Texas Tech in Bad Position With NCAA

An NCAA official says a “bad decision” allowed former Texas Tech defensive star Tony Daniels to finish the 1996 season despite proof he was ineligible, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Daniels, who avoided being suspended this season by turning pro, was one of 76 Texas Tech athletes recently found to have been improperly certified to play in the last six years.

The school discovered its error last November and could have forced Daniels off the field immediately, but instead received permission from the NCAA to delay punishment until this fall, the newspaper reported.

Daniels told the Chronicle at least one member of the Texas Tech athletic department knew he was turning pro, which could call into question whether the school knew he essentially would go unpenalized.

“It just looks like a bad decision on our part--trusting the institution that [the penalty] would be fulfilled, and it never was,” said Carrie Doyle, NCAA director of eligibility appeals.

The NCAA is expected to deliver an official letter of inquiry detailing allegations against Texas Tech as soon as this week.

*

Texas Coach John Mackovic said he won’t discuss a report in the Dallas Morning News that school regents have reached a consensus to fire or reassign him at the end of the season. . . . Oklahoma State tight end Alonzo Mayes suffered a third-degree shoulder separation in Saturday’s loss to Missouri and could be lost for the season, the team said.