Saturday, Sept. 16, 2000 | 5:56 a.m.
After more than two decades of battles with the NCAA, UNLV longs for the day when scrutiny of the men's basketball program will focus on what happens on the court.
But the Rebels still must clear two imposing hurdles for that to happen, and the first is coming up this week.
Facing possible major sanctions because of alleged rules violations, UNLV will appear before the NCAA Committee on Infractions on Friday in Dallas.
After a two-year NCAA investigation, it will be the school's first chance to address the laundry list of allegations face-to-face.
"We're looking forward to the opportunity, because we would like to put this behind us," UNLV Athletic Director Charlie Cavagnaro said.
If there are sanctions, the NCAA will not announce them this week. That would not happen until early November because the Committee on Infractions routinely follows a six-week deliberation schedule.
But the testimony of coach Bill Bayno, Cavagnaro and other university officials in Dallas will determine how severely the program is penalized. Escaping major sanctions will be the tallest hurdle because the NCAA regards UNLV as a "repeat violator" because it was on probation from 1993-96.
The current case hasn't received near the national attention of UNLV's previous NCAA problems, which resulted from the regime of former coach Jerry Tarkanian. Nevertheless, some penalties are certain this time because UNLV has admitted to several rules violations it regards as secondary.
However, the university hopes to convince the NCAA that the most serious allegations -- cash and benefits given by a booster to 1997 recruit Lamar Odom -- aren't totally accurate, and that any sanctions should be "substantially mitigated."
Possible penalties include the loss of scholarships, limitations on contact with recruits by the coaches, cutbacks on TV games and disassociating boosters from the program.
At the heart of the allegations is booster Dr. David Chapman, a Las Vegas dentist. Chapman and UNLV concur that he broke NCAA rules by providing Odom with cash, housing, transportation and other benefits during the summer of 1997.
But UNLV and Chapman strongly deny Odom's testimony to the NCAA that he received cash from Chapman while he was enrolled in a UNLV summer class. The university and Chapman claim the support didn't begin until after July 24, 1997, when UNLV released Odom from his national letter of intent. Odom said the benefits approached $6,000.
Last month Chapman told the Sun that he feels the NCAA pressured Odom into giving false testimony against UNLV in exchange for eligibility at the University of Rhode Island in 1998. He and Odom remain friends, despite the testimony.
"I am not saying I didn't give (Odom) money after (his release), because I did," Chapman said. "It may be the time frame he lied about (to the NCAA) because he wanted to play (be eligible at Rhode Island)."
Though NCAA rules still classified Odom as a recruitable student-athlete for UNLV after his release, UNLV doesn't think it should be held responsible for benefits he received then. The university also feels it showed good faith by releasing the country's No. 1 recruit.
"At that point it was clear in everyone's mind, including (Odom), that he was never going to be a student at UNLV. He wasn't on a probationary enrollment. He was out," Cavagnaro said. "We didn't gain any competitive advantage (from the improper benefits), and we don't think those issues rise to the level of major violations."
UNLV also disputes the NCAA's charge that Bayno didn't properly monitor his program for violations stemming from the Odom-Chapman relationship, and that current player Chris Richardson lied to the NCAA about a free bed arranged by former assistant coach Greg Vetrone.
"Our position is substantially the same as when we submitted our response (to the NCAA in June)," Cavagnaro said. "There were secondary violations, and we've addressed solutions to keep them from happening again."
In its 122-page response, UNLV admitted that a series of minor infractions occurred since 1997, including improper contact with recruits, transportation provided for players and various noncash benefits for players.
Among UNLV's admissions:
* Chapman had impermissible contact with Odom as far back as 1996, in person and by phone.
* Vetrone sent Odom a Nike gym bag by Federal Express and gave him rides to work in Las Vegas.
* Vetrone provided the use of a moving truck and used beds to freshmen Matt Siebrandt and Richardson in 1998. Vetrone excused Siebrandt from financial liability after Siebrandt damaged the truck in an accident.
* Vetrone gave former player Desmond Herod rides to work.
* Current assistant coach Dave Rice delivered at least one car payment on behalf of former player Keon Clark, though the money order was drawn by Clark.
* Bayno and Vetrone inadvertently phoned Odom in the same week, a self-reported violation.
* Bayno and current assistant Max Good inadvertently phoned potential recruit Avery Queen in the same week. This was also self-reported.
* A student manager provided 15 rides to work for an unnamed incoming player.
Bayno's position has been consistent throughout the investigation.
"My stance has been that we've never knowingly or willingly committed any NCAA violations, and that hasn't changed," he said recently.
Kansas City attorney Mike Glazier, a former NCAA lawyer who has defended many schools in NCAA cases, will head up the large UNLV contingent to Dallas. University president Dr. Carol Harter will address the NCAA, as will Mountain West Conference Commissioner Craig Thompson.
Also attending, among others, will be Bayno, Cavagnaro, Associate Athletic Director Jerry Koloskie and Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance Eric Toliver.
Richardson will appear with attorney Daniel J. Albregts, who was retained by the university in accordance with the NCAA's policy on accused athletes. Richardson's eligibility is at stake because the NCAA feels he gave misleading testimony that his mother paid for the bed, which Vetrone acquired for free.
If the Rebels escape major sanctions, the program will continue with Bayno as coach and high hopes for the coming season. Despite the NCAA scrutiny, the Rebels had a solid 2000 recruiting season and are optimistic of making their third appearance in the NCAA Tournament since Bayno became coach in 1995.
However, the NCAA could announce penalties in the first week of November, only a few days before the early signing period for the 2001 recruiting class.
"It's paramount that we get this behind us before the season," Cavagnaro said. "A lot of hard work, time and money have gone into this case. Our response to the allegations is the truth as the university knows it to be."
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