There's nothing Utah coach Rick Majerus hates more than losing a ball game.
Well, maybe one thing.Don't ever say that Majerus' players aren't true student-athletes. That's what a story in Monday's USA Today did and it made the Ute coach "livid."
As a result, Majerus called a press conference Tuesday afternoon to refute the story, which stated that the University of Utah basketball program had a sorry 29 percent graduation rate over a four-class average from 1989-90 through 1992-93. To Majerus, who prides himself on his team's academic prowess almost as much as its won-loss record, it was the worst thing that could be said about his program, especially when the information was so misleading.
Majerus brought along his 14 players, who were seated in long rows on each side of him, to the press conference at the Huntsman Center. On either side of Majerus were University president Bernie Machen and athletic director Chris Hill along with former U. president Chase Peterson. Several former players were seated in the audience. On the walls were posters showing former players' academic accomplishments, including details about some players who did not graduate.
"This program speaks to academics first and foremost, above all else," said Majerus. "So as the coach of an institution that prides itself on academic success and prowess and has a team that has represented the best of what the term student-athlete has meant throughout this decade, I felt it necessary to hold this press conference."
The offending story, written by Steve Wieberg, reported that the NCAA was considering reforms aimed at improving graduation rates in men's basketball. It said, "If the graduation rate tie-in was in effect today and the formula for computing rates was left unchanged, 109 of the 312 schools in the survey would lose a scholarship, among them . . . Utah."
Although Majerus was critical of the USA Today story, the real gripe is with the NCAA criteria for graduation rates. It says a player must graduate within six years to be counted as a graduate. That doesn't take into effect missionaries who leave the program for two years or players who transfer out of the program. Utah has had numerous missionaries, including five the past two years, and several players have transferred out of the program over the years.
"As of today at 5 p.m., in a Pocatello, Idaho hospital, Larry Cain is practicing medicine, and the NCAA says he is doing it without a degree," said Majerus. "He is a board-certified surgeon who does have a degree, but because he didn't graduate within six years, the NCAA has got Cain as a non-degree student."
Majerus also cited the example of Byron Wilson, who left school without a degree to play professionally overseas. He returned to Utah and got his degree by attending summer school for three quarters but isn't counted among the players who have graduated.
According to Hill, even Andre Miller, who had to graduate in four years to gain an extra year of eligibility, isn't considered a graduate by the NCAA criteria because he wasn't on financial aid as a freshman.
And a player who transfers and goes on to graduate from his new school isn't counted as a graduate for either school. Majerus used the example of Andy Jensen (who was also in attendance), who played at Utah, then transferred to Weber State, where he graduated. Another, Thomas Wyatt, graduated from New Mexico State.
"Our graduation rate for seniors is 72 percent," said Majerus, whose voice cracked with emotion at times. "No one in the country in the last 10 years has had more players on the honor roll. We have had the most academic all-Americans the last two years (three) and are the only team to play in the Final Four starting two academic all-Americans."
Of the 25 student-athletes who have played under Majerus through their senior seasons, 18 have graduated, which is where the 72 percent graduation number comes from. If the four seniors on this year's team, who are all on track to graduate, do indeed graduate, the rate will rise to 76 percent.
Majerus also pointed out that neither Keith Van Horn, nor Michael Doleac, who are both NBA players, have graduated, in part because he urged them to skip their final quarters to prepare for the NBA Draft. He said both are working toward their degrees and that Van Horn even came back and completed 11 hours this summer, when he also signed a $71 million contract. The graduation rate will climb even higher if those two graduate.
"This may seem like a tempest in a teapot to you, but this accusation is probably the worst that could be labeled against us," said Majerus. "We find this to be very detrimental to what the program stands for. I'd much rather lose every game than have someone be jaundiced by association with this program and the idea that we are not committed to the highest academic values there are."