SEC recruiting complaint filed against UConn

#1
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RS9999

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Recruiting Questioned

Tennessee Complained About UConn Tactics

By LORI RILEY
Courant Staff Writer

June 23 2007

Tennessee filed a complaint with the Southeastern Conference about UConn's recruiting tactics, a Big East source said Friday. The source couldn't confirm the details of the complaint or the identities of the recruits.

A story in The Day of New London on Thursday said Tennessee complained that former UConn All-Americans Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird gave recruit Maya Moore a ride to the Naismith Awards ceremony in Atlanta in 2006. Tennessee also complained that the family of recruit Elena Delle Donne was given a sign from a fan at the Supershow two years ago, a charge also reported in The Day story. Bird told The Day that she and Taurasi were in Russia at the time of the 2006 Naismith ceremony.

Tennessee coach Pat Summitt ended the UConn-Tennessee series two weeks ago when Tennessee refused to sign a two-year contract extension. Summitt has yet to elaborate on her reasons. Sources have indicated Tennessee's frustration with UConn's recruiting style in landing top players such as Moore may have played a part in the decision.

But an individual familiar with the situation in Knoxville said that the issue goes beyond the recruiting of Moore, a 6-foot-1 forward who made an oral commitment to UConn April 10, 2006, right after winning the Naismith Award as the top high school player in the country.

"It's the body of work," said the source. "Take recruiting out of the equation. Look at everything else by itself. Don't even put recruiting in there. That should give you your answers."

Without knowing the details of each situation, the NCAA would not comment specifically on the complaints addressed in The Day story. But NCAA spokesman Bob Williams said a violation could occur if the players were acting as representatives of the school. If they were not, it would likely not be a violation.

"It depends on the circumstance," Williams said.

The sign situation, he said, also depended on the circumstance, but in general, "a sign someone made is probably not" a violation.

Summitt, who was hospitalized overnight for a fainting episode Thursday, said on June 2 that she would not comment on the reasons for not renewing the series until the schedule is released, likely around mid-August.

Contact Lori Riley at lriley@courant.com.
 
#3
#3
PAT SUMMITT'S REFUSAL TO explain her unilateral decision to end the UConn-Tennessee women's basketball rivalry has prompted many fans and media members to ponder rumor and conjecture as to her reasons.

It has been suggested, for example, that UConn coach Geno Auriemma has engaged in recruiting improprieties, although no specific examples have come forth.

Until now.

Sources at the NCAA, Big East and at UConn have confirmed two primary complaints Summitt lodged with the Southeastern Conference, which have been forwarded to the NCAA:

Complaint No. 1: Former UConn greats Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi allegedly drove recruit Maya Moore to pick up her Naismith Award in Atlanta when Moore was named the nation's top high school player in 2006.

Complaint No. 2: The family of Elena Delle Donne, another highly touted recruit, kept a sign from a UConn fan during the preseason “Supershow” two seasons ago.

Here is what really happened:

Moore, who has since committed to UConn, received the Naismith Award in Atlanta on April 7, 2006 — three days after the national championship game in Boston.

Bird, who has heard the same rumor about her alleged car ride with Taurasi, said she and Taurasi were nowhere near Atlanta at the time. They returned to Moscow to play for Dynamo Moscow, their European team, the day after the national championship game.

“I laughed at it,” Bird said Thursday in a telephone conversation from Minneapolis, where the Storm play the Lynx tonight. “'D' and I came for the Final Four and left the next day. We were on a flight back to Russia to play. We have box scores to prove it.”

The playoffs in the Russian League in which Dynamo Moscow participated that season were played in early April.

Bird also chuckled at Summitt's claim that it's more than coincidence that former UConn players always end up on campus when recruits are visiting.

“I can also speak for Diana on this,” Bird said. “We're very busy. Look, I love Connecticut and I want them to do well. But the last thing we want to do is run into recruits. We have very hectic schedules. A lot of us play in Europe. I barely have time to visit my mom.”

Then Bird paused and said, “And to be honest, that's a lot more important to me than going back to campus.”

The NCAA, meanwhile, barely considered the complaint about the sign given to the Delle Donnes.

“If reporters write in newspapers that recruits are coming to campus and a fan reads that and makes a sign, that's not something that can be policed,” a source at the NCAA said. “We generally don't like the idea of that happening and wouldn't encourage it, but how could you penalize a program because of its popularity?”

So there you have some facts.

And now you know why Summitt isn't talking.

What is there to say?

Her complaint about Bird and Taurasi is a lie.

Her complaint about a sign is beyond petty.

Auriemma, contacted with this information, wouldn't comment, although he is not happy that the UConn-Tennessee rivalry is over.

And it is over not because anybody else on the Tennessee campus wanted it to end. The president of the university, Dr. John D. Petersen, spent 2000 to 2004 as UConn's Chancellor and Provost for University Affairs and was a professor of chemistry.

Do you think he wanted it to end?

How about others in the athletic department, pondering the 25,000 fans who would have attended this year's game?

How about CBS or ESPN?

The UConn-Tennessee rivalry has ended because Auriemma got Maya Moore.

The UConn-Tennessee rivalry has ended because Auriemma has some cachet, a 13-9 record against Tennessee and just might get Delle Donne, too.

And Pat Summitt can't stand it.

Period.

You'll never read this from any national columnists who cover women's basketball because they're all afraid of offending Nurse Ratched.

UConn just learned the penalty for doing so:

You get smeared with recruiting indiscretions without the courtesy of an explanation.

Summitt is too selfish to understand that UConn and Tennessee are good for each other, the way every good story needs a hero and a villain. If you're from Connecticut, the villains wear orange. If you're from Knoxville, the villain is a neatly coifed Italian.

Funny, though, how CBS and ESPN liked women's basketball a whole lot more when they had a protagonist and an antagonist.

Now they have nothing.

And it's Summitt's fault.

For reasons that are equal parts flimsy and petty.

This is the opinion of Day assistant sports editor Mike DiMauro. He may be reached at m.dimauro@theday.com or 701-4391.
 
#9
#9
emainvol said:
geez, we are mean tonight.
Click to expand...

The guy is clearly biased and he makes idiotic assumptions. Suggesting that Pat Summitt doesn't want to play UConn because of Geno's winning record is ridiculous. The Lady Vols consistently play the nation's most difficult schedule. I'm not even a fan of women's basketball and I know that. A guy stuck writing columns about women's basketball shouldn't be so hostile with his writing. He's begging to be ridiculed.
 
#10
#10
RS9999 said:
PAT SUMMITT'S REFUSAL TO explain her unilateral decision to end the UConn-Tennessee women's basketball rivalry has prompted many fans and media members to ponder rumor and conjecture as to her reasons.

It has been suggested, for example, that UConn coach Geno Auriemma has engaged in recruiting improprieties, although no specific examples have come forth.

Until now.

Sources at the NCAA, Big East and at UConn have confirmed two primary complaints Summitt lodged with the Southeastern Conference, which have been forwarded to the NCAA:

Complaint No. 1: Former UConn greats Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi allegedly drove recruit Maya Moore to pick up her Naismith Award in Atlanta when Moore was named the nation's top high school player in 2006.

Complaint No. 2: The family of Elena Delle Donne, another highly touted recruit, kept a sign from a UConn fan during the preseason “Supershow” two seasons ago.

Here is what really happened:

Moore, who has since committed to UConn, received the Naismith Award in Atlanta on April 7, 2006 — three days after the national championship game in Boston.

Bird, who has heard the same rumor about her alleged car ride with Taurasi, said she and Taurasi were nowhere near Atlanta at the time. They returned to Moscow to play for Dynamo Moscow, their European team, the day after the national championship game.

“I laughed at it,” Bird said Thursday in a telephone conversation from Minneapolis, where the Storm play the Lynx tonight. “'D' and I came for the Final Four and left the next day. We were on a flight back to Russia to play. We have box scores to prove it.”

The playoffs in the Russian League in which Dynamo Moscow participated that season were played in early April.

Bird also chuckled at Summitt's claim that it's more than coincidence that former UConn players always end up on campus when recruits are visiting.

“I can also speak for Diana on this,” Bird said. “We're very busy. Look, I love Connecticut and I want them to do well. But the last thing we want to do is run into recruits. We have very hectic schedules. A lot of us play in Europe. I barely have time to visit my mom.”

Then Bird paused and said, “And to be honest, that's a lot more important to me than going back to campus.”

The NCAA, meanwhile, barely considered the complaint about the sign given to the Delle Donnes.

“If reporters write in newspapers that recruits are coming to campus and a fan reads that and makes a sign, that's not something that can be policed,” a source at the NCAA said. “We generally don't like the idea of that happening and wouldn't encourage it, but how could you penalize a program because of its popularity?”

So there you have some facts.

And now you know why Summitt isn't talking.

What is there to say?

Her complaint about Bird and Taurasi is a lie.

Her complaint about a sign is beyond petty.

Auriemma, contacted with this information, wouldn't comment, although he is not happy that the UConn-Tennessee rivalry is over.

And it is over not because anybody else on the Tennessee campus wanted it to end. The president of the university, Dr. John D. Petersen, spent 2000 to 2004 as UConn's Chancellor and Provost for University Affairs and was a professor of chemistry.

Do you think he wanted it to end?

How about others in the athletic department, pondering the 25,000 fans who would have attended this year's game?

How about CBS or ESPN?

The UConn-Tennessee rivalry has ended because Auriemma got Maya Moore.

The UConn-Tennessee rivalry has ended because Auriemma has some cachet, a 13-9 record against Tennessee and just might get Delle Donne, too.

And Pat Summitt can't stand it.

Period.

You'll never read this from any national columnists who cover women's basketball because they're all afraid of offending Nurse Ratched.

UConn just learned the penalty for doing so:

You get smeared with recruiting indiscretions without the courtesy of an explanation.

Summitt is too selfish to understand that UConn and Tennessee are good for each other, the way every good story needs a hero and a villain. If you're from Connecticut, the villains wear orange. If you're from Knoxville, the villain is a neatly coifed Italian.

Funny, though, how CBS and ESPN liked women's basketball a whole lot more when they had a protagonist and an antagonist.

Now they have nothing.

And it's Summitt's fault.

For reasons that are equal parts flimsy and petty.

This is the opinion of Day assistant sports editor Mike DiMauro. He may be reached at m.dimauro@theday.com or 701-4391.
Click to expand...

she's has given us seven national championships and that's really all that matters.
 
#11
#11
bored1.gif
 
#12
#12
RS9999 said:
PAT SUMMITT'S REFUSAL TO explain her unilateral decision to end the UConn-Tennessee women's basketball rivalry has prompted many fans and media members to ponder rumor and conjecture as to her reasons.

It has been suggested, for example, that UConn coach Geno Auriemma has engaged in recruiting improprieties, although no specific examples have come forth.

Until now.

Sources at the NCAA, Big East and at UConn have confirmed two primary complaints Summitt lodged with the Southeastern Conference, which have been forwarded to the NCAA:

Complaint No. 1: Former UConn greats Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi allegedly drove recruit Maya Moore to pick up her Naismith Award in Atlanta when Moore was named the nation's top high school player in 2006.

Complaint No. 2: The family of Elena Delle Donne, another highly touted recruit, kept a sign from a UConn fan during the preseason “Supershow” two seasons ago.

Here is what really happened:

Moore, who has since committed to UConn, received the Naismith Award in Atlanta on April 7, 2006 — three days after the national championship game in Boston.

Bird, who has heard the same rumor about her alleged car ride with Taurasi, said she and Taurasi were nowhere near Atlanta at the time. They returned to Moscow to play for Dynamo Moscow, their European team, the day after the national championship game.

“I laughed at it,” Bird said Thursday in a telephone conversation from Minneapolis, where the Storm play the Lynx tonight. “'D' and I came for the Final Four and left the next day. We were on a flight back to Russia to play. We have box scores to prove it.”

The playoffs in the Russian League in which Dynamo Moscow participated that season were played in early April.

Bird also chuckled at Summitt's claim that it's more than coincidence that former UConn players always end up on campus when recruits are visiting.

“I can also speak for Diana on this,” Bird said. “We're very busy. Look, I love Connecticut and I want them to do well. But the last thing we want to do is run into recruits. We have very hectic schedules. A lot of us play in Europe. I barely have time to visit my mom.”

Then Bird paused and said, “And to be honest, that's a lot more important to me than going back to campus.”

The NCAA, meanwhile, barely considered the complaint about the sign given to the Delle Donnes.

“If reporters write in newspapers that recruits are coming to campus and a fan reads that and makes a sign, that's not something that can be policed,” a source at the NCAA said. “We generally don't like the idea of that happening and wouldn't encourage it, but how could you penalize a program because of its popularity?”

So there you have some facts.

And now you know why Summitt isn't talking.

What is there to say?

Her complaint about Bird and Taurasi is a lie.

Her complaint about a sign is beyond petty.

Auriemma, contacted with this information, wouldn't comment, although he is not happy that the UConn-Tennessee rivalry is over.

And it is over not because anybody else on the Tennessee campus wanted it to end. The president of the university, Dr. John D. Petersen, spent 2000 to 2004 as UConn's Chancellor and Provost for University Affairs and was a professor of chemistry.

Do you think he wanted it to end?

How about others in the athletic department, pondering the 25,000 fans who would have attended this year's game?

How about CBS or ESPN?

The UConn-Tennessee rivalry has ended because Auriemma got Maya Moore.

The UConn-Tennessee rivalry has ended because Auriemma has some cachet, a 13-9 record against Tennessee and just might get Delle Donne, too.

And Pat Summitt can't stand it.

Period.

You'll never read this from any national columnists who cover women's basketball because they're all afraid of offending Nurse Ratched.

UConn just learned the penalty for doing so:

You get smeared with recruiting indiscretions without the courtesy of an explanation.

Summitt is too selfish to understand that UConn and Tennessee are good for each other, the way every good story needs a hero and a villain. If you're from Connecticut, the villains wear orange. If you're from Knoxville, the villain is a neatly coifed Italian.

Funny, though, how CBS and ESPN liked women's basketball a whole lot more when they had a protagonist and an antagonist.

Now they have nothing.

And it's Summitt's fault.

For reasons that are equal parts flimsy and petty.

This is the opinion of Day assistant sports editor Mike DiMauro. He may be reached at m.dimauro@theday.com or 701-4391.
Click to expand...

............definitely weekly wipe material.
 
#14
#14
The stories ran in two CT papers. The question is what happens when National Media picks them up. Does Summit look good or did she just have a bad hair week....
 
#15
#15
"Nurse Ratched?" That's priceless. Mr. DiMauro joins my list of favorite writers with that goring of a sacred cow. Nicely done.
 
#17
#17
If Pat Summit feels that Auriemma is cheating then its a great decision to end the series. The guy just looks dirty......he probably steals from his own mother :p
 
#18
#18
RS9999 said:
The stories ran in two CT papers. The question is what happens when National Media picks them up. Does Summit look good or did she just have a bad hair week....
Click to expand...


Go back to the Boneyard troublemaker.

Mike DiMauro is nothing more than Geno's mouthpiece.

Obviously the writer and this obvious UCONN Fan left out that Andy Landers also turned in UCONN and Geno for Illegal recruiting.

An even bigger question is are you little UCONN fans ever going to quit whiing about UT not playing your pathetic excuse for a coach?

Winning Record? Yeah I guess he does have one built upon the weaklings of WCBB.
Let's look at last year as a typical UCONN and Geno schedule.
1 North Carolina = 103.54
1 North Carolina = 103.54
1 North Carolina = 103.54
2 Tennessee = 103.36
3 Duke = 103.23
4 Connecticut = 99.49
5 LSU =98.27
5 LSU = 98.27
5 LSU = 98.27
6 Rutgers = 96.75
6 Rutgers = 96.75
6 Rutgers = 96.75
6 Rutgers = 96.75
7 Purdue = 96.17
8 Maryland = 95.00
9 Georgia = 94.17
9 Georgia = 94.17
10 Arizona St. = 92.94
11 Oklahoma = 92.90
12 Vanderbilt = 92.64
12 Vanderbilt = 92.64
13 Mississippi = 92.45
13 Mississippi = 92.45
14 Stanford = 91.65
15 Ohio St. = 91.52
16 Middle Tennessee = 90.65
17 Bowling Green = 90.21
18 N.C. St. = 89.99
19 Geo. Washington = 89.96
20 Baylor = 89.27
21 Marquette = 88.63
21 Marquette = 88.63
26 Louisville = 85.94 26 Louisville = 85.94
27 West Virginia = 85.79
27 West Virginia = 85.79
29 Marist = 85.29
30 Pittsburgh = 85.12
30 Pittsburgh = 85.12
31 Notre Dame = 85.09
31 NotreDame = 85.09
35 Kentucky = 84.11
40 South Florida = 83.27
40 South Florida = 83.27
41 Auburn = 83.14
42 Texas = 83.13
48 South Carolina = 82.61
48 South Carolina = 82.61 57 Virginia = 80.72
58 DePaul = 80.67
62 Arkansas = 80.18
68 Mississippi . ST = 78.89
73 Chattanooga = 77.45
78 UCLA = 76.70
82 Seton Hall = 76.38
84 Hartford = 75.92
89 Cincinnati = 74.57
91 Florida = 74.32
104 Louisiana Tech = 73.49
128 Georgetown = 70.77
129 Oakland = 70.76
138 Villanova = 69.95
139 Alabama = 69.86
146 Richmond = 69.37
152 Sacred Heart = 68.68
156 Providence = 68.42
160 St. John's = 68.22
171 Boston U. = 67.31
196 Syracuse = 65.34
200 UMBC = 65.16
201 Tennessee-Martin = 65.06
220 Holy Cross = 63.44
235 Colorado St. = 62.14
303 Colgate = 53.93
Tennessee played SEVENTEEN GAMES vs the top 20 Uconn played SEVEN

Tennessee played THREE GAMES vs below 100 teams UConn played FOURTEEN


Here is the biggest difference between UT and UCONN

To UCONN UT is THE rivalry, to Tennessee UCONN is just another rival added to a long list of rivals. What you UCONN fans are afraid of is since UT no longers plays you that you will slip down in the national scene. IF you can get past the regionals again maybe you'll get a chance at playing UT again.


Let me add this:
ON Feb. 18 2008 Rutgers will visit TBA and take on UT and the 1st Women's Game Day will be at TBA. Too bad UCONN your coach ran his mouth and he also cheats and it has cost you.
 
#20
#20
RS9999 said:
The UConn-Tennessee rivalry has ended because Auriemma got Maya Moore.

The UConn-Tennessee rivalry has ended because Auriemma has some cachet, a 13-9 record against Tennessee and just might get Delle Donne, too.

And Pat Summitt can't stand it.

Period.
Click to expand...

Isn't this MORE conjecture?
 
#21
#21
Vol67 said:
Go back to the Boneyard troublemaker.

Mike DiMauro is nothing more than Geno's mouthpiece.

Obviously the writer and this obvious UCONN Fan left out that Andy Landers also turned in UCONN and Geno for Illegal recruiting.

An even bigger question is are you little UCONN fans ever going to quit whiing about UT not playing your pathetic excuse for a coach?

Winning Record? Yeah I guess he does have one built upon the weaklings of WCBB.
Let's look at last year as a typical UCONN and Geno schedule.
1 North Carolina = 103.54
1 North Carolina = 103.54
1 North Carolina = 103.54
2 Tennessee = 103.36
3 Duke = 103.23
4 Connecticut = 99.49
5 LSU =98.27
5 LSU = 98.27
5 LSU = 98.27
6 Rutgers = 96.75
6 Rutgers = 96.75
6 Rutgers = 96.75
6 Rutgers = 96.75
7 Purdue = 96.17
8 Maryland = 95.00
9 Georgia = 94.17
9 Georgia = 94.17
10 Arizona St. = 92.94
11 Oklahoma = 92.90
12 Vanderbilt = 92.64
12 Vanderbilt = 92.64
13 Mississippi = 92.45
13 Mississippi = 92.45
14 Stanford = 91.65
15 Ohio St. = 91.52
16 Middle Tennessee = 90.65
17 Bowling Green = 90.21
18 N.C. St. = 89.99
19 Geo. Washington = 89.96
20 Baylor = 89.27
21 Marquette = 88.63
21 Marquette = 88.63
26 Louisville = 85.94 26 Louisville = 85.94
27 West Virginia = 85.79
27 West Virginia = 85.79
29 Marist = 85.29
30 Pittsburgh = 85.12
30 Pittsburgh = 85.12
31 Notre Dame = 85.09
31 NotreDame = 85.09
35 Kentucky = 84.11
40 South Florida = 83.27
40 South Florida = 83.27
41 Auburn = 83.14
42 Texas = 83.13
48 South Carolina = 82.61
48 South Carolina = 82.61 57 Virginia = 80.72
58 DePaul = 80.67
62 Arkansas = 80.18
68 Mississippi . ST = 78.89
73 Chattanooga = 77.45
78 UCLA = 76.70
82 Seton Hall = 76.38
84 Hartford = 75.92
89 Cincinnati = 74.57
91 Florida = 74.32
104 Louisiana Tech = 73.49
128 Georgetown = 70.77
129 Oakland = 70.76
138 Villanova = 69.95
139 Alabama = 69.86
146 Richmond = 69.37
152 Sacred Heart = 68.68
156 Providence = 68.42
160 St. John's = 68.22
171 Boston U. = 67.31
196 Syracuse = 65.34
200 UMBC = 65.16
201 Tennessee-Martin = 65.06
220 Holy Cross = 63.44
235 Colorado St. = 62.14
303 Colgate = 53.93
Tennessee played SEVENTEEN GAMES vs the top 20 Uconn played SEVEN

Tennessee played THREE GAMES vs below 100 teams UConn played FOURTEEN


Here is the biggest difference between UT and UCONN

To UCONN UT is THE rivalry, to Tennessee UCONN is just another rival added to a long list of rivals. What you UCONN fans are afraid of is since UT no longers plays you that you will slip down in the national scene. IF you can get past the regionals again maybe you'll get a chance at playing UT again.


Let me add this:
ON Feb. 18 2008 Rutgers will visit TBA and take on UT and the 1st Women's Game Day will be at TBA. Too bad UCONN your coach ran his mouth and he also cheats and it has cost you.
Click to expand...
OK Zona we need to talk, DONT HIGHLITE WITH ORANGE AND BLUE!:)
 
#25
#25
A lift to an awards ceremony and a sign? Blasphemers! High treason, I say!!!

Honestly, is this what passes for recruiting mayhem these days? Pathetic.
 
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