Wichita State looking into women’s basketball transfers

[Shoxtastic]

Am curious about the opinions of those who think this isn't over as well. It's obvious that if you have that opinion then any further action would be deemed external to the university and its processes as the school has delivered its 'final say' on the matter with this blanket statement.

[wusphlash]

Are you blindly asking the question? Or are you implying something to stir the pot? OR are you saying, specifically, that the girls you are obviously backing or supporting wanted and asked to have their own legal representation with them when they were interviewed and the University (or some member within) specifically denied council from attending?

I am also asking you to state this is not a post meeting request. IE My daughter just got out of the meeting and Jody had her attorney there. Well, that seems unfair, why couldn't we have an attorney? Why didn't someone tell us we could have an attorney?


I'm just trying to vet the process here, so that everyone is clear. Thank you.

The administration characterized this as a "listening tour" by Dr. Scherz. In my mind that meant one-on-one conversations with players, coaches and anyone else involved. It did not mean a "deposition" type setting which can be very intimidating. I have no idea if all parties were advised to bring counsel if desired. I am surprised that attorneys were involved at this point in the process. That, to me, suggests something much deeper than a "listening tour". I would not have thought attorneys would have been involved until there were some sort of finding which might affect contract or employment.

[Shox21]

It really doesn't surprise me that Jody and her attorney would have access to the players -- after all she is the one being accused, with the outcome affecting her reputation, contract and livelihood. The players, on the other hand, are the ones doing the accusing so why would they need an attorney or even a parent present. No one is saying they did anything amiss.

Even though I don't see the necessity of it, I can't imagine, nor would I agree with, the administration barring the parents from being present while these young ladies are being interviewed. They are all probably minors and might want or feel they need the support of mummy and daddy due to the nature of the allegations brought against Coach Adams. Without knowing the circumstances surrounding any of this, we are ALL just guessing -- and I am stressing the A-L-L in that comment.

The University has made their determination so let's just get on with life. The girls are leaving; Jody has a team to rebuild. Enough is enough.

[washedup]

Am curious about the opinions of those who think this isn't over as well. It's obvious that if you have that opinion then any further action would be deemed external to the university and its processes as the school has delivered its 'final say' on the matter with this blanket statement.

Sounds like some lawsuits are coming.

[1972Shocker]

Sounds like some lawsuits are coming.

I don't think we will see that. But I guess anything is possible.

[Aargh]

I have my doubts about the inclusion of the attorneys in the "discovery" phase of the investigation. On one hand, we have Julie Scherz trying to listen to both sides of the stories and arriving at factual (or at least reasonable) conclusions. On the other hand, we have attorneys talking to the same people, but with bought and paid for total bias to find the answers they are being paid to find.

Then, when the results of the investigation are to be determined, there is a meeting where the information from an amateur truth-seeker is compared with the information gathered by a professional with years of experience with asking the right questions in order to get the right answers for his client. It's not much of a wonder that the two sides (Scherz and 2 attorneys) came up with "differing" stories.

I can see where Adams' attorneys should have had access to the players. What I don't see is why those attorneys participated in the findings of the univesity. The scales of justice seem to have been a bit out of balance. It creates the impression that there was a pre-conceived result desired and the investigation was set up in a way to ensure that result was achieved.

I'm not accusing anyone of anything, just noting that an appearance was created.

[shocker_67]

The administration characterized this as a "listening tour" by Dr. Scherz. In my mind that meant one-on-one conversations with players, coaches and anyone else involved. It did not mean a "deposition" type setting which can be very intimidating. I have no idea if all parties were advised to bring counsel if desired. I am surprised that attorneys were involved at this point in the process. That, to me, suggests something much deeper than a "listening tour". I would not have thought attorneys would have been involved until there were some sort of finding which might affect contract or employment.

I suspect that it had to be much deeper than the "listening tour". Since statements were made, and according to a source on Channel 12 there were NCAA violations made, does not the school have to self-report this to NCAA for a full investigation. I believe the program, the university, and the players have been through enough, it would be better to have it done sooner than later so the program can begin rebuilding instead of dragging the issue out and suffering larger fines and limitations by NCAA. I understand that Julie is affiliated with NCAA, does anyone know if she has to self report regarding her findings to NCAA? can't quite remember how the details of the baseball program began........don't think that situation was actually intentional.

[1972Shocker]

I understand that Julie is affiliated with NCAA

I don't believe Julie is in any way affiliated with the NCAA.

http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/stories/story.asp?si=2148

http://www.thesunflower.com/news/article_1b57e6e0-d8f9-11e2-b624-0019bb30f31a.html

Julie is a member of the WSU faculty and is essentially a liaison between the academic side and the athletic department. About the only thing NCAA related that she does is to certify academic eligibility of student athletes. Otherwise I would think she has very limited knowledge of NCAA rules and regulations.

Compliance with NCAA rules and regulations is handle primarily within the Athletic Department I believe. Julie is not a member of the Athletic Department.

I think Julie did the job she was given to the best of her ability and did it pretty well considering her background, education and experience.

[shockswsu]

I think WSU already announced that they found no such violations. Now how hard they looked at that is another question. I think those rules are rather easy to get around. Just declare, with a wink and a nod, that some activities are voluntary and not mandatory.

You are right, when it comes to practices during the season. There are also limitations on face to face hours coaches may spend with players in the off-season of 2 hours per week. There is less wiggle room in this area for the nudge-nudge, wink-wink way of dealing with things, I would think.

[flyingMoose]

I think Julie did the job she was given to the best of her ability and did it pretty well considering her background, education and experience.

If she has been part of very many faculty committees, I suspect she is very well-qualified to do this job. :)

[shocker_67]

You are right, when it comes to practices during the season. There are also limitations on face to face hours coaches may spend with players in the off-season of 2 hours per week. There is less wiggle room in this area for the nudge-nudge, wink-wink way of dealing with things, I would think.

That's interesting.....I understand from speaking with a former player that there was a two hour practice on the Monday of the week that the four girls asked for their release and then that there was another practice that Tuesday morning at 8 am with all of the coaches......this is considered off season from my understanding, I mean basketball is over. And I understand that Eric, Becky, and a whole slew of folks was observing these practices. This is the same Athletic Dept that is supposed to listen to future players concerns? Sounds like the fox guarding chicken coop.

Sounds like there might be a few of those NCAA violations that the news was speaking of last night. Be interesting to know more details of what occurred in that week.

[DUShock]

As this thread continues to meander on, I am reminded of the phrase "Hell hath no fury..."

[big55fred]

The development and status of this "listening tour" or investigation makes no sense. If it was supposed to be about actually hearing the players then lawyers should not have been so heavily involved. Having lawyers present during discussions indicates one of two things: 1) This investigation was never about the players. It was always about protecting WSU from lawsuits and preserving the jobs of Adams and Sexton. I.e it was a thinly veiled attempt to take the heat off. The outcome of the investigation was a foregone conclusion. It seems most WSU supporters have accepted this investigation.. WSU's ploy worked. OR 2) During the course of the investigation the possibility of legal action was threatened or deemed to be a threat and it turned from an investigationj of player's claims to a legal protection strategy. IF it is 2 not 1 then there may be more to come. In any event the student athletes so far have been viewed as unimportant. A university investigating itself for improprieties is not independent. Everyone should demand a true investigation not this farce which was thrust upon us!

[Veritas]

For those of you that were/are part of the program, what was and is the objective of your rants against HCJA?
Was it to get her fired, destroy the WSU WBB program, or to highlight deficiencies that hopefully brings about positive change from JA and enhance the experience of the student athlete?
I don't agree in the manner in which you made it a public witch hunt. But, why are you not satisfied if your objective was to help bring positive change?
What exactly do you want?

[shockswsu]

For those of you that were/are part of the program, what was and is the objective of your rants against HCJA?
Was it to get her fired, destroy the WSU WBB program, or to highlight deficiencies that hopefully brings about positive change from JA and enhance the experience of the student athlete?
I don't agree in the manner in which you made it a public witch hunt. But, why are you not satisfied if your objective was to help bring positive change?
What exactly do you want?

I am not part of the program, but will make a guess as to what is wanted. The reported offenses such as the withholding of food, medical attention and student services (study hall) as punishment would clearly have nothing to do with being a good or tough coach. Those would clearly be unacceptably abusive treatment of student athletes. This was now the 4th time players have gone thru athletic department channels to have their grievances addressed without meaningful result, leading to what you derisively call "a public witch hunt." What these students most likely want, I imagine, is protection from this abuse for all current/future Shocker wbb players. Because these issues have been raised multiple times without any change on HCJAs part, perhaps the players feel that the only way to assure this protection would be for her to no longer be in her current position of authority. Her resignation or firing would accomplish that.