Birmingham News: Last NCAA Contact in Alabama on Bledsoe in February
Guy | May 29, 2010 | Comments 2
Soon after Pete Thamel’s New York Times article was released on Friday night, Eric Bledsoe’s hometown newspaper, the Birmingham News, had some new information on the ongoing retroactive investigation into Eric Bledsoe’s eligibility.
The B’ham News says that both Bledsoe’s coach at his old high school, Steve Ward, and Birmingham City Schools’ Athletics Director, George Moore, were approached in late February by the NCAA with questions about Eric Bledsoe’s past. Ward was asked for transcripts from Bledsoe’s first three season, while Moore was asked for past residential information. Both, for different reasons, say they did provide the requested information.
The article goes on to say that February investigations were “surface” investigations, sounding like they were in the very early stages. Since the NCAA and UK have not commented on this issue, that’s about all we know at this time, but with so many eyes on it, I anticipate that will change soon.
I don’t want to sound too much like a UK apologist/homer/defender, but I have a couple qualms here.
First, it’s frustrating to me that the NCAA initiates investigations in February, after Bledsoe had already completed an entire semester. What information became available in the eight months after the NCAA originally said Bledsoe was good to go. Again, this is a case where the NCAA assigned itself the responsibility of approving Bledsoe’s eligibility, but will hold UK responsible when they discover their own decision was erroneous.
Second, why is this coming out in the press if the NCAA supposedly cannot comment on the issue? Who is releasing the information? It seems to me like the NCAA wants more stones thrown at John Calipari.
Anyway, I guess that doesn’t matter too much now. With 2010 wrapped up, UK news was starting to slow down, but that’s overwith.
Rose on Calipari
One other quick note before I head to a regional track meet at St. X: Derrick Rose spoke with ESPNChicago.com last night and was asked about John Calipari, giving the following answer:
Q: Would you be interested in playing for John Calipari again?
A: No, he’s in a good fit [at Kentucky]. I don’t think he should leave. He could start his legacy there, so I don’t see why he would leave.
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[...] Straitpinkie on the Bledsoe case and the NCAA: I don’t want to sound too much like a UK apologist/homer/defender, but I have a couple qualms here. First, it’s frustrating to me that the NCAA initiates investigations in February, after Bledsoe had already completed an entire semester. What information became available in the eight months after the NCAA originally said Bledsoe was good to go. Again, this is a case where the NCAA assigned itself the responsibility of approving Bledsoe’s eligibility, but will hold UK responsible when they discover their own decision was erroneous. [...]
[...] Straitpinkie on the Bledsoe case and the NCAA: I don’t want to sound too much like a UK apologist/homer/defender, but I have a couple qualms here. First, it’s frustrating to me that the NCAA initiates investigations in February, after Bledsoe had already completed an entire semester. What information became available in the eight months after the NCAA originally said Bledsoe was good to go. Again, this is a case where the NCAA assigned itself the responsibility of approving Bledsoe’s eligibility, but will hold UK responsible when they discover their own decision was erroneous. [...]