"STAFF WRITERS"
May 7, 2002
The NCAA is in the early stages of an investigation into San Diego State's football program for possible rules infractions involving summer workouts at a local beach, the Union-Tribune has learned.
The weekly conditioning sessions appear to have been coordinated by offensive line coach Damon Baldwin and included most of the offensive line, along with several other players.
Summer workouts are generally prohibited by the NCAA if coaches are present and if attendance is taken, and do***ents and videotapes viewed by the Union-Tribune indicate both occurred on a regular basis for the past several years.
"We haven't been officially or unofficially contacted by the NCAA," said SDSU athletic director Rick Bay, who is in North Carolina on personal business. "But we take this very seriously. We're going to look into it thoroughly and immediately, and report our findings to the NCAA. And if we find that we're in violation of NCAA rules, we will recommend appropriate sanctions.
"I consider any willful violation of NCAA rules significant."
Baldwin, reached by phone, said: "Until someone contacts me, I don't know anything."
But three people associated with the program said NCAA investigators had contacted them in recent weeks and asked about the workouts. One former assistant coach, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said an NCAA investigator "tracked me down while I was on the road recruiting. He actually drove a very long way to speak with me."
Quotes UT
"The investigation centers around the Web site <a href="http://www.offensiveline.net," target="_blank">www.offensiveline.net,</a> which offered three instructional videotapes at $19.99 each by "Coach Damon Baldwin Presents."
The first two have footage of SDSU players performing pass protection and run blocking drills on the Aztecs' practice field. The third is called "Offensive Line Deep Sand Training" and shows about a dozen SDSU players running, jumping and carrying heavy logs at what appears to be South Mission Beach.
The Web site includes Baldwin's e-mail address at SDSU and his phone number in the football office, along with photos of current and past Aztecs posing with logs on the beach.
It appeared to have been operational for at least two years, but less than 30 minutes after the Union-Tribune spoke with Baldwin last night the home page had changed. It now has a black screen with red lettering that says: "Offensiveline.net . . . Coming soon!""
Link to Union Tribune article by Mark Zeigler, Ed Graney and Tom Shanahan.
<a href="http://signonsandiego.com/news/uniontrib/tue/sports/" target="_blank">http://signonsandiego.com/news/uniontrib/tue/sports/</a>
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NCAA investigating SDSU football!
