West Texas State’s Basketball Program Penalized by NCAA
The National Collegiate Athletic Assn. placed West Texas State’s basketball program on three years’ probation and barred the team from one year of postseason play today.
West Texas also was barred from making official paid recruiting visits for one year, and its men’s basketball grants-in-aid were cut.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. Dec. 24, 1988 Newswire
Los Angeles Times Saturday December 24, 1988 Home Edition Sports Part 3 Page 7 Column 1 Sports Desk 3 inches; 87 words Type of Material: Column; Correction
The Associated Press reported erroneously on Dec. 22 that Sam Houston State sports information director Matt Rogers said the school’s basketball team could lose its eligibility for an NCAA postseason at-large tournament berth or a spot in the National Invitation Tournament if sanctions involving Sam Houston Coach Gary Moss are upheld.
The sanctions were imposed by the NCAA against the school where Moss formerly coached, West Texas State, and follow Moss to his current school. If they are upheld, Moss would be unable to coach Sam Houston State in postseason play, but that team could play under a different coach.
The NCAA’s report, released in Kansas City by Assistant Executive Director David Berst, said the NCAA had recommended a two-year ban on postseason play, but cut the sanction to one year because the school cooperated with the investigation.
The NCAA had alleged that the school’s basketball program violated NCAA rules by illegally recruiting players and providing players with free airplane travel, free use of telephone credit cards and cash payments.
The alleged violations cover the period from April, 1984, to October 1986, when West Texas competed in Division I’s Missouri Valley Conference.
The school now competes in Division II’s Lone Star Conference.
The allegations involve former head basketball coach Gary Moss, in his second season as head coach at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, and two of his assistants.
Athletic Director Bruce Grimes, West Texas State President Ed Roach, current basketball coach Mark Adams and Moss met with the NCAA’s committee on infractions in October.
12 Schools Under NCAA Penalties
The NCAA has disciplined 12 schools this year. And before the year is over, the governing body is expected to complete work on at least two more cases.
Schools that felt the NCAA’s wrath this year:
Oklahoma--three years’ probation in football.
Kansas--three years, basketball.
U. of Houston--three years, football.
Brooklyn College--one year, basketball.
Illinois--1 1/2 years, football.
Marist College--two years, basketball.
U. of Minnesota--two years, basketball.
Texas A&M--two; years, football.
Arizona State--two years, track.
Cleveland State--three years, basketball.
Cincinnati--three years, football and basketball.
West Texas State--three years, basketball.
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