Report: NCAA Alleges Central Oklahoma Paid Athletes

Friday, August 17th 2007, 6:17 pm

By: News On 6

EDMOND, Okla. (AP) _ The NCAA alleges the University of Central Oklahoma had a lack of institutional control over a football program that paid for tuition and surgeries and made direct cash payments to athletes, according to a newspaper report.

According to a notice of allegations obtained by The Oklahoman, the NCAA claims Central Oklahoma paid more than 80 athletes to attend remedial classes at Rose State college in Midwest City. The newspaper reported the story on its Web site, NewsOK.com, on Friday.

The notice accuses Central Oklahoma of giving cash to athletes to pay for a life guard instruction class at Rose State College, providing transportation to the classes and also providing free housing, food, transportation and use of facilities to football players who were not enrolled full-time.

It also accused Central Oklahoma of paying for a surgery for an athlete who later enrolled at the school.

Central Oklahoma must file a response to the NCAA by Nov. 2. The school's response will be considered by the Committee on Infractions during its meeting Dec. 7-9 in Indianapolis.