UConn women's basketball

Both ESPN and the Knoxville News Sentinel ran stories on their respective websites Friday night regarding the 34-page document that Tennessee sent to the SEC in 2006 highlighting what it believed was improper recruiting tactics being by employed UConn. The News Sentinel ran a more extensive piece in today’s edition as well. The information was released Friday after The News Sentinel has put in a request through the Freedom of Information Act.

Here’s the letter from Tennessee athletic director Joan C. Cronan to SEC commissioner Mike Slive – dated July 27, 2006 – that triggered what has evolved into an ugly situation between the programs:

“From time to time we have encountered situations related to the University of Connecticut’s women’s basketball program that would seem to be a violation of the rules. On occasion, we have called the compliance office at Connecticut to determine how they do some of the things we had questions about – in hopes that we could do the same thing – only to be told they would get back to us, which never occurred.
After consultation with Dr. Petersen, I am providing the attached information in hopes that the SEC Office will forward this to the Big East staff for investigation. In addition, please know that we are prepared to forward this information directly to the NCAA, but prefer to remain anonymous if possible.
This information comes as a result of discussion among basketball coaches at the SEC spring meeting, information shared by AAU and High School coaches, prospective-student-athletes, as well as numerous other individuals.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.’’

Page 3 included these bullet points regarding the Supershow at Gampel Pavilion in 2005 and that particular weekend.
“During the first day of practice (during the ESPN Super Show) the following event seem to have
occurred:
– Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird served as recruiters for the team (They actually served as emcees for the event.)
– Media interviewed the prospects at practice
– Fans had signed directed at the prospects, clearly aware who would be present
– Fans gave prospect’s parents the signs they had made for their daughters
– Bird and Taurasi allegedly served as hostesses for the prospects
– (Name redacted), a prospective student-athlete told her AAU coach that Taurasi and Bird met her at the door upon arrival and escorted her to the coaches office.
– (Name redacted), a prospective student-athlete, had a visit to ESPN — arranged by UCONN — to talk about the possibility of an internship at ESPN. It appears as if no one at UConn provided transportation for the ESPN visit, but the prospective student-athlete did not know anyone at ESPN prior to the visit.
– Reportedly, former UConn players are allowed to practice with the team on a regular, rather than occasional, basis. This is widely known as the former players who are now in the WNBA talk about it with other WNBA players on a regular basis. Those other players do not understand how the former UConn players are allowed to practice on a regular basis with their former team when they cannot. When asked about this issue, the UConn compliance staff has repeatedly either denied or failed to respond as to how this is allowed.

Three newspaper articles, numerous pictures of UConn holding signs and a letter from Tennessee Senior Associate Athletics Director Donna Thomas to Greg Sankey of the SEC follow before it finishes with 18 pages of banter from The Boneyard, which is arguably the nation’s leading Internet fan site in the sport.
The entire document can be found at www.knoxnews.com.

A few things entered by mind after I read the stories and perused the documents this morning. For starters, Tennessee is in dire need of a good supply of soft, cotton, crying towels. Summitt and Co. must be sad as heck to learn that their bizarre smear campaign netted only a secondary violation for arranging a free tour of ESPN for All-American Maya Moore and her mother Kathyrn, in October of 2005. It is merely a light slap on the wrist, the kind that would be hard-pressed even leave a blemish. A note has been subsequently placed in UConn’s file.
UConn athletic director Jeff Hathaway had this to say in a statement Friday: “The allegations received from the SEC produced only one highly publicized result. The NCAA and UConn both consider the matter closed and that has been shared with the SEC.’’

The next thing that comes to mind is that Summitt and Co. needs a good shrink. To put that much time and effort into trying to tarnish a program that is held in such high regard nationally in ludicrous. Reading newspaper articles, checking out Internet message boards and interviewing players about what goes on at UConn? In the real world, that is basically stalking. Geno and the Huskies need to file an order of protection immediately. Summitt is a Hall of Famer who has won eight national championships and has more wins than any other coach. This is the type of stuff she resorts too, including canceling the regular season series between the teams, when she loses a few high school All-Americans to her biggest rival and can’t stand it’s head coach? Come on.

Next, this crusade to virtually nowhere proves once and for all that Summitt is considerably envious of the relationship that Geno has with his former players. They come back to visit him whenever they get a chance. No matter how long ago they played for him, they make it back. Kris Lamb, who graduated in 1990, was in the seats behind the bench at the regional final in Greensboro last month. Why do they come back? Not to recruit players to come to UConn. It’s because they like to. They are grateful for the opportunity that was afforded them by Geno during their career and thankful for what he taught them about life and about being well-rounded, respectful young women. They come to sit in his office and talk about life. They take him to dinner. And they flocked to his Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Springfield in 2006.
Geno does it the right way. And while they might not think so during practice, the players certainly realize the impact he’s had once they move on in their lives.
How’s this for a ringing endorsement for your program. Candace Parker once told Caroline Doty during her recruiting visit that she would never have a close relationship with Pat Summitt if she opted to attend Tennessee. This comes from one of the most talented players ever. Would you go to Tennessee or would you go to UConn where Geno is revered as a father figure and a coach who only wants to extract the best from every one of his players every single day.
Doty was the first of three players that Summitt has recently lost to UConn, joining Moore and Elena Delle Donne. And it wasn’t because of any dirty recruiting. It was because of the bond they developed with Geno and their future teammates throughout the recruiting process.
“I have a bond with the players and I really noticed how close the team was to one another,’’ Delle Donne said last August. “They act as a family, which truly comforts me knowing I will be away from home and my family. These players also compliment my strengths and weaknesses. That was a huge part of my decision making in this process.
“And the final main thing is Geno. How can I even describe the bond I have been able to create with him through this recruiting process. He and (associate head coach) Chris Dailey have been incredible through this process and it is so very important to me to have coaches that I will be able to connect with and be comfortable with for four years. Not only are they great people, but also incredible coaches and I know that I will learn so much from them, which is very important to me.’’
Maya said this in April of 2006: “I eventually just found out that Connecticut was where I was supposed to be as far as the school and the team and everything about Connecticut. I really liked the program. I can really see myself doing great things with the players that are there and the coaching staff. It’s just a really great basketball environment and I think I can really do well at the school too. I’m very excited.’’

And lastly, how ironic is it that the document was released three days after Geno publicly called out Summitt for her role in axing a series that had been running since 1995? “She accused us of cheating at recruiting. She doesn’t have the courage to say it publicly,’’ Geno said. Summitt had no comment on those remarks or others Geno made. She also would not comment on the release of the document. It’s become a tired act. She likes to throw stones. When will she stand up and be held accountable for every stone she’s tossed in the direction of the Huskies?
Then again, with only a secondary violation to show for all of the time and effort put into an attempt to degrade UConn, I wouldn’t be talking either.

Rich