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Post by Class of '83 on Jun 28, 2007 18:01:52 GMT -5
Ball State reports basketball violationsBy DOUG ZALESKI MUNCIE — Members of the Ball State men’s basketball coaching staff last month broke NCAA rules that ban them from being present at voluntary offseason team workouts for the second time in a year, and then lied about their involvement. That was the finding of Ball State’s self-investigation last month into rules violations committed by head coach Ronny Thompson and his staff. The violations were similar in nature to infractions committed by the coaching staff in 2006. Assistant coaches Troy Collier, Steve Flint, Bill Howze, and Ball State strength and conditioning coordinator Jason Roberson also were involved in the current infractions of NCAA rules. Ball State’s report on the violations to the NCAA was obtained Monday by The Star Press through a public records request from Ball State’s Office of University Compliance. “Obviously we failed in this case to make sure everybody knew the rules, and we need to be more diligent with all of the rules and continue to educate our coaches, the athletes and staff on the rules,” Ball State athletic director Tom Collins said. “We take all of these things seriously.” The violations — last month’s and last year’s — are considered minor infractions by the NCAA. www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070611/NEWS01/70611014
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Post by Class of '83 on Jun 28, 2007 18:03:16 GMT -5
Greg Fallon: There's more at stake than BSU's basketball programBy GREG FALLON Close your eyes. You're sitting in a conference room on the bottom floor of Worthen Arena. You look around. Cameras are clicking, video cameras are rolling, reporters' tape recorders are spinning. Ball State coaches of all size and importance fill the back of the room to offer support. There are more suits on hand for this occasion than perhaps any recent announcement by the university. The joy and anticipation permeating through the room runs so thick, it's hard to think straight. It revolves around one man, one hire. It's April 5, 2006, and Ronny Thompson is announced as the new men's basketball coach for Ball State University. About 70 people applied for the position. Thompson, though, was the man athletic director Tom Collins touted as the one person all references said would be the answer. Nine underwhelming wins, 22 disappointing losses and two sets of NCAA violations later, Ball State men's basketball is worse off. Jubilation has turned to disappointment. Positive expectations have soured to overwhelming regret. "I think he is one of those people that the more you're with him, the more you like him," Collins said that day when asked about Thompson's marketability. "He's got an infectious smile. He knows what he's talking about, and he believes in what he's doing. All those things start to add up. He's definitely someone we are going to want to market to the community." A little over a year later, the opposite is true. Thompson's defiant ways are a major point of dissatisfaction for this community. He's evolved into the farthest thing from marketable one man can get. Aside from wins and losses and questionable sideline disposition, for the second time in a year, he has cheated. The staff Thompson leads has been attending practices and workouts, an NCAA violation. They knew it was wrong. They committed the same offense one year ago. There are plenty to blame. Problem is, blame fixes nothing. Instead, it's time school officials both acknowledge and fix the problem that is the Ball State men's basketball program. The program's current course cannot continue. People don't support, don't respect and can't stand cheaters. Furthermore, it's current course is a stark contrast to the positive image the university is seeking to portray. Television advertisements promote a new Ball State. Interstate billboards highlight various awards and distinctions. Campus expansion continues at a rapid pace. Even the landscaping down the middle of campus has made it abundantly clear that this university is ready to brighten its image. "(Image is) important. ...," Collins said this week. "The whole university is trying to move forward, and we're trying to do that. When you have these things, these bumps in the road, or whatever you call them, you have to double up your efforts in monitoring. We are very concerned with the university's reputation. We do not want to distract from it." Yet, while Ball State raises its standards, administrators continue to allow Thompson's program to embarrass the university. "I still have confidence in Ronny Thompson and his ability to coach our basketball team," Collins said. "I think he can still help us and take us to the next level. We have to help him with some of the weaknesses, or perceived weaknesses ..." Perceived? Take off your blinders. The university's image depends on it. www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070615/SPORTS/706150332
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Post by Class of '83 on Jun 28, 2007 18:04:24 GMT -5
BSU investigating racial notes left for basketball coachesBy GAIL KOCH MUNCIE — Ball State University is investigating a weekend incident in which racially harassing notes were left in the offices of the Ball State men’s basketball coaching staff. The messages were found inside an area of the athletics complex that staff say normally is locked. However, no signs of forced entry were reported and those locks have since been changed, said Ball State Athletic Director Tom Collins. “I’m upset about this, we’re all upset about this,” Collins said. “And this is harassment we are not going to tolerate. We will get to the bottom of this.” According to Tony Proudfoot, associate vice president for marketing and communications, staff members discovered the material Sunday morning around 8 a.m. Items found included copies of recent articles from the student newspaper about the men’s basketball team, including coverage of its second NCAA violation in a year. Additionally, notes were slipped under the office doors of staff members, including head coach Ronny Thompson, with “n--ger,” “cheaters,” and “liars,” written on them, Proudfoot said. Collins said the incident was reported to campus police immediately. He notified his staff by memo today. In light of what happened, the university also has brought in two members of its counseling-psychology program, Charlene Alexander and Stephania Aegisdottir, to conduct a “climate assessment” of the university’s athletics department. The professors will conduct interviews with coaches, athletes and others in the athletics office to determine if the weekend incident was isolated or indicative of broader racial tensions in the department or on campus. Proudfoot said the university is not ruling out suspects in or outside of the athletics department. “We’re making no pre-judgments right now,” he said. www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070627/NEWS01/70627010
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Post by wsu97 on Jul 5, 2007 18:53:33 GMT -5
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Post by Willie on Jul 6, 2007 6:16:18 GMT -5
July 6, 2007 Ball State AD says Thompson is still Cardinals basketball coachby Doug Zaleski Muncie Star Press MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State athletic director Tom Collins was adamant Thursday that Ronny Thompson is the school's basketball coach now and in the future. In the wake of a recent incident involving racially harassing notes placed at the BSU basketball office, speculation has been building that Thompson has decided he no longer wishes to coach the Cardinals and is seeking a buyout of the final four years of his contract. Collins insists that is not the case. "He's taking a couple of days off, and I expect him to fully be back to work on Monday, and on the recruiting trail either Monday or Tuesday," Collins said. "He's the head basketball coach at Ball State University. We have confidence in Ronny Thompson, and we expect to have a good season." Collins said he last talked to Thompson on Monday or Tuesday, and the coach was in town while taking a week of vacation before the recruiting season begins. The summer recruiting period runs today through July 15 and again July 22-31. Thompson has not returned phone or e-mail messages. "He probably wants to be on vacation," said Collins, who said he has no idea what spawned the speculation. "I've had no conversations with him about leaving, and I don't know anything about the rumors that are swirling about him leaving," Collins said. "Somebody put something up on a message board or a chat board, and I have no idea where that started." Speculation that Thompson would leave Ball State began after racially harassing notes were placed under his office door and under the doors of his assistant coaches on June 24. Ball State police are investigating how the notes were delivered to the offices of Thompson and his staff. There was no sign of forced entry. Three weeks before the notes were delivered, Ball State submitted a report to the NCAA detailing a violation of rules by Thompson and his assistants. The coaches in May broke NCAA rules that ban them from being present at voluntary offseason player workouts. It was the second time it happened in a 12-month period. Ball State's investigation determined the coaches lied about their involvement in the violations. The violations this year and last year are considered minor infractions by the NCAA. BSU had a 9-22 record in 2006-07, Thompson's first year. www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070706/SPORTS06/707060468/1247/SPORTS |
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Post by ilm2day on Jul 10, 2007 14:03:35 GMT -5
Would anyone be shocked if Thompson had those notes planted as a way to get out?
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Post by Raider Fanatic on Jul 10, 2007 19:24:46 GMT -5
Would anyone be shocked if Thompson had those notes planted as a way to get out? I could see it happening. He is about as slimmy as they come. |
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Post by Wolf on Jul 11, 2007 18:36:35 GMT -5
Thompson tells boss he doesn't want an interviewBall State basketball coach Ronny Thompson doesn’t want to talk to me about his future as the school’s basketball coach. Tom Collins said last week that he would set up an interview for me with Thompson on Monday so I could ask him directly whether he intends to remain as coach or seek a buyout and leave. As the day came and went, Thompson didn’t call me. Two messages I left late in the day for Collins to find out why the interview wasn’t happening also weren’t returned. So I went to Collins’ office on Tuesday afternoon to see what light he would shed on the situation. I quizzed Collins about what happened to my interview on Monday, asking him whether he told Thompson I wanted to talk to him. Collins said he asked Thompson to call me, and Thompson told Collins he didn’t want to do that. So I asked Collins where that left my request to interview the coach. Collins said he had e-mailed Thompson, who I’ve been told is on the road recruiting, and again asked him to contact me. I never really believed I would get that interview on Monday ... or Tuesday, or Wednesday, or ... well you get the idea. Based on numerous discussions I’ve had with people associated with Ball State, there are telltale signs and red flags that indicate Thompson’s future at the school is in serious question. And he doesn’t want to talk about that. This is what I believe is going on: Thompson wants to leave Ball State, and he is seeking a buyout of his contract, which has four years remaining at $182,000 a year. Collins is simply posturing, carrying out the company line based on instructions he has been given by BSU president Jo Ann Gora and the school’s attorneys. My strong sense is that lawyers for Thompson and Ball State are meeting to form some agreement on what kind of compensation Thompson would get for leaving as coach. Until that happens, he is Ball State’s coach, and as such must carry out the duties prescribed for the coach in his contract. That means he is still performing the duties of the coach, which this month includes traveling the country recruiting players for the 2008 signing class. At some point, I expect that to change, but how soon that materializes is up to the attorneys. orig.thestarpress.com/blogs/bsusports/2007/07/thompson_tells_boss_he_doesnt.html#more
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Post by bballraider on Jul 11, 2007 19:17:47 GMT -5
Thompson is the one that wants out, I would not offer him a cent. I would also put a clause that any team that hires him in the next five years would have to play a game agaisnt Ball State in Muncie.
He signed the contract and should have to live up to it just as the university must. I too am of the thinking that he planted the notes to get out of his contract so he could go coach with his brother at Gerorgetown.
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Post by Admin on Jul 12, 2007 8:42:02 GMT -5
www.wabashplaindealer.com/articles/2007/07/12/sports/sports2.txtTime for a BSU change By TOM DAVIS, Tom's Take Wednesday, July 11, 2007 11:48 PM EDT On a January evening 18 months ago, Western Michigan thumped Ball State 68-59 in men's basketball action. What made this evening significant is the fact that Indiana natives Andrew Hershberger and Joe Reitz, along with former Muncie resident Derek Drews, combined for 46 Bronco points. Not recruiting East-Central Indiana well enough, or in the case of current Cardinal coach Ronnie Thompson, not at all, is one of the problems that has besieged the Ball State program over the past few years. But not the only one. The Muncie Star-Press is reporting that sometime in the very near future (possibly today), the Cardinals may announce that Coach Thompson, who has been in Muncie just 15 months, has been released from his contract after reaching a settlement. Over that time period, Thompson has proven to be abrasive, defensive (except on the court), arrogant and ignorant. Traits that may be acceptable if you are guiding the program to a 22-9 record, but not a 9-22 mark. Recently, Thompson appeared to have been a victim of racism, due to several notes with insensitive words being slipped into his office. However, according to the police investigation, no signs of forced entry were found. Leaving in question who exactly had access to his office? Other than he that is. Without a doubt, the issue of race will be brought to the forefront of Thompson's departure. But the debacle that is the Thompson era is not a matter of racism, which I guess is easy for a white kid from Yorktown to say. If Thompson is a victim of racism, then where were the racists in Delaware County when University Gym, and now Worthen Arena, was filled to the brim with fans - white and black - cheering the exploits of African-American players such as Ray McCallum, Paris McCurdy, Billy Butts, Curtis Kidd, Bonzi Wells, Steve Payne, Theron Smith, Duane Clemens, Chandler Thompson, etc. ? Is there an element of racism in Muncie? Sure. But that's not the problem right now. No, the problem is with Thompson. The attendance hovered at pathetic levels this past season, as Thompson recruited ZERO players from East-Central Indiana. His recruits have hailed from California, Virginia, and Ohio, but not Muncie and New Castle. Meanwhile, players such as Jordan Armstrong (Muncie Central, Southern Illinois), Ben Botts (Muncie Central, IPFW), Tom Freeman (Muncie Central, Ohio University), Vaughn Duggins (Pendleton Heights, Wright State), Zach Hahn (New Castle, Butler), Chase Stigall (New Castle, Butler), Brandon Wood (Kokomo, Southern Illinois), along with the aforementioned Western Michigan players, each chose to go elsewhere. And this list doesn't even include 6-11 Maconaquah grad Brandon Parks, who plays for a very strong Kent State team, and was coached in Bunker Hill by "Mr. Ball State," Rick Clark. The lack of interest in local kids continues, as 6-11 forward Emerson Kampen (Yorktown High School) is spending his summer visiting countless mid-major colleges, including the likes of Butler and Wright State, but not Ball State.This coming season the Cardinals will have ONE Indiana player on its scholarship roster, and that is only due to former coach Tim Buckley recruiting senior-to-be Peyton Stovall. In addition to recruiting non-local players, Thompson has recruited the wrong players. When told that Ball State offered scholarships to Steve Horton and Jarelle Redden, one Division II coach expressed astonishment. "I know for a fact that Thompson could not have seen Jarelle play (in-person) unless he broke NCAA rules," the coach stated. "And neither of those guys are going to help you compete in the MAC." Thompson break NCAA rules? Absolutely. He's done it twice in his short stay on campus. But at least he's learned his lesson right? Not exactly. He and his coaching staff broke the same rule twice. Proving either extreme ignorance or blatant disregard for ethics. Or both. So let's see if we have all of this straight, he loses games (lots of them), recruits kids from California instead of his backyard, and has no use for the NCAA manual? Check. Check. And check. The Ball State program is one that over the past 20 years has built a tradition of success, not always by the rule book, not always with squeaky-clean characters, but the kids were often local, and the community supported them. Both the white and the black players. Racism is not a factor in Thompson's downfall. It is simply Thompson. --- Tom Davis is the managing editor of the Peru Tribune. He can be reached for comment at tdavis@perutribune.com.
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Post by raiderfan20 on Jul 12, 2007 16:22:51 GMT -5
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Post by wsu97 on Jul 12, 2007 19:54:31 GMT -5
Thompson resigns two days after AD said no change was comingBy Andy Katz ESPN.com July 12, 2007, 6:19 PM ET Ball State coach Ronny Thompson resigned after one season, BSU assistant athletic director Joe Hernandez told ESPN.com. An official announcement is due later Thursday with a news conference Friday. Hernandez said he was unsure if there was a buyout of any kind. Thompson, the son of Hall of Fame coach John Thompson and brother of Georgetown coach John Thompson III, lost a school record 22 games last season. Ball State is awaiting word from the NCAA after commiting a secondary violation for the second year in a row for conducting offseason workouts. The resignation comes two days after Collins told ESPN.com that there will be no change in men's basketball by the school or the coach. "I'm committed to Ronny Thompson and his staff he's got and the great recruiting class he has coming in," Collins said Monday afternoon. "I'm committed to Ronny Thompson, and Ball State is committed to him. We want to see this thing through, and we're all behind him 100 percent. I'm here to help him be successful." Throughout the first weekend of the July evaluation recruiting period, Thompson's job status was the source of intense speculation by colleagues. Rumors swirled at various coaches camps, and in the Muncie, Ind., area, that Thompson would resign after his staff was caught committing offseason workout violations for the second time in as many years. Late last month racist letters were slipped under Thompson's door. According to the Muncie Star-Press, racial slurs, along with words "cheaters" and "liars," were written on notes left in the basketball offices in a "break-in" on June 24. Ball State University police officer Gene Burton told ESPN.com Wednesday that the case should be resolved next week. The suspense intensified when Thompson went on vacation the first weekend of the July evaluation period while the majority of coaches were on the road. Thompson and his staff were cited for the second year in a row for violating NCAA rules by being present at voluntary offseason workouts. It has been reported by the Star-Press that the staff lied about the violations, too. Ball State athletic director Collins said the school is waiting to hear back from the NCAA. "We filed them as secondary violations and now we'll wait to hear from them," Collins said. "We have no idea how long the response will take." Collins said Thompson and the staff have gone through rules education and understand "the consequences" and what "the issues are and are now working hard on the recruiting trail." Andy Katz is a senior writer for ESPN.com sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2934452
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Post by wsu97 on Jul 12, 2007 19:58:40 GMT -5
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Thompson resignsFrom staff reports Ball State University basketball coach Ronny Thompson has resigned from his position after only one season at the helm of the team, university officials confirmed Thursday night. Matt McCollester, assistant director of Ball State Athletics, Communication and Marketing, said the university would be holding a press conference at 2 p.m. Friday to officially make the announcement. Additional details regarding the terms of Thompson's release were being worked out between university lawyers and representatives for Thompson prior to that event, he added. Tony Proudfoot, associate vice president for Marketing and Communications, said the search for a new coach will begin immediately. Proudfoot said several factors contributed to Thompson's decision to resign. "Coach Thompson has expressed concern about the recent NCAA investigation as well as other issues," Proudfoot said. The university self-reported two sets of NCAA rules violations in the past year after members of Thompson's staff regularly attended "open gym" for short periods of time. In August, the NCAA accepted Collins' proposed punishment for the first set of infractions, which included a letter of reprimand to the coaching staff and a loss of 870 minutes of scheduled practice time. The NCAA has yet to inform Ball State of the penalties from the second set of incidents. In addition, Thompson and his staff had anonymous notes, containing racial slurs and the words "cheater" and "liar" written on them, shoved under their doors in late June. The university announced that it would conduct both a criminal investigation into the notes and a "climate assessment" of the athletic department. Proudfoot said Thursday that both efforts will continue even after Thompson's resignation. Thompson, who guided the Cardinals to a 9-22 record in his only season in Muncie, was said to be on the recruiting trail as late as Wednesday night. Both President Jo Ann Gora and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tom Collins reiterated Wednesday in separate interviews that Thompson was still the coach of the men's team. Thompson, who informed Gora of his resignation in an e-mail, caught the university off-guard with his announcement, Proudfoot said. "Tom Collins did not know beforehand," Proudfoot said. "(But) he's aware now." Lisa Collier, who served as Thompson's secretary for the past year, said she only found out about Thompson's resignation on Thursday. "I enjoyed working with him," Collier said. media.www.bsudailynews.com/media/storage/paper849/news/2007/07/12/News/Mens-Basketball.Thompson.Resigns-2923421.shtml
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Post by Fastbreak on Jul 12, 2007 20:04:14 GMT -5
Thompson, who informed Gora of his resignation in an e-mail, caught the university off-guard with his announcement, Proudfoot said. What a pussy! He didn't even have the balls to tell him in person. |
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Post by bballraider on Jul 12, 2007 21:01:52 GMT -5
Thompson, who informed Gora of his resignation in an e-mail, caught the university off-guard with his announcement, Proudfoot said. What a pussy! He didn't even have the balls to tell him in person. Actually Jo Ann Gora is the female president of Ball State. But I agree Thompson is a whimp. |
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