Infractions appeal back in OU's hands
The University of Oklahoma has until Oct. 30 to file its latest rebuttal in the NCAA infractions case surrounding extra benefits received by former starting quarterback Rhett Bomar and offensive lineman J.D. Quinn.
Oklahoma, appealing the NCAA Committee on Infractions' decision to strip the school of eight victories in which Rhett Bomar and Quinn participated during the 2005 season, received word from the NCAA this week that the infractions committee had responded to the university's appeal.
In a letter dated Monday, NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee chairman Christopher L. Griffin informed university legal counsel Joseph Harroz Jr. that he'd requested the infractions committee's response be posted on a Web-based custodial system for the university to view and provide a response.
The Associated Press received a copy of the letter Friday through an open records request.
The NCAA acknowledged receiving Oklahoma's appeal more than a month ago. In a letter dated Sept. 11, Griffin wrote that attorney Robin Green Harris of the law firm Ice Miller had submitted the university's written appeal.
In its notice that it intended to appeal, Oklahoma objected to a "failure to monitor" finding and having its wins from an 8-4 season in 2005 taken away.
The university has stated it would not challenge other penalties in the case, which was the result of Rhett Bomar and Quinn receiving extra pay for work they did not do at a Norman car dealership. Oklahoma's probation from a case involving former basketball coach Kelvin Sampson was extended by two years, two football scholarships were cut and recruiting time was also reduced.
Rhett Bomar and Quinn were both dismissed from the team and ordered by the NCAA to pay back thousands of dollars in extra benefits to charities.
Earlier this month, the NCAA informed Oklahoma that it had approved its report on improvements to the compliance department that included the hiring of additional staff, more rules education through newly created newsletters, additional monitoring software and a centralization of the department. The report was requested by the NCAA following the football infractions case.
Once the university and the infractions committee have finished exchanging rebuttals in the case, the appeals committee will make a ruling. Oklahoma did not request a hearing in person before the appellate panel.
The No. 4 Sooners (6-1, 2-1 Big 12) play Iowa State on Saturday.
Oklahoma also has reported new secondary violations, including exceeding a 20-hour practice week during their preparations for a Friday night game at Tulsa in September. Instead of giving players their usual day off on the Sunday before the game, the Sooners practiced for three hours.
The NCAA counted the practice session toward the end of the previous week, when the Sooners had already practiced Monday through Friday, and that pushed Oklahoma to 22 hours of practice for the week. Oklahoma had intended for the practice to count toward the following week, when players were given off the Saturday and Sunday after the game.
The football staff also reported secondary violations that occurred when:
--One impermissible call apiece was made to two walk-on players.
--One impermissible call was made to a junior in high school.
--A former player was given apparel to distribute to friends and family.
--A current football player received a ticket to a pro basketball game from a barber.
Other secondary violations reported by the university include violations by the women's golf, women's tennis, softball and track teams.
The documents released Friday also included an exchange between the university and the NCAA about two student-athletes who attempted to transfer to Oklahoma but were turned away after the university discovered they had allegedly tried to gain hardship waivers by altering information on their former school's Web site.
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