NCAA decision a power play

Simple Text By Joshua D. Scroggin

When the Fresno State basketball program was punished last week for its past violations, it was like the NCAA gave the Bulldogs two minutes for high sticking.

Former Bulldogs accepted money from agents, got illegal financial aid and had papers written for them.

How much more cheating can you do?

Sure, Fresno State held itself out of the NCAA tournament last year—sorry, Travis DeManby—but wasn’t everybody expecting the NCAA to hammer the Bulldogs?

Well, it didn’t.

After the Fresno Bee’s Eric Prisbell documented the violations by former players in an article long enough to have its own book in the Bible, the NCAA ruling most likely has Fresno State officials jumping for joy and clicking their heels.

Athletic Director Scott Johnson and friends have won their battle. Ask Fresno State coach Ray Lopes.

“ Our administration did a great job,” Lopes said last week about the decision to keep last year’s team out of the postseason.

The administration did a great job of holding one of only two Fresno State basketball teams to win a regular- season WAC championship out of contention for March Madness fame.

It was because of that move the NCAA did not impose a postseason ban for the upcoming season—good news for the Fresno State pocketbook.

The WAC tournament is going to be hosted in the Save Mart Center this spring. Imagine the attendance figures had the Bulldogs not been allowed to compete.

Fresno State Assistant Athletic Director Steve Weakland said the biggest money-making aspect of hosting the WAC tournament is the attendance.

I don’t think Southern Methodist travels 16,000 fans to away games. But I’m not sure.

I am sure that none of the violations involved Jerry Tarkanian, but I’m only sure because university President John Welty said so.

Even so, if it wasn’t for Tarkanian, none of this trouble would have happened. The players who committed the violations still wouldn’t know where Fresno is on the map.

But Fresno State wouldn’t have its crowning jewel either, if not for Tarkanian. That’s right. No Save Mart Center.

So maybe all these violations were just a necessary evil—a vital part of the trade of NCAA sanctions for an on-campus arena.

And when the center opens, whispers similar to those leaking out of NHL penalty boxes might be heard around the Fresno State athletic department offices.

Two minutes? Well worth it.