If local fans think the NCAA is being petty in putting the University of Utah on probation for three years for a bunch of minor infractions, they should be glad the Utes didn't have to face the NCAA of 41 years ago.
That was the last time Utah was put on probation, and although it was for only one year, it cost one of the school's finest basketball teams an excellent chance at the Final Four and perhaps even an NCAA Championship.
Unlike the numerous violations cited by the NCAA last week in a 14-page report, back in 1962 Utah was charged with just four — four! — violations, including three that involved an end-of-the-bench basketball player who played a grand total of 12 games the year before and averaged 1.3 points per game. Still, the NCAA deemed them serious enough to derail the team's postseason hopes that year.
"We were disappointed," recalls Danny Hawes, a sophomore forward on the 1961-62 team. "I hadn't really thought about those things, but it seemed severe in those days. It did seem harsh to me."
"It was too bad we didn't get to do anything or go any place after the season," remembers Spence Thurgood, another sophomore on that team.
Jerry Pimm, who was in his first year as an assistant coach at the U., recalled the frustration of having a great team with nowhere to go that year.
"I do remember the feeling," he said "It was tough because of the great success of the year before."
The 1961-62 Utah team was coming off a 23-8 season in which the "Redskins" — their nickname then — went to the Final Four, losing to eventual champion Cincinnati and St. Joseph's in that famous four-overtime consolation game.
With most of the starters back, along with some transfers and top players off an undefeated freshman team, Utah expected big things. All-American center Billy McGill, who would lead the nation with an astounding 38.8 ppg average that year, was returning for his senior season, so it wasn't too far-fetched for some to dream of a national championship.
The Redskins jumped out to an 11-2 record, losing a two-pointer at Arizona State and being upset by USC in the Los Angeles Classic, preventing a dream matchup between McGill and Ohio State's Jerry Lucas in the finals.
Utah had started off Skyline Conference play with a win over rival Utah State when, on Jan. 11, seemingly out of the clear blue, the university received the shocking news.
The NCAA was placing the university on immediate probation for a year because of four violations. The worst part about the probation was
that the school wasn't allowed to participate in any NCAA tournaments, meaning the basketball team's dream of repeating its Final Four appearance was impossible. The NCAA didn't allow any appeal or recourse, leaving the Utah team to only play for the Skyline Conference championship.
But wait until you hear what the violations were.
One involved a football player who had received more money for a job in one year than he was authorized to earn under NCAA rules. The NCAA allowed athletes to earn a certain amount in a job per month and this player, who had a pregnant wife, earned exactly $26.30 more that year than he should have.
The other three violations all involved Barry Epstein, a transfer from Seton Hall who had hardly played during his two years on the team. The NCAA charged that Epstein had been provided with part-time employment and pay for work not done, provided with transportation from New York to Salt Lake and had been given a loan that had not been repaid on time.
In a Deseret News story back then, University President A. Ray Olpin expressed surprise with the NCAA findings, while disputing most of them.
Olpin said the loan for Epstein was through a citizen of Salt Lake and the university didn't know it hadn't been repaid. He also said the "student-athlete" denied being paid for services not rendered and was "willing to testify under oath, if permissible."
Olpin was also quoted as saying, "It was gratifying, at least, to note that the council found no complaints with current operating procedures. However, it must be disappointing to players on a team that is being penalized for acts alleged to have occurred years ago."
Hawes remembers Utah coach Jack Gardner being upset with Epstein and how Gardner felt helpless in the situation because "he had no control over what Barry did." As for the airline ticket, the story was that Epstein either cashed it in or used it to go someplace else without the university's knowledge.
Pimm said his frustration was that the probation "had nothing to do with basketball" and was "really picky." He also believes that the NCAA action stemmed from "jealousy" that certain people had against the Ute program.
"They tried to get McGill on academics or something but could never find anything," he said. "There were some jealous people."
Thurgood says he doesn't remember a lot about his feelings about missing the tournament at the time except that he was sad for McGill.
"It was a tremendous opportunity for Billy," he said. "Not to be able to go to the tournament was unfortunate for him."
Contrast the 1962 probation to the one announced last week. This time there were literally dozens of charges leveled against the Utah program and the entire process took 27 months from the time the U. and the NCAA started looking into charges until the final "verdict" was announced.
This time, the Utes got off without the worst punishment — no postseason play — but did get slapped with three years probation.
Back in '62, the same day the NCAA infractions were announced, Utah played a game against Denver, winning easily 95-70 behind McGill's 42 points. The players basically had to shrug off the punishment.
"It was like, 'Oh, I guess we're not going anywhere' and then you just kept playing," said Hawes. "We just finished the season."
Utah went 12-1 the rest of the way, losing a lone game at Colorado State. They won the conference title outright at 13-1 and finished 23-3 overall.
Something else that made the probation so disappointing to Utah fans was the fact that the NCAA West Regionals were being held down the road in Provo for the first time ever that year. That might have helped the Utes' chances of making it to the Final Four, since the Skyline Conference winner had to win just one game to get to the Regionals.
Utah State, which had lost to Utah twice that season, got the bid from the Skyline Conference in Utah's absence and beat Arizona State to get to Provo. However, the Aggies were beaten by UCLA, which went on to the NCAA Final Four for the first time after defeating Oregon State. That only made the Utes feel worse, since they had defeated the Bruins 88-79 back in December.
All in all, it was a sad season for the Utah basketball team, and those looking back today can only wonder "what if?"
"It was hard to accept," said Pimm. "It was tough on the kids and their families and the staff, as well as the fans."
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