Confusion clouds track controversy
By Mike Riplinger
01 the Emerald
Confusion seems to be the
key word in the case of the three
Oregon track athletes who face
possible sanctions for violating
rules by accepting equipment
from two international sporting
good companies
And the man at the center of
the controversy appears to be
former Oregon track coach Bill
Bowerman
The athletes who allegedly
received equipment from Nike
and Adidas are Dean Crouser,
1982 national collegiate discus
and shot put champion, Brian
Crouser '82 javelin champion,
and Jim Hill, an All-American
distance runner Hill reportedly
accepted a $450 check from
Nike for consulting on a shoe
design
Athletic equipment is com
monly given to collegiate ath
letes through their respective
school's athletic departments,
but it is illegal to give equipment
directly to an individual athlete
without their school's
knowledge
"The NCAA policy is not to
confirm or deny that an inves
tigation is going on,” said Ron
Stratten, assistant director of
enforcement for the NCAA
A conversation Bowerman al
legedly had with University of
ficials last summer started the
probe and resulted in a letter
from Curt Simic, University vice
president for relations, detailing
the alleged violations to Bower
man.
However Bowerman, one of
the founders of Nike, said in a
phone interview Wednesday
that “I certainly did not talk to
Mr. Simic earlier this summer. I
have received nothing that
JC
would have to do with him."
Bowerman could not be
reached Thursday at his son's
home outside of Antelope, or at
his home north of Eugene
Simic's letter was sent to
Bowerman and copies were
sent to six other people, includ
ing University Pres Paul Olum
and Rick Bay, athletic director
The letter was not released
publicly.
But the contents of the letter
became public, prompting
University officials to question
who released the letter
Ironically, Olum is currently at
a meeting of the State Board of
Higher Education in Corvallis,
which is considering a policy
and a code of ethics for inter
collegiate athletics He said in a
statement issued by Barbara
Petura, director of the Universi
ty news bureau, that he believes
Bowerman sent the letters.
"I don't know why Bowerman
is passing around these
things," said Olum. "It’s not up
to me to judge his motive Peo
ple can judge his motive for
themselves."
According to Bay, the allega
tions against the three athletes
are part of a "personal grudge"
by Bowerman
"When Bill gets mad, some
| times he does things that he
| may regret later," said Bay
"This is a case where he got
upset about the facility problem
and a few other matters and
struck back at us. It's a personal
grudge "
Bay said the problems
between he and Bowerman all
stem from Bowerman's offer to
give the University money to
build a track facility.
"He offered the money, but he
still wanted to run it. That is a
clear violation of the IRS, which
says if a gift is given to a univer
sity, it must be unequivocally
given Bowerman wanted to be
able to tell us how we were to
use it ”
Bowerman and the Universi
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Eugene's budget outfitters
ty's athletic department also
tangled over Oregon track
coach Bill Dellinger’s contract
for a shoe design with Adidas.
“It's all intertwined," Bay
said. “He doesn't like what
happened over the facility and
he doesn't like the fact that Bill
Dellinger has a contract with
Adidas — or the fact that I
backed Bill with his contract ”
Dellinger originally offered a
new shoe design to Nike, whose
shoes he endorsed at the time
His design was turned down.
Dellinger then went to Adidas
with the design and was offered
a contract
"Ever since the Adidas shoe
with the webbing has become
popular, Bowerman has
become vindictive," Dellinger
said in an interview Wednesday
"He is trying to discredit the
University of Oregon track pro
gram.”
Bay has looked into Del
linger's Adidas contract and
found it perfectly legal.”
"He had every right to switch
and take advantage of a good
opportunity," said Bay.
"Bowerman did the same thing
with Nike, so I can't understand
why he won t allow Dellinger to
do the same."
The switch by the athletes'
from Nike to Adidas prompted
Bowerman’s original interest,
claimed Dellinger
"This all goes back to the
Pac-10 meet when Crouser
switched shoes from Nike to
Adidas," Dellinger said.
The matter was brought up at
a July 6 meeting in Eugene that
included Bowerman, Olum and
Simic, according to the Univer
sity vice-president. The meeting
concerned the proposed
Hayward addition
"I'm not sure who brought it
up. but I believe it was either Bill,
or some of the people that were
in Bill's group," said Simic
When Simic was told that
Bowerman said he didn't know
of the allegations, hadn't
received the letter, and had said
he hadn't talked with Simic
about the allegations, Simic ex
pressed shock
"I'm absolutely astounded
That's amazing I'm just as
tounded," he said "Of course
we met with Bill It had to do with
the facility
At the time he showed a
genuine concern for the pro
gram As we talked it became
clear that there might be some
violations So as soon as the
Continued on Page 15
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