I have restrained from saying anything on this until now. First of all, the NCAA investigation is still ongoing, I don't even think that Pitino has been interviewed yet. So, the entire truth plus if there any more violations and what they could be still to come. I am certainly not going to celebrate the penalties and/if there are any more to come. U.K. has been on probation before and it's not fun.

Having said that, just as the probation/penalties on U.K. years ago were serious and deserved (questionable on the length/duration but deserved stiff penalty) - so are these against the U.L. program and administration ... Both ! I obviously have no proof that Pitino did know about the strippers /hookers hired by an asst. coach but I just cannot believe that he knew nothing. To me anyway, he would have had to have known, if by no other way then by talk/word of mouth. A young kid / recruit is not going to keep that kind of thing quiet whether or not he was told to do so. Young boys would talk / brag to someone if not everyone they know about that subject, lol. "IF" Pitino is telling the truth then he is absolutely guilty of No Control over his program, players or coaches.

Also ... Pitino, the AD and university president with the two or three different stories being told by each ... one, two or all of them are lying and if / when you lie about something then seems to me that is admitting guilt of either knowing, being involved, trying to cover up or all of the above. Of course, running a cat house for young boys / college students is not exactly an admirable quality so they are in the CYA mode by anyway they can.

Also, that statement yesterday by Pitino about the university should be financially sanctioned / fined instead of the team / basketball program is a joke. ...."o.k., we did wrong but for Gods sake fine the school, don't make us pay". That's about as narcissistic as gets. A coach of a program under investigation on some extremely serious charges both institutionally and morally telling the NCAA what kind of penalty to enforce ? Jeez Rick ! I realize that the current players weren't guilty and life sometimes isn't fair, but the coach, AD certainly were and the basketball program should be held accountable.

Anyway, I know this is long but I didn't want to put multiple post on it so there are my thoughts on it until the final decision by the NCAA comes out.

I don't believe they didn't know. You have a big time coach, at a big time program. The coach is a notorious control freak. And then an assistant coach hires hookers to sleep with recruits. Out of nowhere? Totally on his own? The recruiting is totally above-board right up until some assistant decides out of the blue to hire hookers?

 

Finally, you can measure the character of those involved by these penalties. In an effort to avoid penalties that they will feel, the put the penalty on the players. Pitino can act mad about this, but he is doing it while hiding behind the players.

Really think the back story to the self-imposed post season penalty is obvious to me. Pitino (knowing, or not) is 100% responsible for this travesty. He is being thrown under the bus (which is where he belongs) and will be gone from U.L. By season's end. Ramsey and Jurich have now seen enough ugliness from the investigation that Pitino needs to be punished, and thus the post-season penalty this year. If it was on next year, Pitino rides off into the sunset untouched, other than another crack in his moral rep. Jurich will skate with any future blems terminal. Ramsey has other problems, and he had no choice but to act Presidential in this matter.

 

If NCAA does not come down harder, a quality coach will be attracted and perhaps recruits will go on as reasonably normal. IMO. NCAA would tarnish themselves if they don't go heavy on a school running a brothel for recruits and players.

Really think the back story to the self-imposed post season penalty is obvious to me. Pitino (knowing, or not) is 100% responsible for this travesty. He is being thrown under the bus (which is where he belongs) and will be gone from U.L. By season's end. Ramsey and Jurich have now seen enough ugliness from the investigation that Pitino needs to be punished, and thus the post-season penalty this year. If it was on next year, Pitino rides off into the sunset untouched, other than another crack in his moral rep. Jurich will skate with any future blems terminal. Ramsey has other problems, and he had no choice but to act Presidential in this matter.

If NCAA does not come down harder, a quality coach will be attracted and perhaps recruits will go on as reasonably normal. IMO. NCAA would tarnish themselves if they don't go heavy on a school running a brothel for recruits and players.

 

I literally love that this is what concerns you. At least you’re honest. :lol2:

NCAA set to make formal Notice of Allegations this week.

 

Still not expecting full hearing or potential punishment until after this season.

Joke

I guess Im ready for this.

I guess Im ready for this.

 

I am.

 

I'm ready to get the NOA and get one step closer to this being behind us, regardless of what that outcome means.

I am.

 

I'm ready to get the NOA and get one step closer to this being behind us, regardless of what that outcome means.

 

Don't blame you. It would be really annoying to have this constantly hanging over the program's head.

University received notice of allegations this morning.

 

NCAA doesn't hit UofL with either "lack of institutional control" or "lack of head coach control" which would have been very, very bad, but they do find that Pitino "failed to monitor" McGee and three other Level 1 violations.

 

Press conference with Pinto, Pitino, and Jurich at noon today.

Still want to see the full report for myself but WDRB News says the NCAA found that the value of the "impermissible benefits" was $5,400.

 

Something about that is very funny to me and says a lot about the way the NCAA viewed this investigation.

I'll say Pitino will get hit with a 9 game suspension (much like Larry Brown & Boeheim).

Initial reaction: nothing is surprising and no penalties directly laid at the feet of the institution. Frankly, this looks like the best possible result for Louisville. The lack of surprises tells me that hiring Chuck Smrt to do a concurrent investigation was worth every penny to the university.

I'll say Pitino will get hit with a 9 game suspension (much like Larry Brown & Boeheim).

 

Agreed. UofL says that "failure to monitor" McGee is the one allegation they're going to contest so it likely won't be until next year that he serves it.

Initial reaction: nothing is surprising and no penalties directly laid at the feet of the institution. Frankly, this looks like the best possible result for Louisville. The lack of surprises tells me that hiring Chuck Smrt to do a concurrent investigation was worth every penny to the university.

 

Louisville skates on this, I'm not sure how players aren't ruled ineligible since benefits were received. It sounds like Rick will get slapped a little and that will be it.