NCAA Sniffing Hogs

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

The issue, first brought up by the Southeastern Conference and University of Arkansas in 1999 regarding UA booster and Dallas businessman Ted Harrod and his son, T.J., will not go away. In fact, it has recently gained momentum.

The first investigation into Harrod overpaying Razorback football players for work led to the suspension of defensive end Randy Garner from the 2000 Cotton Bowl and the loss of two football scholarships. Garner repaid Harrod the money to Harrod’s J&H Trucking. The NCAA prohibits players being overpaid for work performed.

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 traveled overseas together in the past.

Recently, the NCAA has picked up the investigation. And this time around, the questions have taken far more serious tones, according to one source.

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

rMum’s the Word

UA sports information director Kevin Trainor said he could only echo Broyles’ previous sentiments in that the UA will not comment on the Harrod matter while the NCAA’s review into the allegations is pending.

“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 this time.

The investigation has yet to reach the UA campus, rather dealing currently 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.”

There are said to be many more players 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 in its possession.

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.

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