Mizzou Tells Merchants to Steer Clear of Athletes: Missouri officials initiated a pre-emptive strike by warning merchants in Columbia, Mo., to remember that the NCAA bans special treatment for student-athletes. That means that merchants ranging from local car dealerships to restaurants cannot provide anything free to the Tigers’ players. An internal audit indicates that the school made such warnings several times in the past few years. It states that although no proof of violations by local merchants exists, suspicion is present.
The report also criticizes the university’s poor graduation rate for student-athletes, which decreased from 62 percent in 2003 to 58 percent in 2004. The report briefly mentions the reforms initiated by the basketball team following the Ricky Clemons scandal, which led to the removal of one assistant coach accused of providing gifts to players, including Clemons. The audit is part of a standard 10-year evaluation, which Tiger officials must submit to the NCAA by Oct. 15.
[8/3/05]
