Razorbacks Plead Their Case

Tuesday, August 14th 2007, 2:30 pm

By: News On 6

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- The University of Arkansas has appeared before the NCAA infractions committee to answer allegations levied against its powerhouse track and field program and its former assistant coach.

The school's associate general counsel says the half-day hearing in Indianapolis on Saturday focused on Lance Brauman, who resigned last year after he was convicted in a federal embezzlement case that stemmed from his previous tenure at Barton County Community College in Kansas. The case was part of a scandal that spawned charges against seven Barton County coaches and the athletic director, and led to the firing of the school's president. Brauman was coaching at Arkansas when he was convicted.

The university's lawyer declined to discuss specifics of what transpired at the hearing but says the university remains confident the NCAA will view the school's self-imposed penalties as sufficient.

Those self-imposed penalties include the loss of three scholarships for 2007, 2008 and 2009. The school also agreed not to recruit from junior colleges for those years.

A decision is expected in six to eight weeks.