Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 9, 1991 TAG: 9102090285
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SYRACUSE, N.Y. LENGTH: Medium
School spokesman Robert Hill said the "infractions vary from player to player," but he refused to elaborate.
NCAA spokesman Jim Marchiony said Syracuse followed NCAA rules in making the suspensions and then appealing to the NCAA's eligibility staff for reinstatement, and "that action warranted immediate restoration of the players' eligibility."
The eligibility staff is separate from the infractions committee, a five-member group that hears evidence on possible violations and renders decisions on sanctions.
Also declared ineligible were senior center LeRon Ellis, junior forward Dave Johnson, sophomore guards Michael Edwards and Mike Hopkins, sophomore forward Dave Siock and senior walk-on Chandu Carey.
Owens, Johnson, Ellis and Edwards are starters. Owens is averaging 23 points and 11 rebounds a game, Johnson 20 points a game and Ellis 11 points and 7.7 rebounds.
The suspended players were left behind when the Syracuse team left Friday for a game on Saturday at Notre Dame. Upon their reinstatement, they boarded a plane to rejoin the team.
"It was a very troublesome situation, a very nervous situation for all of us," Hill said. "We're glad this part of it is over and that the team is able to go. We expect them to play with vigor."
Only three scholarship players made the trip to South Bend with Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim: freshman guards Adrian Autry, the lone remaining starter, and Scott McCorkle, and sophomore center Conrad McRae. Also along were walk-ons Brad Small, Vinnie Cohen and Todd Barlok, who have a combined 30 minutes and 14 points.
Boeheim, who conducted a practice session without his top players Friday afternoon, said he was unaware that the suspensions and reinstatements apparently are routine NCAA transactions.
"I didn't know that. I was ready to go with three football players, three walk-ons, the two freshman and McRae," Boeheim said. "It's been a crazy 24 hours. It's been going on for the last couple of days. . . .
"You have to learn to handle these things, you have to learn to face adversity, and that's what we're trying to get the players to understand, that if you take the appropriate measures, hopefully it will all turn out."
The school began its probe after the Syracuse Post-Standard published a series of articles in December, alleging that Syracuse might have broken several NCAA rules, such as allowing players to receive merchandise, cut-rate use of cars and even cash gifts from boosters.
Hill said the investigation turned up some things in the past week, but didn't elaborate further.
The Syracuse newspaper had reported that a network of booster families supported basketball players in Syracuse.
On Wednesday, Hill said the university's investigation would include a look into allegations that Johnson and Hopkins lived at the home of basketball booster Joseph Giannuzzi.
"The issue of the possibility of NCAA violations concerning those basketball players and that family is under investigation," Hill said. "We need to know more about that."
Johnson had told the newspaper in December that he was friends with the Giannuzzis but never lived in their house.
by CNB