WSU Conducting Internal Review Into Baseball Program

[WuShock16]

Correct, RS. I had misunderstood and figured that the players weren't supposed to buy things under the school's discount but did see that the NCAA indeed does allow athletes to purchase things through the school for sport-specific items. They are NOT allowed to use said discount for hunting gear (for example).

[Ricardo del Rio]

Tell me more about Shelly.

Ah, better not. There is a lot to tell.

[martymoose]

When I was in school at WSU in the late 90's it seemed as though the players had an endless supply of expensive sunglasses...like to the point they'd give away a pair and have a new pair the next day. Wonder if it's something like that...

[shox1989]

When I was in school at WSU in the late 90's it seemed as though the players had an endless supply of expensive sunglasses...like to the point they'd give away a pair and have a new pair the next day. Wonder if it's something like that...

It seems like players are given a huge number of sunglasses and tee shirts. But I assume that is okay since they wear them when they play baseball (at practice or in games). Getting a discount for volume purchases (which as pointed out, anyone can actually get if they buy in volume) should not, in my opinion, be a ncaa violation even if it was for stuff that is not worn at practice or during games. The NCAA has some very picky rules. I still think this whole incident is more about finding a reason to get rid of Shelley than anything else. If they weren't trying to find a way to fire Shelley, I doubt if this would have even come up.

[AndShock]

It seems like players are given a huge number of sunglasses and tee shirts. But I assume that is okay since they wear them when they play baseball (at practice or in games). Getting a discount for volume purchases (which as pointed out, anyone can actually get if they buy in volume) should not, in my opinion, be a ncaa violation even if it was for stuff that is not worn at practice or during games. The NCAA has some very picky rules. I still think this whole incident is more about finding a reason to get rid of Shelley than anything else. If they weren't trying to find a way to fire Shelley, I doubt if this would have even come up.

Are you saying the university willingly covers up NCAA violations unless it has something to gain from it?

[shocktheheart]

It seems like players are given a huge number of sunglasses and tee shirts. But I assume that is okay since they wear them when they play baseball (at practice or in games). Getting a discount for volume purchases (which as pointed out, anyone can actually get if they buy in volume) should not, in my opinion, be a ncaa violation even if it was for stuff that is not worn at practice or during games. The NCAA has some very picky rules. I still think this whole incident is more about finding a reason to get rid of Shelley than anything else. If they weren't trying to find a way to fire Shelley, I doubt if this would have even come up.

Where they getting the discount because they were buying in volume or because they had access to a person or code that a regular student does not?

[_kai_]

Yes, I 100% agree that the university's athletic department decided to publicly go forth with self reporting a violation just so they could fire a government employed employee of the baseball staff....

Man... and I was being a little facetious with that tin foil hat zone picture...

[shockmonster]

I don't know any of the people involved and don't have any skin in the game. However, it sounds like a huge expense (to hire an outside firm to investigate the athletic department) just to get rid of a person who you obviously know is a very competent, and fine employee.

[SB Shock]

I still think this whole incident is more about finding a reason to get rid of Shelley than anything else. If they weren't trying to find a way to fire Shelley, I doubt if this would have even come up.

Yip, I think your right. It is a brilliant move by the new coaching staff to self report themselves to the NCAA for possible NCAA violations and face possible sanctions just so they could fire a secretary.

[pogo]

It seems like players are given a huge number of sunglasses and tee shirts. But I assume that is okay since they wear them when they play baseball (at practice or in games). Getting a discount for volume purchases (which as pointed out, anyone can actually get if they buy in volume) should not, in my opinion, be a ncaa violation even if it was for stuff that is not worn at practice or during games. The NCAA has some very picky rules. I still think this whole incident is more about finding a reason to get rid of Shelley than anything else. If they weren't trying to find a way to fire Shelley, I doubt if this would have even come up.

My sarcasm meter is not working worth a damn. If that last part was sarcasm then that was good if not....Really?

[1979Shocker]

Lawyer:Wichita State baseball assistant didn’t know she was committing NCAA violation

A Wichita State administrative assistant was unaware of which apparel items she ordered for baseball players, unknowingly committing NCAA violations, according to her lawyer.

Shelley Wombacher, a long-time employee of the baseball program, is at the center of an internal review regarding improper clothing and apparel benefits to members of the team. On Wednesday, sources at WSU identified Wombacher as the person with access to a discounted Under Armour account. Players ordered non-baseball items such as hunting gear at as much as a 50-percent discount, a violation of NCAA rules.

Randy Rathbun, Wombacher’s lawyer, said he is angry that the university is using her as a scapegoat after her 20-plus years of work. According to Rathbun, coaches, administrators and athletes, from the baseball program and other sports and departments within the athletic department, often ordered from Under Armour through Wombacher. The practice was common, he said, for several years.

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2013/12/05/316...#storylink=cpy

[shox1989]

All I was saying is that it is no secret that the AD doesn't like Shelley (any more than he likes Gene). He would have fired her at the same time but couldn't because she is a classified state employee. He has been looking for some reason to fire her since June, I think they found it. This practice has been going on for years and would have probably continued to go on unnoticed except for the fact that they were looking for something so they could fire Shelley. That was my point.

[ShockTalk]

All I was saying is that it is no secret that the AD doesn't like Shelley (any more than he likes Gene). He would have fired her at the same time but couldn't because she is a classified state employee. He has been looking for some reason to fire her since June, I think they found it. This practice has been going on for years and would have probably continued to go on unnoticed except for the fact that they were looking for something so they could fire Shelley. That was my point.

@shox1989, if the lawyer's last statements are true, this will go a lot farther than one person's job, so no single witch hunt here. This could be wide reaching. I have no idea why any other coaches or administrators would go through her. If other athletes, outside the baseball program, did go through her, I have no idea why she would do this without clearing it through Gene or Gene knowing it.

IMO, Butler found out about it and wanted cleared up so it would not be on his watch, a bitter "Gene Hugger" blew the whistle, or a former player/parent.

If the lawyer is stretching the truth (couldn't be), it may mostly in Shelley's lap (and Gene's).

[SB Shock]

All I was saying is that it is no secret that the AD doesn't like Shelley (any more than he likes Gene). He would have fired her at the same time but couldn't because she is a classified state employee. He has been looking for some reason to fire her since June, I think they found it. This practice has been going on for years and would have probably continued to go on unnoticed except for the fact that they were looking for something so they could fire Shelley. That was my point.

Think about what you just said - if this has been going on for years then you have "lack of institutional control" and if this was prevalent throughout the whole athletic department as Shelly is alleging then you could be looking at NCAA sanctions for all programs in the athletic department, not just baseball. In fact depending on how deep this goes and what other things this audit might find - Sexton job could be at risk. So, I don't think Sexton opened these proverbial "barn doors" so he could fire a secretary.

[vancedave56]

Let's stick to the facts.