High rank, low grades Four UMass players put on probation - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)

AMHERST -- The House That John Built was rocking. As the bandswung into the 'Here's Johnny' theme from the 'Tonight' show, 7,000fans at the University of Massachusetts basketball team's firstpractice last Friday at midnight stood and applauded coach JohnCalipari, without whom, the emcee proclaimed, 'none of us would behere.'

Under the 35-year-old Calipari, the UMass team has become anational power, and university officials credit its success withluring out-of-state students and boosting alumni donations. Thisyear, the team ranks in the top five in preseason polls.

But academically, there are simmering problems. After years oftouting its high graduation rate and academic triumphs, the UMassbasketball team has four players on probation and three others whohave received warnings.

According to sources and student transcripts made available to theGlobe, four of the team's 13 scholarship players, including threelikely starters, are on probation under school rules because theiroverall grade-point averages have fallen below 2.0, or a C average.They are eligible to play only because of a loophole in NationalCollegiate Athletic Association regulations governing collegeathletics, and because of a lenient UMass policy that conflicts withthe school's own handbook on student rights and responsibilities.

Senior guard Michael Williams (1.96), junior forward Donta Bright(1.91), sophomore center Marcus Camby (1.80) and sophomore reserveforward Tyrone Weeks (1.90) could face suspension or dismissal fromschool if their grades don't improve. The averages for Williams,Bright and Camby include summer school, while Weeks' averageincludes courses taken through last spring.

Camby, an All-America candidate, could have been suspended afterthe spring term. But after reviewing his case, officials allowed himto stay in school and remain on the team.

Steven Sattell, a former head tutor for the team who left early in1993, said that the pressures of big-time basketball at UMass havegradually pushed academics aside. For the past two years, he said,'There was no one with qualifications working with players. Whenacademics went down, so did our performance on the court at the endof the year. I think Calipari is learning what we once knew as anorganization: Players respond better when all their needs are met.'

UMass athletic officials declined to discuss the performance ofindividual students, citing each student's right to privacy.Calipari, interviewed before Friday's rally, defended his program,saying its 75 percent graduation rate is higher than the university'sas a whole. He acknowledged, however, that the team's grades slippedlast year. 'Part of the problem has been me,' he said. 'I got alittle soft on the disciplinary side. I didn't suspend a guy whenmaybe I should have.'

Calipari did recently suspend Williams for three upcoming games --two exhibitions and the season opener Nov. 25 against defendingnational champion Arkansas -- for missing classes in the spring. Asports management major, Williams had a spring average of .75, orbelow a D. His grades included an F in 'Psychology of Sport andPhysical Activity' and D's in 'Sports Broadcasting' and 'Sociology ofSport and Physical Activity.'

'I got too far behind, and it was hard to catch up,' Williamssaid. 'I was so worried about basketball and getting to the FinalFour that I let classes slip my mind a little bit.' He said he isattending class regularly this term.

An education major, Bright barely outdid Williams in the springterm, averaging .88. He failed 'Biology of Social Issues' and had aD in 'Sex, Drugs and AIDS.' Bright denied having academic problems.

Camby (1.63), Weeks (1.92), junior forward Dana Dingle (1.75) andAll-America senior forward Louis Roe (1.75) were also below 2.0 forthe spring term. Dingle and Roe are not on academic probationbecause their overall averages exceed 2.0. When students drop below2.0 in any semester, they receive a warning.

Five players -- Roe (1.25), Camby (1.75), Weeks (1.88), Williams(1.88) and junior forward Ted Cottrell (1.0) -- were below 2.0 forthe fall of 1993.

Although school athletic officials denied that the move wasrelated to the players' grades, the team's academic adviser wasreplaced this fall by David Glover, who had held the position from1988 through 1991. Glover said he plans to institute writinginstruction for players. 'Maybe the team didn't have a bannerspring term,' he said. 'Some guys struggled. The student athletesand the coaches weren't pleased. I don't know if I was brought in tocorrect anything, but they felt I could improve the system.'

Like most universities with Division 1 basketball programs, UMassrelaxes its admission standards for recruits. The average UMassbasketball player has a combined SAT score of 790, compared to 844for football players, and about 1,000 for all freshmen. Severalrecruits could not play as freshmen under NCAA rules because theirSAT scores were below 700.

Otherwise, to remain eligible for NCAA sports, a player must be in'good academic standing.' But the organization leaves the definitionof that term up to the institution where the player is enrolled.According to NCAA officials, some colleges set a specific grade-pointminimum for eligibility, while others have a policy that places everystudent in good standing.

UMass takes both stances, depending on where you look.

According to the UMass handbook, students are in good standingwhen their cumulative grade-point average is 2.0 or above. Studentswith averages under 2.0 are placed on probation.

But UMass registrar Nancy Fitzpatrick said that the handbook isnot the final word. She said that all enrolled students, includingthose on probation, are in good standing and eligible for sports, andthat in order to lose eligibility, students must be suspended ordismissed from school.

A student whose cumulative average remains below 2.0 for twoconsecutive semesters qualifies for suspension but can appeal forreinstatement, according to university policy. Professor DavidTukey, associate dean of the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, said thateight to 10 athletes, including at least one basketball player, couldhave been suspended after the spring term. He said that most wereallowed to stay in school because of extenuating circumstances, suchas financial or personal problems, or because they did well in summercourses.

Although Tukey declined to identify the basketball player, sourcessay it was Camby. Camby, who passed up playing in the Goodwill Gamesin Russia to attend summer school, acknowledged that he had adifficult transition from high school to college. 'As the seasonprogressed, I adjusted a little bit,' he said. 'Everything is finenow. I'm eligible.'

Michael Jenkins, assistant athletic director for student servicesand compliance, said that 15 percent of all varsity athletes at UMassare on academic probation -- about half of the rate for the men'sbasketball team. Jenkins declined to provide the team's grade-pointaverage.

Calipari, who became coach in 1988, rebuilt a program that hadbeen in shambles on and off the court. Within four years, the teamwon the Atlantic 10 championship and reached the NCAA tournament'sSweet Sixteen. In 1993 the team moved into a plush new facility, the9,500-seat Mullins Center. Calipari himself has become a local icon,with everything from an Amherst clothing store -- Coach Cal's Closet-- to a Springfield television show.

Calipari said that in scheduling away games, he tries to haveplayers miss as few classes as possible. They are required to study10 hours a week, with tutoring as needed. If any player cuts class,the whole team has to practice at 6 a.m.

'The academic support is excellent,' said reserve center JeffMeyer, a fifth-year senior. 'Whenever you need help, you get it.All you have to do is say the word.'

Several players enrolled this past spring in 'Biology of SocialIssues,' which examines, for example, how scientific evidence bearson the political debate over abortion. Bright failed the course,while Roe dropped out.

'There's a general problem all over the country: Athletes areexploited,' said the course's teacher, biology professor John Palmer.'They're just brought in to play some game. They don't get a verygood education, if they get one at all. It's a shame.'