Titans Under NCAA Scrutiny

Two former members of the Cal State Fullerton athletic department say they have been questioned by an NCAA investigator about men’s basketball recruiting during the summer of 1993.

The questioning centers on allegations that four Titan men’s basketball recruits received living expenses, free housing, transportation and tuition payment for summer school and correspondence courses. If true, this would violate NCAA rules forbidding “extra benefits” to student-athletes.

Brad Holland, coach at Fullerton from 1992-94, denied any wrongdoing and said he has not been contacted by the NCAA.

“The whole thing surprises me,” said Holland, in his third season at the University of San Diego. “This is something I’m totally unaware of and I don’t think any of that stuff is true.”

Fullerton Athletic Director John Easterbrook and current men’s basketball Coach Bob Hawking, an assistant under Holland during 1993, also said they have not been contacted by the NCAA. But this is not unusual, in regard to NCAA procedure, because this is not a formal investigation. This would be the first step in a process, which would be followed by the NCAA reviewing its findings and then determining whether it had enough evidence to proceed.

NCAA rules prohibit enforcement officials from commenting on or confirming that investigations are taking place. However, an enforcement official was in the Southland last week and interviewed former Titan Athletic Director Bill Shumard.

Shumard, appointed Long Beach State athletic director Monday, acknowledged being questioned about 1993 recruiting activity by the Fullerton men’s basketball program.

“I was contacted strictly for background purposes,” Shumard said. “I’m not a target of any potential investigation.”

Chris Brazier, another of Holland’s former assistants at Fullerton, also said he was questioned. Brazier also said he was not the focus of any investigation and that he did not initiate contact with the NCAA.

“I answered the questions honestly,” said Brazier, whose contract was not renewed after the 1993-94 season. “I’ve cooperated with them completely.”

The NCAA official scheduled an interview late last week with Mary Ann Tripodi, director of compliance and student services at Long Beach State, who formerly held a similar position at Fullerton. But he was unable to make the appointment and said he would reschedule, Tripodi said.

Darren Little, Winston Peterson, Danny Robinson and Jerome Washington are the former recruits under scrutiny, a source said. Questions were raised by the NCAA because their names appeared on a list of students enrolled in correspondence courses at Southeastern College of the Assemblies of God in Lakeland, Fla. The school has been involved in previous NCAA investigations focusing on rules violations at Baylor and New Mexico State.

In the course of further interviews, a former recruit was questioned, a source said, and the allegations concerning Fullerton were raised.

“These were not kids who came to us with their hands out,” Brazier said of the players. “We had a plan to get them eligible and that’s what we did.”

Holland said he recalled that the recruits had course work to complete before they could be admitted to Fullerton. But he does not remember the specifics of each situation.

“There are a number of head coaches who are not aware of what goes on with recruiting,” Holland said. “I don’t know if they [the players] were working or not.

“I can’t comment on how they paid for their classes or to live because I don’t know. What about their families and what about their friends? Obviously there are other sources of support.”

Little, Peterson and Robinson transferred to Fullerton from community colleges before the 1993-94 season. Peterson was selected second-team All-Big West Conference as a senior.

Washington also planned to transfer from Mid-Plains College in Nebraska but did not enroll.

Robinson said Tuesday he has not been contacted by the NCAA. The other former Titan players could not be reached for comment. Robinson said he paid for his living expenses and classes with money he had saved from working.

“I paid for everything myself,” he said. “I had money so it was never a problem. This is the first time I’ve heard of any of this.”