JONESBORO, Ark. -- Arkansas State University President Ray Thornton said Thursday the school was lucky to escape with no more than two years' probation from the NCAA for recruiting violations in its basketball program.
'It is gratifying that the penalties were less severe than those already imposed by the Southland Conference,' Thornton said in a statement.
Probation by the NCAA banned the Indians from postseason games. The Southland Conference had already stripped three of 15 scholarships from the school and had forbidden head Coach Marvin Adams and his only assistant, Nelson Catalina, from recruiting next year.
Charles Alan Wright, chairman of the NCAA Committee on Infractions, said the penalty from the NCAA would have been harsher if the Southland Conference had not already acted.
Adams and Catalina were accused of improperly arranging transportation for players they were trying to recruit, sending one recruit laminated newspaper clippings and letting two recruits work out with the team. The NCAA said the coaches violated another rule by denying their actions.
None of the recruits involved decided to attend ASU.
'Let me assure supporters of ASU's athletic programs that the mistakes of the last several years have been corrected,' Thornton said. 'The university took prompt action last spring as soon as the charges were brought to the attention of the administration, and I am pleased that the NCAA recognized ASU's commitment to compliance with NCAA legislation.'
