Topic: NHR: WVU possibly in some hot water?...

[MarshallSteve]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/19/sports/ncaabasketball/landing-in-west-virginia-dan-dakich-checked-the-exits.html?_r=1&ref=sports


  Soon after Dan Dakich took the basketball head coaching job at West Virginia in 2002, he sat down with a yellow legal pad and wrote a list of the issues facing the Mountaineers. It became so long and daunting that he decided it was too much. Eight days after he was hired, he walked away from what he said was a seven-year contract offer worth $3.5 million to return to his old job at Bowling Green, which pays $125,000 a year.

 Some of the most challenging items on Dakich’s list involved Jonathan Hargett, a top recruit from Richmond who had just completed his freshman season at West Virginia.

Dakich said Hargett told him that he had been promised $20,000 a year for three years, and that he had not been paid the full amount. Dakich also said that Hargett said he was tired of people “owning” him.

“I’ll never forget the sad look on his face for the rest of my life,” Dakich said of the moment Hargett said those words. Hargett, now serving a prison sentence for drug possession with intent to sell, did not recall telling Dakich that, but said the statement was an accurate reflection of his feelings then.

After speaking with Hargett, Dakich approached David Hardesty, then the university’s president. Dakich said he told Hardesty about Western Union receipts that seemed to show Hargett had received money in violation of N.C.A.A. rules. He also relayed Hargett’s comments that the university had not paid him money that had been promised to him.

Dakich recalls Hardesty telling him, “If you go any farther with this, we’ll destroy you.”

[wvmafia]

To think that this kind of stuff goes on would be naive...I can't believe that wvu has that kind of big money boosters, but I'd bet that there are very few players at Auburn or Oregon that aren't on payroll!  It's the nature of the big money beast that is the NCAA.

[Luke80]

This is not a new story and it should have been enough to put them on probation 10 years ago, but it was not. Why? Because they simply are the best liars and cheaters in the NCAA. When the University President threatens a basketball coach for possibly telling the truth about its crooked program you have complete institutional corruption.

The NCAA can catch them if everybody lies.

Does anyone ever remember a relevant WVU player being declared academically ineligible? It does not happen. They manage through threats or bribes to get everyone on board with their cover ups.

[HerdKelly]

This is not a new story and it should have been enough to put them on probation 10 years ago, but it was not. Why? Because they simply are the best liars and cheaters in the NCAA. When the University President threatens a basketball coach for possibly telling the truth about its crooked program you have complete institutional corruption.

The NCAA can catch them if everybody lies.

Does anyone ever remember a relevant WVU player being declared academically ineligible? It does not happen. They manage through threats or bribes to get everyone on board with their cover ups.

Um, pretty sure the NCAA did look into it an Hargett was never allowed to play for WVU again after accepting money frm an agent. That kid could have been an NBA all-star.  Pissed away an NBA career for chump change.

[wvmafia]

Um, pretty sure the NCAA did look into it an Hargett was never allowed to play for WVU again after accepting money frm an agent. That kid could have been an NBA all-star.  Pissed away an NBA career for chump change.

The point that I think (and I don't want to put words in his mouth) is that wvu has mastered laying the blame elsewhere but at their own doorstep.  Last year, they had a WR who wrecked a $40K Dodge Challenger while DUI and he never missed a snap.  I can't remember his name...the worldwide leader had one little article about it and it went away.  There's the Heather Bresch deal.  Then the one that makes it most obvious is that two of the worst players in NFL history, Chris Henry and Pac-Man, played on the same team in the 'Hole and were "model citizens" there...C'mon.

It's institutional...they are a train wreck and for some stroke of luck, they've escaped serious penalty.

They'll get theirs.  They are going to have to "step up their game" to keep up in the Big 12 and it's a matter of time before it gets too obvious for the powers that be in the NCAA can't ignore it anymore.

[HerdKelly]

The point that I think (and I don't want to put words in his mouth) is that wvu has mastered laying the blame elsewhere but at their own doorstep.  Last year, they had a WR who wrecked a $40K Dodge Challenger while DUI and he never missed a snap.  I can't remember his name...the worldwide leader had one little article about it and it went away.  There's the Heather Bresch deal.  Then the one that makes it most obvious is that two of the worst players in NFL history, Chris Henry and Pac-Man, played on the same team in the 'Hole and were "model citizens" there...C'mon.

It's institutional...they are a train wreck and for some stroke of luck, they've escaped serious penalty.

They'll get theirs.  They are going to have to "step up their game" to keep up in the Big 12 and it's a matter of time before it gets too obvious for the powers that be in the NCAA can't ignore it anymore.

You are thinking of Truck Bryant and it wasn't a DUI. Failure to report accident or whatever. 

[wvmafia]

You are thinking of Truck Bryant and it wasn't a DUI. Failure to report accident or whatever. 

You may very well be right...I don't keep up with them like you must.  My question would be "why is one of your scholarship athletes, who's family doesn't have two nickels to rub together driving a $46,000 'loaner' car from a dealership that is one of the school's largest corporate donors, Mr. Horseface?"  But no follow up seemed to come.  Just disappeared from the headlines.

Face it, it's a rogue program that should be offensive to real West Virginians.

[HerdKelly]

You may very well be right...I don't keep up with them like you must.  My question would be "why is one of your scholarship athletes, who's family doesn't have two nickels to rub together driving a $46,000 'loaner' car from a dealership that is one of the school's largest corporate donors, Mr. Horseface?"  But no follow up seemed to come.  Just disappeared from the headlines.

Face it, it's a rogue program that should be offensive to real West Virginians.

I don't know why you say you know nothing about the family then assume they are dirt poor. His parents could be doctors for all I know, no idea.  I googled it and the articles clearly say it was his car. Nothing about a loaner. If you can show me that I'd love to see it.  I refuse to assume they have nothing. I bet i can guess why you assumed that.  You certainly shouldn't have.......

[Luke80]

HerdKelly - you have proven my point

I knew there was an NCAA investigation, and I knew nothing came of it.  My question would be how is that possible?

Jonathan Hargett was not paying himself

For years I have thought they managed to get by through extreme institutional deceit. That is - deciet at the highest level of the organization (much like WVMafia's namesake).  This article makes it clear that this is exactly what was happening - when the President of the University threatens the basketball coach like this it is clear he is going to do whatever is possible to protect these sports programs.

University instructors and administrators facilitate this institutional deceit because there is something in it for them.

[HerdKelly]

HerdKelly - you have proven my point

I knew there was an NCAA investigation, and I knew nothing came of it.  My question would be how is that possible?

Jonathan Hargett was not paying himself

For years I have thought they managed to get by through extreme institutional deceit. That is - deciet at the highest level of the organization (much like WVMafia's namesake).  This article makes it clear that this is exactly what was happening - when the President of the University threatens the basketball coach like this it is clear he is going to do whatever is possible to protect these sports programs.

University instructors and administrators facilitate this institutional deceit because there is something in it for them.

I don't know what came of it. Dakitch got to back out of the job because of the Hargett agent payments and Hargett was never allowed to play for WVU again.  Those are the only facts i know  I know the NCAA investigated but couldn't tell you why they didn't do anything. Obviously you'd think they thought there wasn't anything to it or the couldn't prove it.

The funny thing is Dakitch says he had proof which also means he lied to the NCAA back then (if he is being honest now). He was an Indiana and bob knight guy, hard to see how hardesty could do anything to him.  


I don't really care. I am still trying to wrap my head around why Truck Bryant's family must be dirt poor. Only one reason I can think that someone would assume that and it isn't good.

[Atocep]

This was investigated by the NCAA a decade ago and the NCAA found that WVU had no knowledge of Hargrett's payments.  Hargrett was ruled ineligible but WVU wasn't punished.  Because WVU had no knowledge of the payments.  You have to ask yourself why Dakich is changing his story now and does it even make the slightest bit of sense for a school president to tell a prospective employee that he'd "destroy" him?  Does that really not set off your (bleep) meter? 

As for Truck, I have no idea what would lead you to believe his family is poor.  I don't know much about the family, but I do know he came to WVU from a pretty nice private school.  Could have been a scholarship, but I personally don't know anything about his family so I wouldn't say one way or the other.  I'm also going to pretend I don't have a good idea why someone would just assume his family is poor.