Cal Men's Basketball Put On Two Years Probation, Still Postseason Eligible

by Avinash Kunnath on Feb 25, 2011 1:46 PM PST in California Golden Bears Men's Basketball

Jeff Faraudo of the Contra Costa Times is all over the story. This is referring to the previously reported story regarding the hundreds of phone calls made by the coaching staff to recruits (and the countless thousands others of calls made by "anonymous") upon the arrival of Mike Montgomery to Berkeley in 2008. Monty and the Cal coaching staff self-reported the violations and made the appropriate self-corrections, thus decreasing the stiffness of the penalties.

Here are the penalties.

PROBATION DOES NOT MEAN ANY FORM OF POSTSEASON BAN. It just means Cal needs to keep the program clean, or we won't be so lucky the next time.
(I'm sure now that the above statement has been cleared, 95% of you no longer care about the rest of the punishments, but moving on.)
Only five athletes can make official paid visits (which will be a decrease from the outrageous average of 5 3/4 athletes that make paid visits on average the past five years dating back to Ben Braun)
An unnamed assistant coach cannot contact any high school prospects for a 90 day period after Cal likely declines their appeal for these penalties. Montgomery and the other assistants have already served university penalties.
Cal must inform recruits of these penalties. So recruits, if you're reading this, we've been penalized, and this won't affect you in any way shape or form, unless you're that 3/4th of an athlete who will no longer be able to enjoy the splendor of Memorial Glade on the campus's dime.
Montgomery and the two assistants involved must attend an NCAA regional rules seminar in 2011. And the university has to do some internal monitoring of policies regarding recruit contact, which I think is similar to sensitivity training in the workplace.

To read the official report from the NCAA, click here for the PDF. For reaction from Sandy Barbour and Mike Montgomery, go to CalBears.com.

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What I’m not clear about all this is, what exactly was the violation? Clearly, these phone calls contravened the rules somehow, but in which way?

Was it that there were too many calls? Were they not made at the right time? Were they not made by the right people? What exactly is the rule?

California Golden Bears: 2nd place is nothing to sneeze at!

by atomsareenough on Feb 25, 2011 1:55 PM PST reply actions

Probably the number of calls at one time. There are certain periods where you have infinite calls and certain periods where you have limited contact with recruits. I’m guessing this straddled the latter.

I’m guessing Monty was struggling trying to find recruits for the 09 class, he decided this was the best course of action, and he had to pay the price here.

Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com

by Avinash Kunnath on Feb 25, 2011 2:01 PM PST up reply actions

From the ESPN story, I got the impression that some of these impermissible calls were calls that were made after a call was dropped. Calling back after a call was dropped is technically a separate call.

Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.

by Ohio Bear on Feb 25, 2011 2:05 PM PST up reply actions

ah, here it is in the report

The men’s basketball coaching staff made approximately 184 calls in violation of the NCAA one-call-per-month rule, 129 calls in violation of the NCAA two-calls-per-week rule and 46 calls in violation of the NCAA one-call-per-week rule.

California Golden Bears: 2nd place is nothing to sneeze at!

by atomsareenough on Feb 25, 2011 2:02 PM PST up reply actions

actually, people should read the report. it gives a lot more context.

California Golden Bears: 2nd place is nothing to sneeze at!

by atomsareenough on Feb 25, 2011 2:04 PM PST up reply actions

It actually doesn't make it sound that bad

For instance, calling a guy who has already verbally committed to your school? The gall!

Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.

by Ohio Bear on Feb 25, 2011 2:06 PM PST up reply actions

wait, how can there be a one call per week rule AND a two call per week rule?

by YleeXOtee on Feb 25, 2011 5:09 PM PST up reply actions

They apply to different categories of athletes? Looks like the 2-calls-per-week rule is for normal high school senior prospects. The 1-call-per-week rule might apply to JC transfer prospects? I’m not sure when the 1-call-per-month rule applies.

California Golden Bears: 2nd place is nothing to sneeze at!

by atomsareenough on Feb 25, 2011 7:25 PM PST up reply actions

I haven’t checked the rule, but I think it’s different times of the year in the recruiting process.

Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.

by Ohio Bear on Feb 26, 2011 5:08 AM PST up reply actions

From the NCAA report

a. From May 19 through October 24, 2008, assistant coach A made 111 telephone calls in violation of the NCAA one-call-per-month rule, 57 telephone calls in violation of the NCAA two-calls-per-week rule and 42 telephone calls in violation of the NCAA one-call-per-week rule.
Furthermore, assistant coach A made two telephone calls to a four-year college prospective student-athlete prior to obtaining written permission from his institution.

b. From April 8 through September 28, 2008, assistant coach B made 56 telephone calls in violation of the NCAA one-call-per-month rule, 50 calls in violation of the NCAA two-calls-per-week rule and one impermissible call prior to June 15 of the prospective student-athlete’s sophomore year in high school.

c. From May 22 through October 20, 2008, another assistant men’s basketball coach made 14 telephone calls in violation of the NCAA one call-per-month rule, six calls in violation of the NCAA two-calls-per-week rule and two impermissible calls prior to June 15 of the prospective
student-athlete’s sophomore year in high school.

d. From June 9 through October 10, 2008, the head coach made three telephone calls in violation of the NCAA one-call-per-month rule, 16 telephone calls in violation of the NCAA two-calls-per-week rule and four telephone calls in violation of the NCAA one-call-per-week rule.

Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.

by Ohio Bear on Feb 25, 2011 2:03 PM PST up reply actions

We’re still better than USC, where Kiffin is now looking down the barrel of a 26 page NCAA document for his actions at Tennessee.

by Joe Bandsmen on Feb 25, 2011 2:08 PM PST reply actions

Jay Bilas is en fuego on his Twitter

He’s mocking the NCAA

Cal cheerleaders: “It’s hot, It’s hot, it’s hot in here; there must be COMPLIANCE in the ATMOSPHERE!!” Monty to hire only Amish assistants.
10 minutes ago via web

Tree Huggers in Berkeley must be fuming. Cal using the telephone and affecting the Bay Area’s Atmosphere of Compliance. NCAA now, EPA next.
28 minutes ago via web .

Cal on probation for using the telephone to communicate with recruits about a scholarship to a top ten institution. Miscreants.
33 minutes ago via web

Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.

by Ohio Bear on Feb 25, 2011 2:08 PM PST reply actions

I usually don't like Dukies

But Bilas’s smug attitude seems to pan out well here.

Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com

by Avinash Kunnath on Feb 25, 2011 2:17 PM PST up reply actions

Heh. Miscreants.

I'm thinking of having a little party down in Newport.

by SoCal Oski on Feb 25, 2011 2:29 PM PST up reply actions

Montgomery and the two assistants involved must attend an NCAA regional rules seminar in 2011. And the university has to do some internal monitoring of policies regarding recruit contact, which I think is similar to sensitivity training in the workplace.

Oh god. The punishment is far worse than the crime!

I'm thinking of having a little party down in Newport.

by SoCal Oski on Feb 25, 2011 2:28 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

Was Gary Franklin that “3/4th of an athlete” that visited us last year?

…too soon?

"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"

by CruzinBears on Feb 25, 2011 2:59 PM PST reply actions 2 recs

Minor or not,

no infractions should be occurring. Watch it Montgomery, you can take the man out of Furd, but can you take the Furd out of the man?

by JoeCarr on Feb 25, 2011 3:07 PM PST reply actions

Meh, I don’t really care. Monty hadn’t coached in NCAA for several years, it looks like some of the rules changed, and he was desperate to get the program back on its feet. I’m sure this won’t happen again.

California Golden Bears: 2nd place is nothing to sneeze at!

by atomsareenough on Feb 25, 2011 3:10 PM PST up reply actions

So desperate that they’re calling high school sophomores before they’re allowed to? Explanation doesn’t wash.

by Scootie on Feb 25, 2011 10:23 PM PST up reply actions

Did you read the report? Calls to sophomores are allowed after June 15th. One call was on June 13th instead, one minute long. That one seems like the only true violation of the spirit of these regulations, and even that one sounds like either a mistaken dial or one of those dial-and-hang-up dealies. From the report:

Assistant coach B reported that he did not recall placing the call and is certain that he did not speak with the prospect on that date.

A second call was in May, but it was initiated by the prospect’s father, but the call was dropped and the coach hit redial. A third call was to a coach’s friend, who happened to be the mother of a student athlete that the coach was NOT trying to recruit.

My point is, some of them just look like careless mistakes or lack of complete familiarity with the rules. Perhaps in a couple of instances they knowingly made a few too many calls, I dunno. They’re being made to attend some NCAA rules training as part of the punishment, I believe, so I’m sure they will be quite intimately familiar with all the rules now, and I’m sure it won’t happen again.

California Golden Bears: 2nd place is nothing to sneeze at!

by atomsareenough on Feb 26, 2011 8:22 AM PST up reply actions

damn we lost our air of superiority,

we can’t look down on schools like USC and everyone sans Vandy in the SEC. We’
re just as bad. Cheating is cheating, no matter the level of severity. I can’t condone this type of foolishness, I demand MONTY’s resignation as of this moment! I have slammed the gavel down and my judgment has been passed. Go Cheaters!!!

What did i tell you...didn't I say they would win? Yeah that's right I did didn't ? Wait.. what? They LOST?!?!?

by greenbean on Feb 25, 2011 3:43 PM PST reply actions

Buck stops with Cal Chancellor Birgeneau: NCAA public repremand, censure

UC Board of Regents Chairman Gould ignored signs of trouble. UC Berkeley Chancellor Birgeneau ($500,000 salary) spends $300,000 for lectures by ex Michigan governor during deficit.. University of California Chancellor Birgeneau pays consultants $3,000,000 to do work of his job and vice-chancellors while east coast university does same with internal resources: no cost.
We must step back and recognize that the inept leadership at the top of Cal cascades throughout UC Berkeley. Stand up for California and University of California: put Cal Chancellor Birgeneau out to pasture.

by Milan Moravec on Feb 26, 2011 10:45 PM PST reply actions

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