NCAA Questions Hogs About Harrod

If new questions raised by NCAA investigators can’t be answered satisfactorily, Houston Nutt’s Arkansas Razorbacks will have more to worry about this fall than who their starting quarterback will be.

The NCAA’s investigation of the University of Arkansas football program and its involvement with booster Ted Harrod and his son, T.J., of Dallas, recently gained momentum. This time, the NCAA’s questions have taken far more serious tones, said a source who asked not to be identified.

Several former UA officials have reportedly been questioned about incidents dating as far back as 1990, the majority of which involve Harrod, although there was some mention of past Razorbacks’ work at Springdale Country Club. The NCAA’s newest questions about Harrod, who owns J&H Trucking Co., concern everything from cash gifts to incentive money for players, such as paying money for tackles and big plays.

The issue was first brought up by the Southeastern Conference and the UA in 1999. That initial investigation into Harrod overpaying Razorback football players for work led to defensive end Randy Garner’s suspension from the 2000 Cotton Bowl and the loss of two football scholarships. Garner repaid Harrod the money to his trucking company.

The NCAA prohibits players being overpaid for work.

The UA banned the Harrods from associating with the school’s athletic programs for five years because of allegations they paid athletes for work they didn’t do. Prior to the investigation, the father and son had been regulars on the UA sidelines, even having locker room privileges at games.

Ted Harrod is a longtime friend of UA Athletic Director Frank Broyles. The two have vacationed together.

UA sports information director Kevin Trainor said he could only echo Broyles’ previous statements that the UA will not comment on the Harrod matter while the NCAA reviews the allegations.

“I can go on the record saying we have no comment,” Trainor said.

Nutt, who became Arkansas’ head coach in time for the 1998 season, also has a long relationship with Harrod, dating back to Nutt’s days as an assistant coach. Nutt even admitted to calling Harrod during the interview process Arkansas was conducting following the firing of Danny Ford.

The NCAA is perhaps checking to confirm that the UA is following its own guidelines it set following the earlier investigation. But some of the questions regarding Harrod are much more serious.

The investigation has yet to reach the UA campus, rather dealing with former players, coaches and administrators. When asked if the investigation would be on campus by the start of the football season, our source said, “If not sooner.”

Many more players are said to be involved in the investigation than originally reported, and Harrod apparently wrote checks rather than paid cash to them. The source said the NCAA has the canceled checks.

The original investigation stemmed from T.J. Harrod’s ex-wife, who accused both her former husband and father-in-law of paying Arkansas athletes.

After the initial penalties were handed down, Nutt said, “… our alumni have got to help us. It’s hard to patrol 24-7, 365 days a year. And [the alumni and boosters] know the rules, especially the guy [Harrod] I’m talking about.”