We Told You So, D-G

We hate end-zone dances because, as one college football coach once said, we like to act like we’ve been there before. But this is one case of taunting that is deserved.

In the June 11 issue of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal, we reported that the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s investigation into the University of Arkansas football program was “ongoing” and that “new allegations” regarding improper payments to players were being made. We spoke to an individual who was interviewed by the NCAA.

In fact, our report said, “The NCAA’s newest questions … concern everything from cash gifts to incentive money for players, such as paying money for tackles and big plays.”

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s sports staff quickly followed up with a column that discounted our story and absolved the Razorbacks of any wrongdoing. Of course, our report didn’t say the Hogs were guilty of anything — we were waiting on the objective, independent study to be concluded before forming an opinion.

But eager to offer a dutiful apology, the D-G rushed to the Hogs’ defense.

On Dec. 21, the UA issued a press release that said the NCAA had advised it of further inquiries. Then on Christmas Day, a sports section front column in the D-G acknowledged that more questions were being asked about Razorbacks football. The columnist wrote that the allegations included one former player who apparently told the NCAA, “he received $100 for every touchdown scored.”

Of course, the columnist neglected to credit us for our previous scoop or to remain objective regarding the latest allegations. He could not resist calling the accusations “outrageous” and “ridiculous.”

Those of us in the end zone will reserve such adjectives for that columnist’s objectivity.