Is UConn on the Verge of Serious Trouble?

From the headline above, you may think that I am referring to UConn’s pending NCAA Tourney matchup against Purdue this week, but I am not.  I got UConn cruising in that game (but losing to eventual NCAA Champion Memphis).

What I am referring to is an article (that first appeared on Yahoo Sports) which came out yesterday alleging a long list of recruiting improprieties that the University’s basketball program committed when they were recruiting now-expelled guard Nate Miles.

The list is long, and I am not getting into it all here. And, of course, I cannot tell if the list of alleged violations is true, not true, some true, whatever.  I would imagine, however, that some will stick.

Now, add this on top of the rather mixed reviews that Head Coach Jim Calhoun received from last month’s ballistic response at a post-game news conference when asked about his $1 million dollar salary as coach at a public university in a time of deepening recession, together with his health (he has fought cancer and had a mysterious illness last week before the opening game of the Tourney), and I wonder what the future holds for Calhoun.

Now, I know that UConn fans could give a shit about any of these violations, even if true.  And, they could give a shit about his salary and what it says about the priorities of a state during a recession.  All that  UConn fans care about is winning.  And Calhoun wins.  A LOT!

In this aspect, UConn - and their fan base - is like every other team and college in the country.  Morals and ethics are what you get upset about when it involves someone else’s team, not yours.

(Photo: Getty Images)

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A Cubs and Northwestern fan, Joe Moag is a major sports junkie, and although he still runs, he hasn't been able to dunk anything more than a donut for decades.

Unless otherwise stated, no particular sexual orientation of anyone depicted is implied or should be presumed.

Comments

[Joe Moag]

An update on this, already:

According to CBS sports (as I watch tonight's game on CBS I am getting this, so how's THAT for reporting!), the NCAA has put out a statement contradicting some of what Calhoun said yesterday in his news conference on this issue.

Moreover, in an interview today with CBS Sports, Calhoun said that "the NCAA has not contacted" UConn about this yet. Again, according to CBS Sports, that is not correct; CBS states that the NCAA has already contacted the school, and did so PRIOR to Calhoun's statement to CBS Sports saying the contrary.

CBS Sports goes on to state that it is "rare" for the NCAA - at such an early stage in an issue (one day after a blog report) - to put out a statement refuting claims made by a potential target investigation school. So that ain't a good sign for UConn.

Now, add that to Calhoun's apparent misrepresentation of the facts regarding whether or not the NCAA has contacted UConn, and I have to say that UConn and Calhoun are not off to a good start in terms of getting their arms around what will surely be a mess-royale.

Better get it together, folks. There's a lot more at stake here than whether or not UConn wins a national championship this year.

The NCAA is, in my opinion, looking for a big-time school to punish (and send a message) regarding rules infractions having to do with agents and players and recruits, and the alleged facts in this case are all about that.

To quote that old Motown hit, "better tighten up" boys!