Congrats Auburn

[goallthewayua]

Auburn clears athletic officials in probe of professor accused of helping athletes stay eligible

By DESIREE HUNTER, Associated Press Writer
August 10, 2006

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- Auburn athletics officials were cleared of wrongdoing by a university probe of claims that athletes improperly boosted their grades with easy independent study courses.

Interim university president Ed Richardson said at a news conference Thursday that an internal investigation determined athletes were not steered to the courses of sociology professor Thomas Petee, who was accused by a colleague of helping football players stay eligible by offering classes that required little work or no work.

"In addition, the investigation has not produced any evidence that the athletic program, coaches, counselors, or athletic staff ... had improper communication with or pressured faculty in any way," Richardson said.

Petee and another professor, who also gave "directed-reading" courses, have resigned their administrative posts. Both are professors have tenure at Auburn and will continue to be members of the faculty, Richardson said.

Richardson said the probe, launched after sociology professor James Gundlach made the allegations reported in The New York Times last month about Petee's courses, found it was purely an academic matter. He said 82 percent taking the courses were non-athletes, 18 percent played a sport of some kind and 7.5 percent were football players.

The Times reported 18 members of the undefeated 2004 Auburn football team, including star running back Cadillac Williams, took a combined 97 hours of Petee's courses during their careers.

He said the school is now limiting the number of such "directed-reading," or independent study courses a professor can offer. In the 2004-2005 academic year, Petee had allowed some 250 students to take the courses, which don't require classroom attendance but one-on-one work with the professor.

Richardson said the investigation centered on the sociology department initially but also found problems in the adult education department.

He said Petee was resigning as interim director of the sociology department and James Witte was stepping down as program chair of adult education. Witte also had been allowing students to take independent study courses, but the numbers involved weren't immediately available.

Gundlach alleged that athletes who were at risk of losing eligibility were steered by university athletic officials to easy courses taught by Petee and others.

Richardson said 63 people were interviewed in the investigation and the panel handling the probe had access to more information than Gundlach. He said he is confident athletes were not being steered toward the courses as alleged, but those findings did not make the matter any less serious.

"Our academic reputation is far more important than all the athletic programs put together," he said.

Petee said Thursday he had no problems with the new policies and had anticipated having to give up his administrative duties.

Richardson said the investigation is expected to last about two more weeks. Some students who have graduated still need to be contacted.

He said he has been in contact with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which is Auburn's accrediting agency, and the NCAA, which governs college athletics. He said the completed report will be made public after it is reviewed by SACS.

Happy to see atleast one SEC team not get hosed by the crooked arse NCAA or they just have their hands full with the Sooners right now. Either way congradulations.

[Wizard of Orange]

Nice attitude ,GoUA. I wonder if our Bama brethren are as gracious.

[goallthewayua]

I'm not a Barn fan by any stretch, but I would even take bama's back when it comes to the NCAA, but to answer your question NO they will not be gracious especially after all the smack they talked when the story first broke.

[Denny Chimes]

Are you guys freaking serious? AUBURN cleared THEMSELVES. What do you expect? This issue is far from over. SACS will have a say real soon, and if they don't, it's a loss for everyone in the SEC. There must be standards. This academic fraud situation at the Barn makes the conference look bad.

[azamugg]

I'm not a Barn fan by any stretch, but I would even take bama's back when it comes to the NCAA, but to answer your question NO they will not be gracious especially after all the smack they talked when the story first broke.

nail on head

[AUFootball24]

You think this same thing doesn't go on at Bama and every other SEC school???

You guys are such j.a.'s EVERY SCHOOL has directed study classes, morons!

[zorak34]

Are you guys freaking serious? AUBURN cleared THEMSELVES. What do you expect? This issue is far from over. SACS will have a say real soon, and if they don't, it's a loss for everyone in the SEC. There must be standards. This academic fraud situation at the Barn makes the conference look bad.

Your Dreams of exterminating Auburn is over anyone in there right mind knows there wasn't any serious academic fraud. All SACS wanted to see if Auburn will fix the situation. But keep dreaming I know you guys fear the thumb and your only saving chance was to get Auburn complete out of the picture. Why don't you just keep talking about your past NC that usual makes you guys feel better until we wip you again and sack your qb 11 times like we did last year.

[the Paradox]

In a related story Maurice Clarett just cleared himself of any wrongdoing. :laugh:

[GAMECOCK_FAN]

In a related story Maurice Clarett just cleared himself of any wrongdoing. :laugh:
Now I don't care who you are....that right there is funny. :laugh:

Rep points for a great first post.

[AUFootball24]

That was funny

but, fear the thumb, bitches

Auburn has clearly taken the title of the finest football program and school in all of Alabama

[AceLeroy]

Now I don't care who you are....that right there is funny. :laugh:

Rep points for a great first post.

Yep......for a first post , he didn't bother knocking on the door , he just kicked it in. :laugh:

Welcome to the board Paradox.

[AUTiger94]

That was funny

but, fear the thumb, bitches

Auburn has clearly taken the title of the finest football program and school in all of Alabama
Yes The Thumb awaits! Denny Chumps! You need to go back to the drawing board. If you think that Directed Study crap is going to do us in you are kidding yourself Turder!

[WDavE]

Are you guys freaking serious? AUBURN cleared THEMSELVES. What do you expect? This issue is far from over. SACS will have a say real soon, and if they don't, it's a loss for everyone in the SEC. There must be standards. This academic fraud situation at the Barn makes the conference look bad.


Just two years ago you had a player that had to complete over 20 hours in summer school to keep playing in the fall. He was failing classes and dropping some before he failed them....

He had to also take all three advance math classes at the same time. (algebra, geometry and algebra II) Since everyone of these maths are the basis for understanding the next. I often wonder how he accomplished that and I was an engineering major and seriously doubt that I could have done it.

I also find it amusing that you think we somehow are making the conference look bad.

Logan Young
Albert Means
Mike Price

Those names conjure images of grandeur for all the rest of us don't they?
The cooliest part of this whole topic line to me is: That I was at Jackson's the night Price came in three sheets to the wind and before he went cruising downtown.

That was nothing but good conference PR I take it.....




:laugh:

[goallthewayua]

Just two years ago you had a player that had to complete over 20 hours in summer school to keep playing in the fall. He was failing classes and dropping some before he failed them....

He had to also take all three advance math classes at the same time. (algebra, geometry and algebra II) Since everyone of these maths are the basis for understanding the next. I often wonder how he accomplished that and I was an engineering major and seriously doubt that I could have done it.

I also find it amusing that you think we somehow are making the conference look bad.

Logan Young
Albert Means
Mike Price

Those names conjure images of grandeur for all the rest of us don't they?
The cooliest part of this whole topic line to me is: That I was at Jackson's the night Price came in three sheets to the wind and before he went cruising downtown.

That was nothing but good conference PR I take it.....

Point is, crooked or not you didn't make a big deal out of it did you? Beat'em on the field. JMO

[the Paradox]

That was funny

but, fear the thumb, bitches

Auburn has clearly taken the title of the finest football program and school in all of Alabama
Now that is funny. Let's see, where was the barn in the final poll last season? Ah yes, behind its big brother. Just the way God intended. Congrats to the barn however for holding on to its' accreditation for another month.


RTR

[zorak34]

Now that is funny. Let's see, where was the barn in the final poll last season? Ah yes, behind its big brother. Just the way God intended. Congrats to the barn however for holding on to its' accreditation for another month.


RTR

That's about pointless to bring up. Especially after you guys got spanked like no other by us. The only thing that the final poll is good for is to figure out who is number one to get the NC.

[GAMECOCK_FAN]

The only thing that the final poll is good for is to figure out who is number one to get the NC.
I don't know. The final season poll is much more representative of where each team stands than the pre-season polls. At least the final season poll take into consideration the entire season, and not just one game, or no games as is the case with the pre-season poll. The pre-season polls are the ones that are useless IMO.

Now I'm not taking sides with either Auburn or Bama fans, but as a Gamecock fan I'd much rather finish 11-1, lose to Clemson, and be ranked in the Top 10 in the Final Poll, versus going 1-11, beating Clemson and not being ranked.

[zorak34]

I don't know. The final season poll is much more representative of where each team stands than the pre-season polls. At least the final season poll take into consideration the entire season, and not just one game, or no games as is the case with the pre-season poll. The pre-season polls are the ones that are useless IMO.

Now I'm not taking sides with either Auburn or Bama fans, but as a Gamecock fan I'd much rather finish 11-1, lose to Clemson, and be ranked in the Top 10 in the Final Poll, versus going 1-11, beating Clemson and not being ranked.

The Bamers point was he was trying to say his team was better but in reality that wasn't the case. Final polls at the end of the season aren't supposed to be used as leverage to say your team was better after you got the ever living crap out of the team your shooting down.

[the Paradox]

I have been to Trussville, so I feel the pain that you must be going thru. Beware of the Badger, that was quite a performance in your bowl game! Great way to represent the SEC.

[zorak34]

I have been to Trussville, so I feel the pain that you must be going thru. Beware of the Badger, that was quite a performance in your bowl game! Great way to represent the SEC.

Yes I admit that was a pathetic performance. That usually happens when auburn players get cocky and they get there butts kicked for it.

[Denny Chimes]

You think this same thing doesn't go on at Bama and every other SEC school???

You guys are such j.a.'s EVERY SCHOOL has directed study classes, morons!
We've covered this newbie. Go back and look it up.

Enough mudslinging (because I'm too tired to throw back tonight). I want to get it on record from you barners that what has happened at the barn doesn't embarrass you. Just tell me you think nothing happened, that there's a good explanation why the team's GPA dropped so drastically once Petee was called on the carpet. Tell me how you take a statistics directed study course and read a book to get a grade in it. Tell me you seriously believe the barn's original APR is legit and deserves to be ranked with the nation's elite universities. I would rather hear something different than "everybody's doing it" this time. Please give me something with substance. AU94, as a barn grad, how do you feel that ONCE AGAIN, the basic accreditation of your school is in jeopardy? It would be nice to hear your explanation since you basically disappeared from here once the story broke. Coward. And WDave, give me some more Logan Young history dude. I've just moved to Memphis and love hearing about the tradition up here. :rolleyes:
I've congratulated you guys over the win last year and the impressive four straight victories. This is more serious than football though. It's troubling to me that others don't see it this way, especially a school teacher like yourself AU94. I certainly don't fear the thumb as much as I FEAR THE DUMB! :laugh:

[AUTiger94]

We've covered this newbie. Go back and look it up.

Enough mudslinging (because I'm too tired to throw back tonight). I want to get it on record from you barners that what has happened at the barn doesn't embarrass you. Just tell me you think nothing happened, that there's a good explanation why the team's GPA dropped so drastically once Petee was called on the carpet. Tell me how you take a statistics directed study course and read a book to get a grade in it. Tell me you seriously believe the barn's original APR is legit and deserves to be ranked with the nation's elite universities. I would rather hear something different than "everybody's doing it" this time. Please give me something with substance. AU94, as a barn grad, how do you feel that ONCE AGAIN, the basic accreditation of your school is in jeopardy? It would be nice to hear your explanation since you basically disappeared from here once the story broke. Coward. And WDave, give me some more Logan Young history dude. I've just moved to Memphis and love hearing about the tradition up here. :rolleyes:
I've congratulated you guys over the win last year and the impressive four straight victories. This is more serious than football though. It's troubling to me that others don't see it this way, especially a school teacher like yourself AU94. I certainly don't fear the thumb as much as I FEAR THE DUMB! :laugh:

It would suck to lose accreditation. The whole situation stinks, but it will be resolved. What you Turders mus realize is that this is an academic issue and The athletic dept. is off the hook. As I stated on the other site my dissappearing was nothing more than what we w/ lives and friends call a vacation you freaking Moron! Denny!Denny! Denny! Given the choice btw reading and responding to the mudslinging crap you post and a 5 hour faculty meeting, I'd choose the faculty meeting. You happened to be up against my wife, kids, and a week at the beach. No contest! You Turder!
:brick: :brick: You do amuse me though. But I pity you.