Rebels play NCAA waiting game

Steve Carp

Monday, March 22, 1999 | 10:07 a.m.

Enforcement staff gone for now, but may return with more questions for players

The NCAA has come and gone for now. Whether the enforcement staff returns to Las Vegas depends on what information the two investigators came up with during last week's four-day stay at UNLV.

If the staff finds there's little else to go on, they could call it quits right now. If they believe there's more to what they uncovered, they could return for another round of informal talks.

But if the NCAA believes there's information that could be construed as major violation material, it could begin a full-blown probe of the program with a letter of official inquiry delivered to president Dr. Carol Harter.

Harter, incidentally, met with the NCAA last week, along with head coach Bill Bayno and two of his assistants, Greg Vetrone and Glynn Cyprien.

Last week's visit, described by school officials as an "informal interview process," originally was to include discussions with players Greedy Daniels, Shawn Marion, Kevin Simmons and Chris Richardson as well as Bayno and Vetrone.

The NCAA was believed to be looking into extra benefits for current team members and possible recruiting violations.

However, none of the four players was interviewed. Supposedly, the NCAA did not want any of the four to have legal counsel present at the time of the questioning.

Word is the NCAA still wants to meet with the players. And that could happen soon.

UNLV athletic director Charles Cavagnaro said Sunday he doesn't expect the school to be kept waiting long.

"I think we'll hear something in the next couple of weeks," Cavagnaro said Sunday.

Cavagnaro said the school has been cooperative with the NCAA through this process and will continue to do so.

"We've answered their questions and we're cooperating with them thoroughly," he said. "That's about all I can say right now."

As for the coaching staff, Bayno met with the NCAA Thursday for two hours and Vetrone went before the enforcement staff for less than an hour. Following the meeting, Bayno returned to the recruiting trail, where he spent the weekend back East visiting with several potential recruits, including a home visit with JC guard Trevor Diggs.

But while the NCAA was in town, former student manager Mike Viellion came forward with information on two separate matters involving associate head coach Cyprien.

One claim was that Cyprien instructed Viellion to make car payments for former Rebel star Tyrone Nesby. The other was that Cyprien gave current Rebel Kaspars Kambala Viellion's car last summer without Viellion's permission.

Kambala was involved in an accident that totaled Viellion's car, and the two sides could not come to an agreement on compensation. The matter is pending.

The NCAA spoke to all parties -- Viellion, Cyprien and Kambala -- regarding the two matters. It is not known whether there will be further discussion on the NCAA's part regarding either incident.

* GONDO RELEASED: Saying he was feeling better, former UNLV star and current team broadcaster Glen Gondrezick left Summerlin Hospital Saturday four days after suffering a major heart attack.

"I'm just glad to be getting out of here," he said of his hospital stint.

Gondrezick will continue to recuperate at home. He said he was feeling ill a week ago while playing volleyball. At first, he thought he was suffering from food poisoning. But when he went to the doctor Tuesday to get his condition checked out, he was immediately dispatched to the hospital, having suffered what was called a major heart attack.

An angioplasty was performed to clear the blockage in his left artery. Gondrezick, 43, said he hopes to be back to his normal routine soon, though he admitted he'll be facing some lifestyle changes.

"This was a real eye-opener," he said. "I was very lucky."