In an unusual about-face, the University of Cincinnati told the NCAA on Monday that many of the improprieties uncovered in coach Bob Huggins’ basketball program were not rules violations after all.
The university put itself on one year’s probation–temporarily limiting recruiting–and told the NCAA it has corrected the problems that culminated in a manager fired, an assistant coach put on paid leave and numerous players suspended.
The NCAA alleged a lack of institutional control over Huggins’ program in its letter of inquiry on May 5. The university responded on Monday by disputing many of the allegations, sometimes changing its position on whether actions amounted to violations.
Auto racing: Connie Kowal, director of special events and community relations with the Cubs, has been named vice president of marketing and broadcasting for the new Chicago Motor Speedway at Sportsman’s Park. Kowal has 19 years of experience as a Chicago sports executive, the last 14 with the Cubs.
Football: J. Bruce Llewellyn, the soda-bottling magnate who hoped to become the first black owner of an NFL team, will undergo serious surgery Tuesday and won’t make a bid for the Minnesota Vikings this week.
– Less than a year after it was revealed he had the same lethal neuromuscular disease that killed Lou Gehrig, former Houston Oilers defensive lineman Glenn Montgomery has died. He was 31.
Hockey: Pierre Gauthier, the most successful general manager in the brief history of the Ottawa Senators, resigned to move back to California with his wife and two children.
Softball: DePaul’s Eugene Lenti has been named the Mideast Region Coach of the Year as well as Mid-Continent Coach of the Year after leading the Blue Demons to a 47-8 record and a spot in the NCAA regional finals.
