Former Player Incriminates UTEP

A former Texas El Paso basketball player claims a booster gave him free airline tickets and a job while he was playing for the Miners in 1989, the El Paso Times reported Wednesday.

Rodney McKoy told the newspaper that the booster, Mike Daeuble, owner of a downtown El Paso restaurant, gave him a round-trip ticket to Philadelphia in March 1989. The ticket cost $338, McKoy said. The gift would be a violation of NCAA rules.

McKoy and former players Chris Perez and Terry Stallworth also say they often received free food at a fast-food restaurant near the university owned by booster Ruben Montelongo.

McKoy, 22, was among 75 people interviewed during the NCAA’s seven-month investigation into possible rule violations by the UTEP basketball program.

McKoy’s allegations come just two weeks after former UTEP recruit John Staggers said he received free housing, meals and transportation from UTEP coaches in 1988.

Neither UTEP Coach Don Haskins nor Athletic Director Brad Hovious could be reached.

McKoy also claims he worked in Daeuble’s home garden for cash during the basketball season.