NCAA cuts Prairie View A&M women's basketball scholarships

Photo: Prairie View A&M University head women basketball coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke

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PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – The NCAA on Tuesday penalized Prairie View A&M's women's basketball team for violations attributed to unfamiliarity with rules by coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, a former Houston Comets star and WNBA head coach for the Phoenix Mercury.

The Division I Committee on Infractions cited the transgressions as major violations in the PVAMU women's basketball program. The case involves violations of NCAA rules in the areas of institutional control, out-of-season practice and observation, extra benefits, and eligibility.

Penalties for the violations include four years of probation, a reduction in the number of women's basketball scholarships for two academic years, and a decrease in the number of women's basketball recruiting contact opportunities.

The committee attributed the majority of violations to the hiring of a head coach with no NCAA experience in rules education and the university's failure to educate her regarding rules compliance. In addition, the committee concluded that an environment of noncompliance existed in the university's athletic department.

The university previously appeared in a major infractions hearing in 2001 during which time the committee mandated that the university develop and implement a comprehensive educational program on NCAA rules. The committee stated in this most recent case that it was apparent the institution had not implemented this mandate from the committee, which led to the lengthy probation period.

Regarding the violations of impermissible tryouts and out-of-season practice activities, it was found that members of the women's basketball coaching staff conducted basketball drills and provided skill instruction to a number of women's basketball student-athletes on several occasions during the summer of 2005.

Coach Cooper-Dyke was named the Prairie View head mentor in July 2005.

Additionally, during the summer and fall of 2005, prior to the start of allowable preseason basketball practice, the head coach and two assistant coaches observed prospective student-athletes, with members of the women's basketball team, participating in pickup basketball games for brief periods of time in the university's facilities.

Also, during the summer of 2005, the head coach had an improper telephone call and an improper in-person, off-campus contact with a prospective student-athlete prior to the coach being officially recognized by the university as an authorized staff member.

This case also involves the head coach's provision of impermissible extra benefits to women's basketball student-athletes during the summer of 2005 and the 2005-06 academic year. Specifically, the head coach provided small amounts of cash ranging from $10 to $30, and in one instance, a personal item to numerous women's basketball student-athletes.

In addition, the head coach arranged for several student-athletes to receive impermissible complimentary admissions to professional basketball contests.

Regarding the eligibility violations, the university allowed an incoming freshman student who was not certified as a qualifier by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse to attend basketball practice sessions and engage in basketball practice activities with the team at a time when she was not allowed to do so according to NCAA rules.

It was also found that prior to the 2006-07 academic year, the university failed to record countable hours of athletically related practice and competition activities on a daily basis for each student-athlete as an individual in any team sport.

Based on these violations, the committee found that the university demonstrated a lack of institutional control over its women's basketball program during the summer of 2005 and the 2005-06 academic year. This finding was based on the university's failure to adequately educate the newly-hired women's basketball coach with regard to basic NCAA rules, as well as the environment of noncompliance that existed in the athletic department.

This environment set the stage for violations to occur and be ignored, as manifested when assistant women's basketball coaches and an athletics administrator witnessed violations in the women's basketball program and decided neither to confront the head coach nor to report the information to the proper authorities.

In determining the penalties, the Committee on Infractions considered the university's self-imposed penalties and corrective actions. The penalties, some of which were self-imposed by the university and adopted by the committee, are as follows:

• Public reprimand and censure.
• Four years of probation (January 8, 2008, to January 7, 2012).
• Reduction in women's basketball scholarships by three from 15 to 12 total for each of the 2007-08 through the 2009-10 academic years.
• For the first three weeks of the practice and playing season in the fall semester of 2007, the women's basketball team reduced practice hours from the maximum 20 hours allowed to 10 hours per week. (Self-imposed by university.)
• For the 2007-08 academic year, official paid visits for women's basketball will be reduced from the four-year average of slightly over four visits to two visits. (Self-imposed by university).

The Committee on Infractions consists of conference and institutional athletics administrators, faculty and members of the public. The committee independently rules on cases investigated by the NCAA enforcement staff and determines appropriate penalties. The committee's findings may be appealed to the Infractions Appeals Committee.

The members of the Committee on Infractions who reviewed this case are Josephine Potuto, the Richard H. Larson Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Nebraska College of Law and chair of the committee; Paul Dee, director of athletics at the University of Miami, and formerly the university's general counsel; Eileen Jennings, general counsel at Central Michigan University; Gene Marsh, James M. Kidd Sr. Professor of Law at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa School of Law; Alfred Lechner, Jr., attorney; Thomas Yeager, commissioner of the Colonial Athletic Association; and Dennis Thomas, the commissioner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and formerly director of athletics at Hampton University.

READ CYNTHIA COOPER-DYKE BIO BY CLICKING THE BLOG TITLE.

In a statement, Prairie View said it agreed with the findings and didn't plan to appeal the sanctions.

"Our athletics department views this report and its findings as an opportunity for the university to improve and address its NCAA compliance requirements," Prairie View President George C. Wright said. "We are currently working to implement corrective actions to meet and exceed the NCAA recommendations and requirements."

Cooper-Dyke, a two-time WNBA MVP, helped lead the Comets to the first four WNBA titles, winning the finals MVP each time. She's in the third year of her first college coaching job.

The Panthers went 7-21 her first season, then 19-14 last year, the school's first winning record. The team won the Southwestern Athletic Conference title and went to the NCAA tournament.

The team is 7-7 this season.

MEAC/SWAC SPORTS MAINSTREET COMMENTS: Another case of the NCAA killing a mosquito with an ax.... Cynthia Cooper-Dyke made mistakes and is certainly culpable, along with Prairie View A&M University athletic director Charles McClelland and compliance coordinator, Angela McMorris.

But is the punishment fair and reasonable?

The violations here were really the direct result of the failure to educate the coach on (NCAA) rules," said Josephine Potuto, the chair of the NCAA Committee on Infractions. "It was also a failure of the university to have a culture of compliance."

"I am relieved that it's all over, first off and then I'm relieved that the NCAA saw the violations for what they were," Cooper-Dyke told Houston television station KRIV. "They were mistakes that were made by a rookie coach with no previous NCAA experience and not very familiar with the NCAA rules and that was my mistake."

Cooper-Dyke is thrilled her team will still be able to play for the SWAC title and can still earn a spot in the NCAA tournament. The NCAA did not levy any post-season bans against Prairie View. McClelland says he remains totally committed to Cynthia Cooper-Dyke as the Lady Panthers head coach.

Reference: NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions Report No.277 Case No. M268

PVAMU vs. Alabama State Photo Gallery

Prairie View A&M University Marching Storm

Prairie View A&M at Alabama State

Alabama State Sports Information

The Match-up

Teams: Alabama State (4-2, 3-2 SWAC) vs. Prairie View A & M (3-2, 2-2 SWAC)
Series: ASU leads 20-1
Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Montgomery's Cramton Bowl
Tickets: $15 in advance; $18 on day of the game

After two tough losses, the Alabama State Hornets return home for a Saturday afternoon match-up with the Prairie View A & M Panthers. The Hornets fell to Jackson State 32-20 on Saturday. ASU seem poised for another magical 4th quarter comeback when Alex Engram hit Fred Ragsdale hit for a touchdown to pull within 23-20. However, JSU tailback Eric Haw answered with a 66-yard touchdown run to seal the game.

For ASU, Jay Peck continues to lead the SWAC in rushing. He has 600 yards on 132 attempts, and averages 100 yards per game. Redshirt-sophomore linebacker Rechard Johnson is also making a name for himself. After spending the 2006 season as an understudy to All-American Chris Dupuy, Johnson is now 4th in the SWAC in tackles with 56.

In the 1990s, Prairie View lost a record 80 games in a row. To quote ASU head coach Reggie Barlow, "this isn't your father's Prairie View team." Henry Frazier II has the Panthers as 3-2 overall, and 2-2 in the SWAC--good enough for 3rd in the western division race. The two PVAMU losses were by 3 to Grambling and 10 to Southern.

PVAMU quarterback Chris Gibson accounts for just over 100 yards of offense per game, but has made several big plays for his team. Linebacker Zach East is leads the SWAC and the NCAA in tackles. After two tough losses, the Alabama State Hornets return home for a Saturday afternoon match-up with the Prairie View A & M Panthers.

ASU is 20-1 versus Prairie View all-time. The Panthers sole win came back in the teams' first match-up in 1931.

Prairie View coach blasts officials

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Southwestern Athletic Conference Interim Commissioner Duer Sharp said Prairie View coach Henry Frazier III will likely face discipline from the conference after Frazier on Monday morning used the conference’s media teleconference to blast officiating.

“Either they’re cheating or they’re incompetent,” Frazier said of SWAC referees. “Either way you look at it, they have to go.”

When Sharp got on the teleconference later in the morning, Sharp said Frazier had crossed the line.

“It affects what we do, professionally, when we hear a coach say the referees don’t seem competent or are cheating,” Sharp said. “That was probably the most disappointing thing I heard. That’s just something we won’t tolerate here.”

Sharp said Monday afternoon he had talked with Frazier. Sharp said he was sending a letter to Prairie View, and Sharp said Prairie View could appeal any disciplinary action.

“It’s disappointing he used this forum to make those comments,” Sharp said. “It goes against the code of conduct.”

Prairie View won 17-7 at Alcorn State on Saturday.

In that game, Prairie View was called for nine penalties for 78 yards and Alcorn was flagged five times for 30 yards.

Frazier said calls were made in error against Prairie View throughout the game and that on Alcorn’s only score, Nate Hughes’ 70-yard punt return in the second quarter, Alcorn was guilty of clipping twice but not called for either one.

“The referees have to get coached up,” Frazier said. “They’re going to cost people jobs.”

Photo: Prairie View Head Football Coach Henry Frazier

Frazier, who said he also had issue with the statistics kept by Alcorn at the game, said he had forwarded the tape to the conference office and had informed SWAC interim coordinator of officials Harold Mitchell Sr. that he had problems with the way the game was called.


Sharp confirmed Frazier had taken those steps.
“I’ve had several apologies (from the conference office). It’s just the first time I’ve said something,” Frazier said of previous complaints during his four seasons at the school.

Sharp said he has not gotten complaints from Frazier this season until this weekend.

“I’ve never heard from Coach Frazier. &hellip That surprises me,” Sharp said.

Frazier said, in his time at Prairie View, his staff had counted 64 calls against his team in which a flag flew in behind a breakaway play.

“We’re going to put a highlight tape together,” Frazier said.

Frazier said Prairie View (3-2) may be getting penalized excessively because the program’s long history of losing.

“A lot of times people can’t believe we’re a good football team,” Frazier said.

Prairie View has been penalized 53 times for 499 yards this season. Of 10 SWAC teams, only Jackson State, with 53 penalties for 578 yards, has had more yardage stepped off than PV.

“It’s been like that all season long,” Frazier said. “It’s getting frustrating, because it’s on film.”

Sharp said his office routinely reviews officiating and regularly gets input from coaches.

“If you do make bad calls on a consistent basis, you won’t work in this league,” Sharp said.

PVAMU Volleyball undefeated in SWAC

PVAMU Sports Information

GRAMBLING, La.-The Prairie View A&M volleyball team improved their record to 8-9 after defeating Grambling State and Alcorn State on the road this past Friday in Grambling, La. PVAMU remains undefeated in conference play at 3-0, and currently sit atop the SWAC’s western division standings.

The first match of the doubleheader was against the GSU Lady Tigers. Grambling State remained competitive, pushing the match to four games. PVAMU took the first game 30-25, but the Lady Tigers rallied to win the second game 22-30. The Lady Panthers eventually prevailed, in the third and fourth games with a hard fought 30-27 victory in the third game, and a convincing 30-19 win in last game.

PVAMU had 21 total team blocks versus Grambling State’s 14.5. PVAMU’s Tacho Richard led all players with 13 kills, senior Tamika Newman was right behind her with 12. The Lady Panther’s Laura de la Fuente compiled a game high 31 assists.

In the second match, PVAMU faced Alcorn State. The Lady Panthers quickly defeated the Lady Braves, shutting them out in three games, 30-18, 30-15, and 30-9. PVAMU’s Newman had a game high 11 kills, and fellow teammate de la Fuente compiled 17 assists.

Prairie View A&M will now head back on the road to face the Arkansas Pine-Bluff Lady Golden Lions. The Lady Panthers will finish off the week with a home game versus Southern this Friday, Sept. 27. Game time has been set for 6:00 p.m. at the William Nicks Building.

Prairie View A&M releases women's basketball schedule

Prairie View A&M University Sports Information

Prairie View, Texas — The Prairie View A&M University women’s basketball team will play a 29-game schedule in 2007-08 as they look to defend their Southwestern Conference title and make a return trip to the NCAA Tournament under the direction of third-year head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke. The Lady Panthers play 11 home games while traveling to take on teams from the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Big 12, Conference USA (C-USA), PAC-10, and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

“This will be the most challenging schedule that I have faced on the Division I level playing against two SEC schools (Florida & Georgia), two Big 12 team (Texas A&M and Baylor) and two Conference USA schools (Rice and UTEP) in addition to playing in the Bahamas Tournament,” said Cooper-Dyke. “It’s always difficult to repeat the next season as champions because there is no surprise factor; instead we have a bull’s eye on our back. The quality of the schools that we’ll play and the conferences they come from will prepare us for inter-league play so there will be no easy games for us this season.”

Photo: PVAMU'S Gaati Werema, #20 Guard, 6-0 Soph., Orlando Christian Prep H.S., Orlando, Fla.

Prairie View A&M will be facing five of their 11 non-conference opponents for the first time in team history. The Lady Panthers open up the season in the Basketball Travelers Tip Off Tourney against St. Mary’s College of California (Nov. 9) Howard (Nov. 10), and Baylor (Nov. 11).The Lady Panthers then travel to College Station to take on sister school, Texas A&M for a first-time meeting with the Aggies (Nov. 15). Five days later, they travel to Gainesville to play the Gators of the University of Florida.

They will then head out to Freeport, Bahamas to play in the Junkanoo Jam before the Thanksgiving holiday and play against SEC member Georgia (Nov. 23) and either USC or Virginia Tech the following day.

The Lady Panthers open the month of December on the road in Thibodaux, Louisiana as they will square off against the Colonels of Nicholls State for a 2pm tilt (Dec. 8). Prairie View A&M will host one of two home games vs. Houston Baptist University on Dec. 13. For the second year in a row, the Lady Panthers travel to El Paso to compete against UTEP (Dec. 18) and take a pre-Christmas trip to Nacogdoches, TX to play Stephen F. Austin (Dec. 20). Finally the Lady Panthers round off the out of conference play and welcome the Lady Owls of Rice to the William Nicks Arena on Dec. 28.

PVAMU opens Southwestern Athletic Conference play with two home games beginning Saturday, Jan. 5 against Southern University. Prairie View A&M will return to the court 48 hours later to host Alcorn State.

Defense sparks Southern University’s 3-0 start

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Tennessee State at Southern
WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: A.W. Mumford Stadium
TV: Tape-delay, 3:30 p.m. Sun., CST
RADIO: KQXL-FM, 106.5

Southern has allowed one second-half touchdown all season — with 16 seconds left in the opener as the Jaguars played more for time than score.

That’s not how this was supposed to happen.

The thinking going in was, Southern’s offseason attrition left the Jaguars thin and young and that combination would have them wearing down as games wore on.

Not so.

Southern (3-0, 2-0), which hosts Tennessee State (2-1) of the Ohio Valley Conference at 6 p.m. Saturday in A.W. Mumford Stadium, has gotten better throughout the games.

A big reason for the undefeated start is the way SU has played in the second half, outscoring the opposition 36-9.

Between substitution patterns and coaching adjustments, Southern’s defense has been stingy and dominating after halftime.

Mississippi Valley State got 9 yards in the entire second half. Prairie View changed quarterbacks, with its playmaker Chris Gibson ineffective, and couldn’t convert on fourth-and-3 at the SU 28-yard line. Florida A&M couldn’t convert a key fourth-and-1 at the SU 25 in the third quarter and threw two interceptions, one setting up the go-ahead score and the other in the Southern end zone.

“The thing that helps is, we do a game plan and we actually have adjustments in the gameplan,” said SU defensive coordinator Terrence Graves, who is also the defensive backs coach. “We practice it throughout the week, so it’s nothing they haven’t seen for the most part. Little, subtle adjustments.

“Those guys understand the little wrinkles, adjust to them and do a good job of executing.”

After getting burned for two long touchdowns in the second quarter of the season opener with FAMU, Southern has clamped down, allowing just two touchdowns (and a safety, charged to the punting unit) in the last 10 quarters.

“Those guys are doing a good job of really just executing the defense,” Graves said. “That’s a credit to them, because it means something to them.”

Southern had three interceptions, three sacks and two fourth-down stops in a 12-2 win over Prairie View on Saturday.

Gibson came in averaging 99.5 rushing yards per game. He had minus-17 and suffered his first two sacks of the season.

“They took away some of the things we wanted to do,” Prairie View coach Henry Frazier III said. “Coach Graves and his staff were on it. &hellip We’re going to look at where they were robbing us &hellip see how they took it away and we’ll correct it.”

Remember, though, that there is not a senior among Southern’s front seven (its linebackers and line).

“(First-year linebackers coach Todd) Middleton and (defensive line coach David) Geralds are doing a good job up front of making those guys aware of what to look for and what to respond to, making sure they’re in the right places and paying attention to detail,” Graves said. “They’re playing well together.”

At the core of this success, the team’s playmakers have made plays, as Southern head coach Pete Richardson has pointed out.

The secondary, headlined by the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s preseason defensive player of the year in free safety Jarmaul George and a three-year starter in cornerback Michael Williams (11 tackles), has lived up to expectations.

Strong safety Glenn Bell, the team’s top tackler last season, has 23 tackles, with that interception in the end zone and a fumble recovery in the end zone. &hellip George has 20 tackles and two interceptions.

Junior Johnathan Malveaux, the most veteran of linebackers, leads the team in tackles at 29.

The two veterans on the defensive line, end Vince Lands and tackle Joseph Selders, have produced.

Lands, this week’s SWAC Defensive Player of the Week, has 13 tackles, with 5.5 for losses, including 2.5 sacks, along with three pass breakups and two quarterback hurries. And Selders has 14 tackles.

Meanwhile, junior defensive tackle Dwayne Charles (13 tackles) continues to make the progression coaches expected.

And sophomore drop linebacker Gary Chapman (14 tackles) is showing he can be what he looked like he could be in preseason camp.

And the tag-team of Allan Baugh (11 tackles, one interception) and Brian Lewis (eight tackles, one sack) has worked at eagle linebacker.

“We’ve got some guys who are coming in and making plays, just doing a good job of understanding what to do and how to do it,” Graves said. “We emphasize playing fast and playing hard.”

Southern has totaled five interceptions, 14 pass breakups, six sacks and two fumble recoveries.

“We made big plays at the right time,” George said.