Ex-SMU Star Says He Is Giving Cash to 3 Players for Good Grades

Former Southern Methodist All-American wide receiver Jerry LeVias says he is paying cash to three current SMU football players for good grades because he is trying to fight a system he says doesn’t encourage athletes to earn college degrees.

“My answer is to fight fire with fire,” LeVias told the Dallas Times Herald Saturday. “You have to motivate them some way. What are you going to do? Somebody is going to be there to just give them money for the hell of it.”

LeVias, who acknowledged the payments were in violation of NCAA rules, said he paid the three SMU players “a couple of grand” during the last school year based on their semester grades.

“I pay for passing--some on C’s, some on B’s and great on A’s. But I don’t pay for basket-weaving,” he said. “I’ll pay for grades. I won’t pay for tackles.”

LeVias said he would not provide the name of the athletes he is rewarding with cash.

LeVias, 38, earned consensus All-American honors at SMU in 1968 and played six seasons in the NFL with the Houston Oilers and San Diego Chargers.

He also was the first black athlete to receive a football scholarship from a Southwest Conference school and is now president of a marketing and management consulting firm in Houston.

“Too bad I don’t have enough (money) to give to the (regular) students at the school, but my heart is with the athlete,” he told the newspaper.

The arrangement violates the NCAA rule against extra benefits for athletes, the Times Herald reported.

SMU athletic director Bob Hitch and coach Bobby Collins would not comment on LeVias’ reward plan.