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Auburn basketball probed 09/04/03 CHARLES GOLDBERG News staff writer AUBURN - The NCAA has accused Auburn University of offering a high school basketball star $50,000 and a car to sign with the school. Auburn officials, who acknowledged Wednesday they have received an official letter of inquiry from the NCAA, are expected to respond with a denial. The NCAA letter accuses an assistant basketball coach of offering the money and a car to Chadd Moore of Huntsville, according to Auburn officials familiar with the letter. The NCAA based its charge on an interview with Clara Moore, Chadd Moore's mother, according to Auburn officials familiar with the investigation. The NCAA also charged Auburn with another major violation in the recruitment of Jackie Butler of McComb, Miss. Details of that allegation could not be confirmed Wednesday. The NCAA alleges that current Auburn assistant basketball coach Shannon Weaver and former Auburn assistant basketball coach Mike Wilson made improper inducements to prospective student-athletes. The News could not confirm the specific conduct of each coach cited by the NCAA. Auburn was not charged with a lack of institutional control, the most serious charge possible. Auburn officials are expected to respond that there is not enough evidence to show the school committed any major violations and will argue that the assistant coach who recruited Moore was not in the same city as Moore's mother on the date of the alleged violation. Weaver declined to comment Wednesday. Efforts to reach Wilson were unsuccessful. Head coach Cliff Ellis, who was not named in the letter and was not interviewed by the NCAA, said he was ``very disappointed" the NCAA chose to formally charge the university. He also said he had the ``utmost faith and confidence" in Weaver and Wilson. Auburn has a Nov. 5 deadline to respond to the charges. The NCAA enforcement staff will then put the case before the infractions committee to make a formal ruling. Auburn and the NCAA have been investigating allegations of improper benefits for 19 months. The NCAA sent Auburn a preliminary letter of inquiry in September 2002, saying the investigation would be finished by Dec. 1 of that year. It was not formally concluded until Auburn received the letter of inquiry this week. Auburn's investigation began when self-described sports agent Mike Walker of McComb accused Auburn of offering Butler improper benefits. The NCAA notified Auburn of its investigation several days later. The NCAA interviewed Butler on at least two occasions. The NCAA then began its investigation of Moore, who never took an official recruiting visit to Auburn and signed with the University of Cincinnati. Butler signed with Mississippi State. A central figure in the recruitment of Moore and Butler is Huntsville Amateur Athletic Union coach Mark Komara, who coached both players. Komara is mentioned in the letter but the nature of his involvement could not be confirmed. Current Auburn basketball players Brandon Robinson and Marco Killingsworth, as well as assistant coach Charlton Young, were also interviewed by NCAA enforcement staff member Jim Elworth, but were not named in the letter of inquiry, according to Auburn officials familiar with the letter. An Auburn official said there were no surprises in the letter and that all the allegations had been thoroughly investigated by the school. Auburn officials have said they worked closely with the NCAA in the investigation and have cooperated throughout. ``Given our program's efforts to comply with the NCAA rules at all times, I am obviously very disappointed," Ellis said. ``Our program has cooperated fully with this very thorough investigation and I have the utmost faith and confidence in our coaches, both present and former. ``We will respond in the appropriate forum in the future and we hope to have a favorable resolution of this matter as quickly as possible." ______________________________________________________ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List "Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup!" To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
