once it's resolved.

[loborick]

Tim Cass said in the article that this could still rear its head again. I think he's trying to prepare us for more. Maybe another scholarship next year...hopefully not two. But one scholarship for one semester is pretty light. It would be nice if that were all. But it may not be.

[ajaylobo]

Is there any truth to the Hardeman kid already commiting? And if so where do we go from here regarding this kid? That really sucks if its true, and we can't sign him.

[loborick]

Is there any truth to the Hardeman kid already commiting? And if so where do we go from here regarding this kid? That really sucks if its true, and we can't sign him.

I think we would have heard something if it was true. This is something we've known we would have to deal with. Let's get it taken care of and move on. If we're lucky, this will be it. I don't think it will be, but if it is that would be great.

[Maxwell58]

I hope everyone involved is stressing the coach that caused the problem is gone.
Also measures are in place to stop this from happening again.
With that this (1) year penalty will be it.

[LoboAuto]

:horn)So whats up with this guy Hardeman? Have any of you Lobo lair guys ever heard of this kid? Please share with us info on this kid....................................

[Bret]

The infractions and penalties should stay with the coach? You guys are just kidding right?
There is no chance that you actually feel that way??

What about managing the coach properly? What about college administration putting some pressure on the coach to improve in that area? What happened to institutional credibility?

Blaming this all on McKay is just straight up wrong.

Besides -- this isnt about grades anyway -- its about graduation. And UNM has had more defections than any program should have had.

Alford is not "clean" on this issue either. Losing players from last years team also hurts the numbers. Alford didnt fight to keep them, becuase he wanted better talent, but by pushing players out the door - to improve the talent level, you pay the price one way or another, and Alford obviously chose to risk a scholarship loss.

[bo]

EDITED

[Wolfen1]

Get real Agnes, you want Alford to share in the blame for this and he hasn't even been with the Lobos for one semester yet? This is ALL McKay.

[Dr.M]

:horn)So whats up with this guy Hardeman? Have any of you Lobo lair guys ever heard of this kid? Please share with us info on this kid....................................

Not much info except that Alford recruited Hardeman with the good wishes of Bobby Knight
after Hardeman couldn't make it in to Texas Tech this year. He is a highly skilled athletic foward who can shoot, rebound, and put the ball on the floor. He'd look nice in a Lobo uniform but I'm not sure he'll end up here considering the uncertainty over scholarships.

[badger77]

Alford didnt fight to keep them, becuase he wanted better talent, but by pushing players out the door - to improve the talent level, you pay the price one way or another, and Alford obviously chose to risk a scholarship loss.

That's a pretty big assumption.

[Lobodawg92]

No offense guys, but this is starting to sound a heck of a lot like attacks on staff (current and past). To me, it doesn't matter that Ritchie is gone, he was staff, and should be under the same rules of the board as current staff. Same goes for Rude dawg, who did a heck of a lot for Lobo athletics outside of men's basketball, imho. Best we just clean the mess up and work out of it, regardless of how we got here. :-)

I really wonder about next year. I suspect we will get hit again then, and we arleady havy Tony D. coming back. Will we be looking for some players to go off athletic scholarship (probably the NM kids)? Not a pretty situation, but we have to work through it. This is the kind of stuff that will test the mettle of the fans (r ya proud of me Dr.?). It does hurt the program, but we have a great recruiting class for next year, and our big problem will be addressed even more with Nweke and Crusher (assuming he gets cleared--go Crush). I will be there regardless, but can't help but wonder what the fringe fans will do. Is Alford and the great recruits coming in enough to hold their interest? Stay tuned, when the adversity hits, fans like to jump off the bandwagon as fast as they can. Adversity is starting to hit. We lost a game, a schollie, with 1 or 2 likely in the near future as well, the sky is falling......

Go Lobos!

[Roob]

No offense guys, but this is starting to sound a heck of a lot like attacks on staff (current and past). To me, it doesn't matter that Ritchie is gone, he was staff, and should be under the same rules of the board as current staff. Same goes for Rude dawg, who did a heck of a lot for Lobo athletics outside of men's basketball, imho. Best we just clean the mess up and work out of it, regardless of how we got here. :-)

I really wonder about next year. I suspect we will get hit again then, and we arleady havy Tony D. coming back. Will we be looking for some players to go off athletic scholarship (probably the NM kids)? Not a pretty situation, but we have to work through it. This is the kind of stuff that will test the mettle of the fans (r ya proud of me Dr.?). It does hurt the program, but we have a great recruiting class for next year, and our big problem will be addressed even more with Nweke and Crusher (assuming he gets cleared--go Crush). I will be there regardless, but can't help but wonder what the fringe fans will do. Is Alford and the great recruits coming in enough to hold their interest? Stay tuned, when the adversity hits, fans like to jump off the bandwagon as fast as they can. Adversity is starting to hit. We lost a game, a schollie, with 1 or 2 likely in the near future as well, the sky is falling......

Go Lobos!

Agree about the attacks on former coach/AD. That post was edited. Respect extends to former coaches and AD's. Provide specific comments about possible shortcomings - those are tolerated. But insults and strong language will not be tolerated.

I don't know if Dr. M is proud of your proper use of the word "mettle" Dawg, but I am.

This is mild adversity that can be overcome. I'm sure SA has dealt with more adverse conditions than this. A small piece of the sky fell on us - we'll recover. This schollie loss just means it takes SA 3 years to be where he wanted to be in 2 years. Slows us down a bit, but we just need to remain patient with him and the program. He'll make it worth the wait.

[LoboMike]

Dawg, winning cures all. This is a town of frontrunners. Win and they'll show up. Lose and they won't. Simple as that.

[Mark]

The infractions and penalties should stay with the coach? You guys are just kidding right?
There is no chance that you actually feel that way??

What about managing the coach properly? What about college administration putting some pressure on the coach to improve in that area? What happened to institutional credibility?

Blaming this all on McKay is just straight up wrong.

Besides -- this isnt about grades anyway -- its about graduation. And UNM has had more defections than any program should have had.

Alford is not "clean" on this issue either. Losing players from last years team also hurts the numbers. Alford didnt fight to keep them, becuase he wanted better talent, but by pushing players out the door - to improve the talent level, you pay the price one way or another, and Alford obviously chose to risk a scholarship loss.

Id like to know who he pushed out the door? Jeffery was gone at the end of the year regardless.

Derrick saw the writing on the wall and chose a different route.

David was not promised a ride from this staff. This is a clean slate for everyone. He chose to pursue other options as well.

[Canes-Lobos]

Kayinda & Kersten flunked out of UNM, they were not pushed out. I don't think that all the blame can be placed on Ritchie & his staff. They busted their tails to make sure these kids went to class and that they did well. When you look back, you will see that they kids they were able to retain did well in the classroom. This falls back to the inability to retain a larger amount of their players. However, what do you do when you have kids leave, due to them not able to pass their classes.

[Yakkacat25]

I don't know the circumstances of Kanyinda or Kerstan. When you're a student althlete there's a responsibility you have to uphold. Blame cannot be put on Coach McKay. For one thing coaches cannot be around his players 24 hrs a day. Accountability is on that Student. It's a privledge to play sports in college.

[Bret]

Either way -- Im tired of the blame being put on one person.

It belongs on the heads of the student athlete, the coaching staff (Past and pressent), the Athletic Department (Past and present) )Although its hard to peg any of this on Krebs -- he certainly seems to have done all he can given the circumstances......and the school adminstation.

For the record -- I have no problem with Alford -- but players leaving is what causes the probelms

[Yakkacat25]

Either way -- Im tired of the blame being put on one person.

It belongs on the heads of the student athlete, the coaching staff (Past and pressent), the Athletic Department (Past and present) )Although its hard to peg any of this on Krebs -- he certainly seems to have done all he can given the circumstances......and the school adminstation.

For the record -- I have no problem with Alford -- but players leaving is what causes the probelms

When a new coach comes into a program...players leave. Nothing new about that.

[Garishwolf]

Who is the real culprit? which one was really the one to point a finger at,midle finger, mckay,franny,bliss?

man is suuks to screw SA and team

never heard this rule before.

[Maxwell58]

It's not just placing blame but also accepting responsibility.
UNM has made changes in staff and in the rules players must follow.
I think the NCAA will take this into account.
The penalties should be less that if no changes were made.

[Dr.M]

I think it is possible that if we perform academically at a higher level this season and demonstrate to the NCAA that we're going in the right direction, it is possible that our punishment will be mitigated. However, we will be on a very short leash for the next 3-4 years, meaning that transfers out or poor grades will impact us gravely. Regardless, all true Lobo fans will be supportive of the program because I believe it is clear that we're cleaning up our act. To paraphrase Lobodawg, it is time to put the pedal to the medal and shore up our mettle.

[Roob]

I think it is possible that if we perform academically at a higher level this season and demonstrate to the NCAA that we're going in the right direction, it is possible that our punishment will be mitigated. However, we will be on a very short leash for the next 3-4 years, meaning that transfers out or poor grades will impact us gravely. Regardless, all true Lobo fans will be supportive of the program because I believe it is clear that we're cleaning up our act. To paraphrase Lobodawg, it is time to put the pedal to the medal and shore up our mettle.

To paraphrase Lobodawg, it is time to put the pedal to the medal and shore up our mettle so the NCAA won't meddle.