Bay anxious to get past NCAA sanctions
By Debbie Howlett
Of Emerald
When the NCAA slapped the
University last December with
penalties and sanctions, the
administration and the athletic
department fretted over reven
ue realized from television ap
pearances Now athletic direc
tor, Rick Bay, has accepted the
penalties and is anxious to be
done with the whole business
"We've come to accept it —
the emotional element of the
whole thing has disappeared,"
Bay says “We want to get it
behind us, by and large it is
behind us but we still have to
live out the penalty "
The penalty, meted out by the
NCAA Infractions Committee is
more than a slap on the wrist,
Bay says In fact, Bay termed it a
‘ major penalty,” saying the
"penalty fit the crime."
The penalties, levied most
severely on the football team,
are ineligibility to play in a bowl
game for one year, not playing
in any televised NCAA sanc
tioned games, reduction of
football scholarships for 1982
from 30 to 25 and from 30 to 28
in 1983 plus an additional two
year period of probation The
basketball team lost one
scholarship for this year and
was placed on probation
"You really can't budget for
possible appearances on na
tional television," Bay says Bay
adds that the Ducks may appear
on a tape delay basis and even
on ESPN, the cable sports
network "There's not much
money in that," Bay says, “but
the exposure is still there
As far as the scholarships go,
Bay says that the athletic
department "prepared recruits
for all of the sanctions and that
the lack of scholarships is
something the program will
have to live with
The two year probation period
will hang far past any television
appearances, lack of scholar
ships or other sanctions Of the
probation. Bay says that the
NCAA will keep close tabs on
the school But Bay says he will
keep an even closer eye open.
"I don't think (rule violations)
could happen in a major way
without anyone being aware of
it I would be devastated if it
happened while I was here,"
Bay says
An example of the watchdog
role Bay has taken is Fred
Cofield, a former University
basketball player Cofield was
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suspended from the basketball
team when it was discovered
that he had made phone calls to
his home at the University's ex
pense, with the knowledge and
assistance of an assistant
coach
Cofield was reinstated on the
condition that he re-pay the
phone bill. The University quit
receiving payments from
Cofield and Cofield was su
spended again Over the sum
mer Cofield announced that he
would not return to the Univer
I
sity this fail
“We followed the NCAA
guidelines on that from begin
They go back as far as 1976
from an era when Dick Harter
tripped cheerleaders and as
“Under my direction, there will never
be a willful violation of the rules.”
ning to end," Bay says.
The beginnings of the viola
tions are ancient history says
Bay.
many as seven football players
were being investigated for
violations of travel rules
Bay also makes an effort to
explain how the violations hap
pen “The boosters are over
zealous," he says “The alumni
are as responsible as the
coaches
“You're trying to achieve
success, so you go beyond the
rules to get it," Bay says “You
rationalize You compromise
principles
"We were definitely involved
in some serious impropriety
under my direction, there will
never be a willful violation of the
rules "
When a good friend borrows
your car,the tank may not come back full.
But the trunk does.
When you get paid back with
interest like this, it sort of makes you
wish he’d borrow things more often.
Open up a few cold ones
and toast a guy who really
knows how to return a favor.
Tonight, let it be
Lowenbrau.
Lowenbrau. Here’s to good friends.
© 1982 Bw' Brewed by Miller Brewing Co , Milwaukee. Wis