Pruett linked to Herd scandal

Associated Press
Published: August 19, 2008

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Sworn affidavits in a federal lawsuit implicate former Marshall football coach and current Virginia defensive coordinator Bob Pruett in an academic scandal and a jobs program for athletes that drew NCAA violations in 2001.

The NCAA sanctions, which placed the Huntington university on four years probation and cost the school football and basketball scholarships, did not name Pruett.

The affidavits from ex-strength and conditioning coach Mike Jenkins and former linebackers Sam Goines and Charlie Tynes were attached to recent court documents in a 5-year-old federal lawsuit filed by David Ridpath, Marshall’s former NCAA compliance officer.

Ridpath is suing Marshall, Pruett and others claiming he was used as a scapegoat, was demoted after the scantions were imposed and then fired two years later.

The affidavits, some as much as a year old, were first reported by CBSSportsline.com.

Jenkins’ affidavit said he was at a spring 1999 meeting in which Pruett assured the staff that former defensive back Danny Derricott and “certain football athletes” would be eligible for the fall 2000 season because they were assured of perfect grades in a physical education class.

Volunteer assistant strength coach Bruce McAllister gave seven athletes a study guide that ended up being the actual exam. The NCAA’s 2001 report said when McAllister’s action was exposed to other students taking the class, the professor gave everyone an “A” in the course.

The lawsuit has accused Pruett and other members of the coaching staff of trying to cover up extra work benefits for athletes who performed janitorial duties at $25 an hour at a business owned by football booster Marshall Reynolds.

The university was ordered to sever all ties with the Huntington multimillionaire for at least five years. Reynolds has said he was wrongly saddled with most of the blame by the university during the NCAA investigation.

Goines and Tynes said in their affidavits that Pruett told them during their recruitment that jobs would be available to them upon their arrival at Marshall. They were academic non-qualifiers, or “props,” and didn’t qualify for scholarships. Such athletes cannot practice with a team, and NCAA bylaws prohibit them from receiving work benefits arranged by the school during their first year in school.

Both Goines and Tynes said they were paid $25 per hour, but were forced to sign documents indicating they were paid $12.50 per hour.

“I was told that if I didn’t sign, I could not play,” Goines said in the affidavit. “I knew the $12.50 an hour figure was wrong, but signed anyway because I wanted to play.”

Both Goines and Tynes said at Pruett’s direction, they signed the statements in his office.

The NCAA suspended Goines for one game and Tynes for four games during the 2001 season.

The defendants filed a motion last month for summary judgment in the lawsuit. U.S. District Judge Chuck Chambers has not ruled on the motion and set a trial date for Oct. 21 in Huntington.

Pruett retired from Marshall in 2005 and is now an assistant coach at UVa. His attorney, Edward Kowal of Huntington, said Pruett “looks forward to the opportunity to fully litigate the case later this year, and will not comment further on the litigation.”

The lawsuit alleges fraud, breach of contract and violations of Ridpath’s free speech and due process rights. He is seeking $1 million in damages.