Sunshine state

Chris Rainey and the top-ranked Gators blew past FIU on Saturday. Check out all the best college action.

Nowhere to go

No bowl, New Year's or otherwise. Jon Paul Morosi says Michigan fans must face the sad reality of a season-ending loss to Ohio State.

Identity crisis

Before Notre Dame deals with Charlie Weis, it needs to figure out just what kind of program it wants to be, Don Borst says.

NCAA records: Dez violated bylaw

by RYAN SHARP, Asst. Sports Editor
rsharp@opubco.com , The Oklahoman

add this RSS email print

There was more to the NCAA's issues with Dez Bryant than the Oklahoma State receiver's lies about meeting with Deion Sanders.

According to documents obtained by The Oklahoman through an open records request, the NCAA found that Bryant violated bylaws for preferential treatment because of his visit to Fieldhouse USA in Frisco, Texas, without paying for his time at the facility.

The NCAA found that Bryant violated bylaw 12.1.2.1.6, which deals with preferential treatment, benefits or services. Athletes who violate that bylaw are required to repay the value of the benefit to a charity of their choice.

In a rules "interpretation request" sent by OSU to the NCAA , the school said use of the indoor turf by any member of the public would cost $140 per hour. The school also said Sanders and Bryant said they "jogged around" on the turf during their one-hour visit to the facility, that there was no football equipment used and that they were the only ones on the turf during that time.

After the NCAA ruled the free use of the facility a violation - a secondary infraction - OSU sent another letter to the NCAA arguing Bryant should only be responsible for half of the $140 and that Sanders should be responsible for the other half. The school also said Bryant would repay the $70 to a charity of his choice - an NCAA -required action.

According to OSU spokesman Gary Shutt, the NCAA accepted the argument that Bryant should only have to pay $70. It's unclear if Bryant has paid.

Bryant was suspended indefinitely by OSU on Oct. 7 for lying to NCAA officials. The NCAA upheld that suspension and extended it to one year on Oct. 27, which OSU appealed. The NCAA denied that appeal on Thursday.

According to the documents, Sanders' relationship with Fieldhouse USA stemmed from his desire to hold his "Prime U" camp there. An official at the facility said Sanders had agreed to hold a pre-NFL Combine training program at Fieldhouse USA that would be run by former NFL players Omar Stoutmire and Kevin Mathis.

Because of Sanders' relationship with the facility, he and Bryant were allowed to visit the facility without going through any check-in process where they would have been asked to pay.

Copyright 2009 The Oklahoman, All Rights Reserved

	Terms & Conditions Privacy Copyright © 2009 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Play College Football Pick'em

Please note by clicking on "add a comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.