NCAA keeps quiet about controversy

Luke Plansky and Brett Mcintyre / S

For now, ISU athletic department officials are unaware of any possible investigations stemming from the school’s involvement with D1 Scheduling.

Officials said the NCAA has yet to contact Iowa State regarding the information revealed in a CBS Sportsline.com story two weeks ago.

Kent Barrett, associate director of media relations for the NCAA, said organizational policy prohibits the NCAA from commenting on or confirming the existence of any investigation into the matter.

Barrett was cited in the original CBS Sportsline.com article, which highlighted the existence of a possible “recruiting operation” among Los Angeles Community College and several universities, in which D1 Scheduling was the benefactor.

The company set up eight men’s basketball games for Iowa State. Anthony Davis, Iowa State’s only player from the community college, graduated last season.

Former head coach Wayne Morgan and former Athletic Director Bruce Van De Velde signed off on the contracts.

“Our athletic administration entered into these agreements at the request of our coaching staff,” current Athletic Director Jamie Pollard said in a press release after the story broke. “The administration had the contracts reviewed legally and certainly had no knowledge of potential improprieties.”

According to the NCAA Division I constitution and bylaws, Iowa State could be held responsible and face penalties for the conduct of D1 Scheduling.

According to rule 6.4.2, Iowa State can be held responsible for any wrongdoing by D1 Scheduling if the company “has made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization” or “has been requested by the athletics department staff to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes.”

Furthermore, if LACC coach and D1 Scheduling co-founder Mike Miller is found to be classified as an ISU “booster,” sanctions could be applied because boosters cannot be involved in the recruiting or scheduling processes.

Steve Malchow, senior associate director of athletics, and Joshua Snyder, director of compliance for the athletic department, said the administration was not aware of a potential investigation at this time.