UNLV ready to file answer to NCAA

Steve Addy

Thursday, June 8, 2000 | 10:32 a.m.

UNLV is prepared to meet Saturday's deadline to respond to NCAA allegations of rules violations in the men's basketball program.

The final draft of the university's response to the NCAA Letter of Inquiry is being prepared by the Kansas City law firm of Bond, Schoeneck & King, which has defended several colleges in NCAA cases.

"We have been reviewing drafts and transcriptions for the past week," UNLV associate athletic director Jerry Koloskie said Wednesday. "It is pretty much done. The attorneys will have it in by Saturday, then we'll get our copy of the final document on Monday."

The report will be submitted to the NCAA committee on infractions in Indianapolis, then UNLV is scheduled to appear before the committee on Aug. 11-13 in Beaver Creek, Colo. Coach Bill Bayno, AD Charlie Cavagnaro and Koloskie will attend.

UNLV's response was originally due May 10, but the university received a one-month extension to wrap up its investigation. UNLV had hoped to secure testimony from 1997 recruit Lamar Odom, who is at the center of the most serious allegations, but he would not speak to investigators.

In the Letter of Inquiry, received by UNLV March 14, the NCAA alleged that UNLV booster and Las Vegas dentist Dr. David Chapman gave $5,600 to Odom, $4,000 while Odom was enrolled in a summer class at the school.

The inquiry also alleged that Bayno solicited booster Sig Rogich to give Odom a job and did not "adequately monitor" his program for compliance with NCAA guidelines.

The 12-month NCAA investigation yielded several other allegations, including Las Vegas attorney and Rebels booster Steve Stein giving $400 to players and a UNLV player lying to investigators.

Because the alleged violations took place within a five-year period after UNLV's 1993 probation over the improper recruitment of Lloyd Daniels, the program faces sanctions under the so-called "repeat violator" rule. That could bring harsher penalties, but not the "death penalty" for the program, because the inquiry doesn't allege "lack of institutional control."

However, the school could also impose self-punishment to show the NCAA that it is serious about putting its house in order. That could include forfeiting scholarships, placing other limits on recruiting or firing staff. In other cases, such measures often led to reduced NCAA sanctions.

"We are in the process of signing the contracts," he said. "I believe we are both reasonably pleased with it. I don't want to jump the gun, but we should have it done by (Monday)."

Under its ESPN Regional banner, the network will take over UNLV's radio broadcasts and selected games on television. ESPN will pay UNLV approximately $500,000 a year and handle all aspects of the broadcasts -- production, hiring broadcasters, selling advertising.