adoniijahsooner
8/22/2009, 06:47 PM
Interesting
http://blog.newsok.com/ou/2009/08/22/florida-state-responds/
Florida State responds
Posted by Jake Trotteron August 22, 2009 at 12:28 pm Friday evening, Florida State University officials responded to The Oklahoman’s report that, according to court documents found in Mike Balogun’s lawsuit against the NCAA, FSU was responsible for notifying Big 12 and OU officials about Balogun’s semi-pro past.
Here’s what the statement said:
In response to erroneous media reports, Florida State University athletics would like to clarify its conversation with Oklahoma University as it pertains to the eligibility of Sooners linebacker Mike Balogun.
Florida State’s compliance office did contact the Oklahoma University compliance office after learning that Balogun had played in a semi-pro football league while watching the Jan. 9, 2009 television broadcast of the Bowl Championship Series national championship game.
“The purpose of the inquiry to Oklahoma University was to gather information regarding a similar eligibility case involving former Florida State wide receiver Corey Surrency,” said Brian Battle, FSU Associate Athletic Director for Compliance. “Florida State’s compliance office did not contact the Big 12 or the NCAA.”
Surrency, who also played in a semi-pro football league beyond his 21st birthday, was denied a second year of eligibility by the NCAA following the school’s appeal on April 28, 2009.
“There was no ill intention on our part,” Battle said. “It was merely a fact-finding phone call, made only to the Oklahoma University compliance office. This is a very common practice amongst compliance offices with this type of complex situation.”
That statement, however, doesn’t match up with a letter (and other documentation found in Balogun’s lawsuit) written to the NCAA by Oklahoma’s compliance department, which, among other documentation, was part of the basis of The Oklahoman reporting that court documents alleged Florida State had contact with the Big 12 regarding Balogun.
MEMORANDUM
TO: NCAA Amateurism Department, Stephen Webb
FROM: Athletics Compliance Department— University of Oklahoma
DATE: March 6, 2009
SUBJECT: Ademola “Mike” Balogun
As you are aware, the University. of Oklahoma (“University”) football team played In the BCS National Championship on January 8, 2009. During the broadcast of said game, the announcers made the comment that Ademola “Mike” Balogun, the University’s starting linebacker, played semi-pro football prior to his enrollment in junior college and prior to Mike’s enrollment at the University. The following day. January 9, 2009, the University of Oklahoma Athletic Compliance Department (“Department”) received an e-mail from a member of the Big 12 Conference staff requesting information regarding Mike’s season of competition as well as his competitive history (See Exhibit 1). The Department responded with a detailed analysis outlining its knowledge (and previous investigation) of Mike’s participation in the National American Football League (“NAFL”), the NCM’s inquiry into the same and the resulting classification by the NCAA of Mike as a junior with one year of eligibility remaining (See Exhibit 2). In response to the information provided, the Big 12 was satisfied with the University’s Investigation into this matter (See Exhibit 3).
The Department thereafter received a phone call from Florida State’s (“FSU”) Compliance Department, During the phone call, it became evident that FSU had seen the broadcast and inquired of the Big 12 to investigate the matter. The FSU Compliance Department stated that they were aware of a box score on the internet that reflected that Mike played after his 21st birthday.
The Department’s. response was that we were aware of the box score; however, based on our prior investigation the box score was incorrect. Regardless, the Department decided to again investigate the matter.
The Department contacted Dennis Felton, a former assistant coach for the Maryland Marauders, who stated that he thought that Mike played during the 2004, 2005 and 2006 seasons; therefore, it is conceivable, if Dennis’s memory is correct, that Mike played organized football after Mike’s 2IY birthday.
The purpose of this Memorandum (and supporting documentation) is to present this matter to the NCAA Amateurism Department to ensure that the University and the NCAA are aligned in their understanding of Mike’s amateur status and current classification (“junior”). The University’s position (classification) In this matter is based on the investigation the NCAA conducted related to Mike’s certification, the Department’s investigation into Mike’s participation in the NAFL, which Includes a conversation with Terry Sullivan, the former Commissioner of the NAFL (See Exhibit 4 and Exhibit 5), investigation/conversations with Mike Balogun, the Department’s conversations with John Shukie (See Exhibits) at the NCAA, and the sworn affidavits from Mike Balogun and Gary Rice, the owner of the Maryland Marauders from 2003-2005 (See Exhibit land 8).
We, at the University of Oklahoma, are fully aware of our NCAA requirements and want to take every opportunity available to ensure that we do not violate any NCAA rules and regulations. Though we feel that you will reach the same conclusion that we have in regards to Mike’s classification, we are sending you this information and request that you review the same. If you have any questions, comments or need any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
As one can see, the reporting of the Balogun story matches up with the contents of this letter, which alleges that FSU “inquired of the Big 12 to investigate the matter.”
Florida State officials may be telling the truth, that no one from their office contacted the Big 12.
But this letter suggests otherwise.
http://blog.newsok.com/ou/2009/08/22/florida-state-responds/
Florida State responds
Posted by Jake Trotteron August 22, 2009 at 12:28 pm Friday evening, Florida State University officials responded to The Oklahoman’s report that, according to court documents found in Mike Balogun’s lawsuit against the NCAA, FSU was responsible for notifying Big 12 and OU officials about Balogun’s semi-pro past.
Here’s what the statement said:
In response to erroneous media reports, Florida State University athletics would like to clarify its conversation with Oklahoma University as it pertains to the eligibility of Sooners linebacker Mike Balogun.
Florida State’s compliance office did contact the Oklahoma University compliance office after learning that Balogun had played in a semi-pro football league while watching the Jan. 9, 2009 television broadcast of the Bowl Championship Series national championship game.
“The purpose of the inquiry to Oklahoma University was to gather information regarding a similar eligibility case involving former Florida State wide receiver Corey Surrency,” said Brian Battle, FSU Associate Athletic Director for Compliance. “Florida State’s compliance office did not contact the Big 12 or the NCAA.”
Surrency, who also played in a semi-pro football league beyond his 21st birthday, was denied a second year of eligibility by the NCAA following the school’s appeal on April 28, 2009.
“There was no ill intention on our part,” Battle said. “It was merely a fact-finding phone call, made only to the Oklahoma University compliance office. This is a very common practice amongst compliance offices with this type of complex situation.”
That statement, however, doesn’t match up with a letter (and other documentation found in Balogun’s lawsuit) written to the NCAA by Oklahoma’s compliance department, which, among other documentation, was part of the basis of The Oklahoman reporting that court documents alleged Florida State had contact with the Big 12 regarding Balogun.
MEMORANDUM
TO: NCAA Amateurism Department, Stephen Webb
FROM: Athletics Compliance Department— University of Oklahoma
DATE: March 6, 2009
SUBJECT: Ademola “Mike” Balogun
As you are aware, the University. of Oklahoma (“University”) football team played In the BCS National Championship on January 8, 2009. During the broadcast of said game, the announcers made the comment that Ademola “Mike” Balogun, the University’s starting linebacker, played semi-pro football prior to his enrollment in junior college and prior to Mike’s enrollment at the University. The following day. January 9, 2009, the University of Oklahoma Athletic Compliance Department (“Department”) received an e-mail from a member of the Big 12 Conference staff requesting information regarding Mike’s season of competition as well as his competitive history (See Exhibit 1). The Department responded with a detailed analysis outlining its knowledge (and previous investigation) of Mike’s participation in the National American Football League (“NAFL”), the NCM’s inquiry into the same and the resulting classification by the NCAA of Mike as a junior with one year of eligibility remaining (See Exhibit 2). In response to the information provided, the Big 12 was satisfied with the University’s Investigation into this matter (See Exhibit 3).
The Department thereafter received a phone call from Florida State’s (“FSU”) Compliance Department, During the phone call, it became evident that FSU had seen the broadcast and inquired of the Big 12 to investigate the matter. The FSU Compliance Department stated that they were aware of a box score on the internet that reflected that Mike played after his 21st birthday.
The Department’s. response was that we were aware of the box score; however, based on our prior investigation the box score was incorrect. Regardless, the Department decided to again investigate the matter.
The Department contacted Dennis Felton, a former assistant coach for the Maryland Marauders, who stated that he thought that Mike played during the 2004, 2005 and 2006 seasons; therefore, it is conceivable, if Dennis’s memory is correct, that Mike played organized football after Mike’s 2IY birthday.
The purpose of this Memorandum (and supporting documentation) is to present this matter to the NCAA Amateurism Department to ensure that the University and the NCAA are aligned in their understanding of Mike’s amateur status and current classification (“junior”). The University’s position (classification) In this matter is based on the investigation the NCAA conducted related to Mike’s certification, the Department’s investigation into Mike’s participation in the NAFL, which Includes a conversation with Terry Sullivan, the former Commissioner of the NAFL (See Exhibit 4 and Exhibit 5), investigation/conversations with Mike Balogun, the Department’s conversations with John Shukie (See Exhibits) at the NCAA, and the sworn affidavits from Mike Balogun and Gary Rice, the owner of the Maryland Marauders from 2003-2005 (See Exhibit land 8).
We, at the University of Oklahoma, are fully aware of our NCAA requirements and want to take every opportunity available to ensure that we do not violate any NCAA rules and regulations. Though we feel that you will reach the same conclusion that we have in regards to Mike’s classification, we are sending you this information and request that you review the same. If you have any questions, comments or need any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
As one can see, the reporting of the Balogun story matches up with the contents of this letter, which alleges that FSU “inquired of the Big 12 to investigate the matter.”
Florida State officials may be telling the truth, that no one from their office contacted the Big 12.
But this letter suggests otherwise.