Nikola will have to sit out 18 games, all OOC and 5 conference games. What a bunch of BS.

Hmm. He says 18 games. But only 5 SBC games. If it is 18 it would be 7 SBC games. I can live with this vs. The alternative.

I wonder why this wasn't caught earlier. Or maybe we just learned of it lately.

Hope he can still practice with the team so he can hit the ground running. Would be great to appeal and get the games reduced if someone can afford to pay for the appeal.


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Denman found about it when he became acting AD and hired a team who deals with this kind of NCAA event. It was surprising that we had not hired the team before that as dept. was made aware of NCAA investigation a little earlier.

I was told it came up last year and we thought it was taken care of at that point. Sounds to me like some sleazy guy from Serbia came out of the woodwork and tried to blackmail UALR by saying he had information that could wreck Nikola's eligibility. Unfortunately, he didn't realize you can't get blood out a turnip. I would bet some of his buddies have gotten under the table payments from bigger programs just to make them "go away".

Besovic, Monyyong, Dunkum. Good thing we added some inside depth.

(10-31-2019 06:51 PM)mjs Wrote:  I was told it came up last year and we thought it was taken care of at that point. Sounds to me like some sleazy guy from Serbia came out of the woodwork and tried to blackmail UALR by saying he had information that could wreck Nikola's eligibility. Unfortunately, he didn't realize you can't get blood out a turnip. I would bet some of his buddies have gotten under the table payments from bigger programs just to make them "go away".

What do you mean "we thought it was taken care of".

I thought the NCAA had cleared him last year. Not sure any of this matters. College sports as we know it will be over once boosters can legally start paying players millions for their "likenesses".

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You got that right.

(10-31-2019 10:32 PM)mjs Wrote:  I thought the NCAA had cleared him last year. Not sure any of this matters. College sports as we know it will be over once boosters can legally start paying players millions for their "likenesses".

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You mean athletics has known about this for more than a year and nothing was done about it until interim AD took office?

There are a lot of bridges that have to be crossed before athletes are paid. So, yes, right now this matters.

What I was told was the issue was handled by our athletic department last year, and they thought it was resolved. Why it became an issue with the NCAA again this year, I have no clue. I just feel sorry for the young man. Also for our coaches and fans. Really don't think anyone did anything "wrong". What 13 or 14 year old kid, wouldn't accept some "benefits" for playing on a travel team, unless he was advised not to at the time. How would he know it might have ramification, years later, when he decided to go to college in the USA.