Tarkanian Seeks ‘the Truth’ in Independent Investigation : College basketball: On the eve of what was supposed to be his final game at UNLV, coach wants outside agency to look at program and university. Maxson says no.

Flanked by family and friends and bathed once more in the glare of minicam lights and controversy, UNLV Coach Jerry Tarkanian used a Monday news conference to call for an independent investigation of the Runnin’ Rebel basketball program.

Repeating a worn theme--that he wants “the truth” about his much-criticized program to be exposed--Tarkanian proposed that the university hire an outside agency to examine the events leading to last month’s decision to rescind a resignation submitted in June, 1991.

“I think some of the things that have happened to Rebel basketball are rather unusual ,” Tarkanian said.

The proposal was quickly dismissed by university President Robert Maxson, who probably is counting the moments until tonight’s UNLV-Utah State game, which is supposed to mark the end of Tarkanian’s coaching career at the school. Of course, that was before Tarkanian changed his mind about coaching next season and vowed legal action if the university challenged his claim.

Until then, Tarkanian has turned his attention to the possibility of an independent investigation, an investigation, he insisted, that would prove that his program was the victim of undue and unethical scrutiny by the NCAA, as well as the UNLV administration.

“The issue is to get at the truth,” he said. “When the truth gets out, then I’ll make a decision as to what I’m going to do. If I stepped away (Wednesday), all this would have been swept under the carpet and the (UNLV administration) would have continued with their statements that are so inaccurate.”

Tarkanian’s list of complaints is well documented. They range from the administration’s videotaping of an illegal practice (“Cam-Scam,” he called it), to the existence of supposed hired informants, to a lack of respect regarding him and the accomplishments of his program--both athletically and academically--to an alleged systematic effort to force him out of UNLV.

An independent investigation, he said, would separate fact from fiction.

“I want every aspect of UNLV basketball brought out in the open,” he said. “For me to read . . . that there’s a conflict between (UNLV) basketball and the administration, well, we didn’t cause a conflict. We got stabbed in the back about eight times and when we started bleeding, we didn’t think it was very fair. We thought that wasn’t too much fun and that’s how the conflict started. It was like when Pearl Harbor got bombed, the people in Pearl Harbor got upset and they thought that wasn’t right.

“If that’s how a conflict gets started, then we are in a conflict. But we didn’t do one single thing to start a conflict.”

Perhaps not, but according to Maxson, such talk of an independent investigation does nothing to end the war of words. In fact, Maxson hinted that if the conflict continued, it could eventually jeopardize the future of the basketball program.

“I’ll tell you what I don’t want to do and why I worry about the motives of at least some people--and notice I didn’t say Coach Tarkanian,” Maxson said. “What I don’t want to do is keep this thing, alive and alive and alive to where there is no basketball program. It has to come to an end. A new coach has to be recruited. A new program has to be started.

“Now, I don’t know how much damage has already been done to the program,” he said. “But if you want to do the program in, you just keep this right on through the spring, right on through the summer and I will guarantee you that it’s predictable what condition Rebel basketball will be in. And I’m not saying whose motives . . . I’m not attributing that to anyone, but I’m not going to willingly participate in burning Kuwait behind us.”

Maxson made it clear that he wouldn’t approve or endorse any independent investigation of the basketball program. Instead, he suggested that those with pertinent information make themselves known.

“I don’t want to see it written where I’m against finding out the truth,” Maxson said. “That’s not it. Bring forward something to investigate, and it will be investigated. If you don’t trust the university, then make it public. But to some way keep rubbing salt on this open wound is not in the best interests of this university.”

Maxson added that UNLV Athletic Director Jim Weaver has contacted an unspecified number of coaches about succeeding Tarkanian. Maxson said he hopes to have a replacement hired shortly after next month’s Final Four.