Nothing wrong with UK protecting Wall
October 27th, 2009 | 
Author: By LARRY VAUGHT
The more I see how University of Kentucky president Lee Todd handles difficult circumstances, the more I respect him.
He endorsed athletics director Mitch Barnhart giving Rich Brooks a second chance three years ago and that has worked out well for the Wildcats.
He wasn’t afraid to admit UK made a mistake hiring Billy Gillispie and then had the courage not to worry about the national media perception and hired John Calipari.
Now the UK president has said he’s comfortable with trying to protect a student-athlete from the national media’s curiosity.
Kentucky officials were not happy last week when SEC commissioner Mike Slive told ESPN.com that UK freshman John Wall’s eligibility was being questioned because of his association with an AAU coach that was also a licensed agent.
Since then, UK has had no official comment on Wall’s status, a move Todd said he understood according to a story by The Associated Press.
“It’s an issue that we’ve been working on and it’s one where we’re protecting the player,” Todd said. “We don’t know what the answer will be, but when it comes out we’ll be transparent. There’s no reason to expose the young man to a lot of newspaper articles when it’s not necessary until we know the final decision.”
Wall made two unofficial visits to Kentucky during 2007. Brian Clifton, Wall’s AAU coach, was also a certified agent at the time. If Clifton helped pay for Wall’s visits, that would constitute Wall accepting illegal benefits from an agent under NCAA rules.
“I think the fans would like to know what the outcome is,” he told the Lexington Herald-Leader’s Jerry Tipton. “But I don’t think they need to know all the ins and outs because it’s a child’s life we’re trying to protect. And there are privacy rules that we abide by and I feel very comfortable abiding by those privacy rules.”
He should. I have to think the parents of any student-athlete at Kentucky would want him to feel that way.
Trust me, the journalist in me wants to know everything that has happened. But if UK chooses to wait until the investigation/ruling is complete, so be it. What if the NCAA ruled there was no problem and cleared Wall to play? How fair would it have been to put him through this? And if he does have to sit out games, there certainly will be plenty of opportunities for UK officials and Wall to explain what did or did not happen.
As talented as Wall is — and do not doubt his talent — we all have to remember that he is still not a grown man. He’s young and while I would not call him a child, UK should be protecting him and Todd is right to support his athletics officials who have been doing just that.
Posted in UK Basketball
23 Responses to “Nothing wrong with UK protecting Wall”
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I agree completely. UL did the same for Derrick Carracter his freshman year and they said nothing until before the first game. The difference here is that Pat Ford was no longer trying to dig stuff up on them. He was angling for a book deal. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. GO BLUE OR STAY HOME
Larry, I really enjoy your articles. You are a credit to your profession. You are the best!!
Thanks FLCAT. Good point about the Cards, too. Most schools try to do what is right for the player and catch no heat for it
Thanks Larry, always enjoy..
If wall does play the first game or so, and if for some reason he did do this stuff, will uk have to forfeit those games?
UK would, but no chance he plays until he is totally cleared. Sandy Bell is too good at her job to make a mistake like that
I suspect that Wall will not play until after he is cleared to play. If he is not cleared and plays anyway, yes those games would be forfieted.
I’m surprised that the Ky mountains are all out in the east when we deal foolishly with so many mole hills here in central Ky.
Good stuff Mr.Vaught, and Pres. Todd is correct in his thinking as usual. BTW, is the open practice in Freedom Hall seriously happening?
I just hate this for Wall. He seems like a nice guy just trying to live his dream. I so hope everything works out well for him as much as I want to see him play in Blue and White. I want him to succeed in his dream to be a pro. It has to be hard for him not knowing what will happen but I trust that UK is doing all they can to clear him. I dont think it is fair to just be looking at Wall whene Ryan Kelly played for Clifton as well but thats at DUKE go figure hmmm! The NCAA picks and chooses they always have and always will but oh well Im Embracing the hate there is going to be a lot of it for us in the future and Im Loving IT LOL ! GO BIG BLUE 4 LIFE
Nothing official from UK on the practice. Rumor is hot, but UK won’t confirm yet. My guess is that we might find out tomorrow
A parent should appreciate how Dr. Todd has addressed the issue. I am puzzled as to why the NCAA takes so long to examine and rule on this issue and also why there is no mention of responsibility and accountability with the agent.
Larry — my understanding is that the member institutions (in this case, UK) investigate these issues and make the initial determination of whether or not a player is eligible, and in the event it is determined that a violation occurred, UK would then petition the NCAA for reinstatement. Is this your understanding of how the process works? If so, do you have any idea whether UK has concluded matters on its end and is merely awaiting word from the NCAA?
James, my understanding is that UK has finished its part and is working/waiting for the NCAA ruling. I think your understanding of the process is pretty accurate. The problem is there is no way to know how long the NCAA will take.
And J.C. I am with you. the guilty always walk away like when a coach gets a school on probation and he leaves while the players and program pay the price
I do not respect any President of any university that does not allow opposing points of views be heard at meetings. Wildcat Coal Lodge is a joke, pure and simple. The Univeristy of Kentucky did not even have the class to require the name not be Wildcat Coal. Wildcat Coal is illegally mined coal and is a slap in th eface to honest hard working miners and mine companies who do the right thing.
But things like that do not matter when you sell your soul. I hope UK never builds another Arena or Football Stadium. I do not wanna know what they will allow then. I am greatly disappointed in UK!
Larry,
It is always a pleasure reading your stuff. You, unlike others I use to line the bird cage with; write with an honesty that is very lacking in your profession these days. You write both the good and the bad, praise where needed and criticize when needed, unlike the LHL and it’s supposedly hometown sports reporters.
Keep up the good work and as always, your opinion is welcome, even though I don’t always agree it is accepted and understood where you are coming from.
Keep it up my good man, you are a credit to your profession and peers, inwhich you stand head and shoulders above.
De-
As always, you sum up the facts in an analytical manner, and without attempting to create news. Thanks for updating us.
JB
I don’t agree with you Larry. UK should be candid and upfront about the situation. To be less than forthcoming often leads to mistrust and misunderstanding. Clarity and openness are what is needed, not a coverup.
Thanks DeWayne, I try to make it like we are having a convesation and then even when my friends and I disagree, there’s no reason we still can’t be respectful and still look for good points to share.
James, I can see your point. However, I have a hard time faulting anyone for taking a $7 million donation in these times. I don’t consider that selling UK’s soul any more than accepting money from tobacco, bourbon or horse racing would be. to me, it’s a way to upgrade without using any taxpayer money. I don’t know all the inner workings of the coal industry, but I know coal has played a big role in Kentucky’s history. And whether we like it or not, a new stadium or arena will have a sponsor’s name attached. Just the way of the world we live in now
Tim, it is not a cover up as long as the truth comes out. I expect UK to let everyone know exactly what is what when the ruling comes down. Guess I just approach this more from a parent’s point of view and how I would want my son or daughter protected until the whole issue is resolved.
Remember, there were rumors for months that some freshmen were not cleared academically to play. UK had no comment on that, and now all freshmen are cleared academically. We’ll see how UK handles this when the final resolution is made or what is said tonight after the Blue-White Game
I’m sorry to be so Kentucky-blunt… but Mike Slive acted like a media whore and Jerry Tipton acted like, well, just a whore.
HI Larry. Long time troller first time poster. I love your stuff. We don’t get “QUALITY” coverage here in the southwest. First off. Why is it that Forde and Tipton will make a mountains of mole hills when it comes to UK but neither will even comment on the real reason Pitino’s boy left for Flordia. Everyone in the Florida camp knows that he left his father because of the affair and the lies to try and cover it up. That to me is a story. This boy Wall who did something with BCG and Clifton are a no story other than, “Ok – pay the money back and sit vs teams the 3 Amigos could beat by themselves. I guess I just wonder why Forde and Tipton won’t cover a story about a man who has destroyed the integrity of his own “house” both literally and at the campus with his lies, deceit and the anger of his son to go to Florida. Anyone with a journalistic IQ point above 3 knows that’s why his son left yet I can’t find one story about it. But the press will destroy Calipari for an incident when he wasn’t even in Lexington. Can we just go ahead and blame Calipari for the Gulf War, Eve eating the fruit and you know what it wasn’t Judas that betrayed Jesus it was Calipari. Thanks Larry for your “responsible journalism”.
Thanks for posting Edward. Love the line about Eve. That is really funny.
I can’t answer for other writers. I just try to be fair and treat athletes the way I wanted my son to be treated when he was playing college football. They are still kids and deserve respect and privacy.
Hopefully this will be settled soon and everyone can move on and let John Wall enjoy his time at Kentucky